Chapter 2

H igh King Rafe D'Vairedraconis settled onto a firm male body and sighed with pleasure. Aleksander pulled him close, and Rafe rested his hands on Aleksander's forearms as his mate dropped a kiss on his head. With a tiny wiggle of his hips, he was comfortably resting against his mate. Love flowed through him, and he closed his eyes to thank Fate for the extraordinary man who'd changed him forever.

It should have been a peaceful moment. But the room was filled with far too much chatter, so it was difficult for Rafe to think.

" Loud ," Mortis, the wolf tied to Rafe's soul, said through his telepathic link.

"You're right, Mortis, it is loud," Rafe muttered aloud since he lacked the ability to send his thoughts to Mortis as the wolf did to him.

Aleksander shifted beneath him. "Worth," Aleksander said.

Rafe glanced at the Duke Argent and tucked in his lips to hide his smile as Aleksander's brother grinned devilishly.

Since Worth was cuddled with his mate, Oliver, he gave his other half a warning. "Cover your ears, Owliver."

Without hesitation, Oliver did as he was told and nodded at Worth. The Duke Argent whistled shrilly, and somehow it penetrated the cacophonous noise in the backyard. Heads whipped toward Worth. Some glared. But at least they shut up.

"Thank you," Chrysander said. "We asked everyone to come outside together so we could discuss something."

"It's a D'Vaire weekend," Grand Warlock Dra'Kaedan D'Vaire replied, his navy eyes twinkling with mischief. "You can't expect us to be on our best behavior."

The Grand Warlock's familiar crossed his arms over his navy T-shirt. "When are you ever on your best behavior?" Renny asked.

"An excellent question," said Lichpriestess Saura D'Vaire, Dra'Kaedan's mother.

"I do not wish to point fingers, but there are several families outside," Skeleton Lord Gavrael D'Vaire said, his bronze eyes nearly hidden under his messy dark hair. "Who is to say it is the D'Vaires behaving badly and being loud?"

His fellow sentinel, Skeleton Lord Cassius Daray, frowned. "Are you accusing the Darays of behaving poorly?"

"Since you're piping up immediately, you must have a guilty conscience," Arch Lich Chander Daray remarked. Like Rafe, Chander was seated atop his fierce mate, Alaric, and happiness danced in his pewter gaze despite the gauntlet he'd thrown at Cassius.

"Chrys, if you do not begin this meeting, I fear we will need Worth to whistle again," Ellery advised his other half.

With an epic eyeroll no one would expect from the co-ruler of the Council, Chrysander tucked Ellery closer to him. "Ell is right. No fighting. We have something to tell you, and we can't do that if you're all talking."

"This sounds serious, dear," Saura replied. "Are there some issues within the Council we need to consider?"

"No, no," Chrysander answered immediately. "This is a family thing, and I promise you it's not bad. In fact, it sounds like it'll be a lot of fun once we figure out logistics and get it planned."

"Like a D'Vaire weekend?" Renny asked.

"Basically, except we think we can involve several of our entire populations," Chrysander said.

It was barely noticeable, but Rafe was far too close to Aleksander not to feel the slight tension in his six-foot-six frame. D'Vaire events were held at the mansion. So was everything else Aleksander preferred to do since he suffered from agoraphobia. Trauma from his past was at least partly responsible for the condition. The dragons had cut deep scars into the man they called cursed and blamed for the deaths of the previous Emperors.

Rafe was fine with Chrysander and Ellery wanting to include dragons. They did rule them. But if this event Chrysander wanted to hold included a dragon Rafe didn't personally know, then he wasn't entertaining the idea of Aleksander attending. Rafe would encourage everyone else to enjoy themselves and plan something for him to enjoy with Aleksander alone.

"Praxis, did you want to tell everyone about the day you put together?" Chrysander asked.

With a hint of color in his cheeks, Praxis rose and walked over to stand on the deck near where Chrysander held Ellery against him.

Praxis cleared his throat. "Sure. So, here's the deal. Thanks to the generosity of Alpha Orcinus, who gave us a crazy good deal, we've rented an entire amusement park for the day. Since they're opening it for us and will have it fully staffed, I thought we could invite some of our populations to bring with us. Sentinels, sprites, gargoyles, harpies, the Eldrvalkyria, and whatever guests you think would enjoy it. But check with Aleksander and Rafe if you want to include additional dragons, because we want this to be something they can enjoy too."

"Or Aleksander and I could stay home and babysit RJ so Noir and Kendrick can have a day to ride stuff," Rafe suggested. Seneschal Duchess Noirin and Rafe's brother, Kendrick, were new parents to Rafe Jaylen—or RJ—and their son was adorable. The pair had named their firstborn after Rafe, and he was incredibly honored.

"Absolutely not," Saura retorted, hopping up and sidling closer to Noirin, who had her son cuddled on her lap. "T'Eirick and I will babysit RJ."

"Mom, you hog the baby enough already," Dra'Kaedan commented. "Give Aleksander and Rafe a chance to have RJ to themselves for a day."

Saura glanced longingly at RJ, and Rafe swore there were tears in her blue eyes, but she nodded. "Sorry, Rafe. I understand if you and Aleksander want to babysit."

"We could take RJ with us," Kendrick suggested.

"Yeah, it's not a big deal," Noirin said. "When he's had enough, I'm sure someone can teleport us home."

"Are you okay with Saura babysitting?" Aleksander murmured close to Rafe's ear.

"Yeah, I wanted to give you an out if you'd prefer not to go," Rafe whispered.

Being alone with the baby all day was something Rafe wouldn't mind doing, but he was also slightly terrified. It was easy to hold RJ when his parents were nearby and they could help Rafe navigate whatever the baby needed if he cried. Without their expert help, Rafe feared upsetting RJ or doing something hopelessly wrong.

"Saura, I think it's a great idea for you and T'Eirick to have RJ for the day so Noir and Kendrick can enjoy the park," Aleksander said, and Saura smiled brightly.

"Are you sure?" Saura asked, hope gleaming in her blue eyes.

"Are you sure you want to miss a day of rides and everything else at the park?" Rafe inquired.

"Nothing can compare to being with baby RJ," Saura exclaimed. "That is, if Noir and Kendrick are comfortable leaving him with us for the day."

"I have a feeling we might wind up returning early, but I'm sure RJ would love a few hours with you and T'Eirick," Noirin told Saura, who beamed brighter.

"Okay, we have RJ settled, now does anyone have any questions?" Praxis asked.

"Yeah, is Squirt tall enough to ride anything?" Aleksander teased. Dra'Kaedan—or Squirt, as he was known to Aleksander—glared.

"Every adult in the family is tall enough to ride both roller coasters and the water rides," Praxis replied. "I already checked."

"What if we aren't into rides?" asked the recently promoted FK21 Ridgely Hawthorne-Stone. The raven-haired fallen knight was mated to Preston Hawthorneonca-Stone, and the jaguar shifter hybrid had sustained a traumatic brain injury. Thanks to the permanent damage and his medications, Rafe doubted Preston could ride anything that would slosh his gray matter around.

"No worries," Praxis answered. "There are shows, places to explore or eat, a big train you can ride around the park to go behind the scenes, shopping, skill games, or you can chill at a wave pool, or float on the lazy river."

"That sounds like fun," Preston enthused as Ridgely kissed his mate's dimples.

"Relaxing on a lazy river sounds like paradise right now," Noirin commented. With a small baby to care for and a household to feed, her opportunities to relax were few and far between. It pleased Rafe to think about her and Kendrick getting a much-needed break from the kitchen.

"Oh, and there are plenty of covered areas too, so our vampires don't have to spend the entire day in the sun," Praxis remarked. "I know you can guys can handle sunshine, but I didn't want you to have to worry about needing a ton of extra blood."

"I will happily and enthusiastically provide all the extra blood my mate needs," High Arcanist Delaney D'Vaire-Volkov stated emphatically.

"Agreed," added Lord James Volkov, the man mated to Vampyr Lord Nikolai Volkov.

"Great," Dra'Kaedan said. "Happy for you and your mates. Glad that vampire bite thing is working out for you. Now, can we talk about the food? I've never been to an amusement park. I need to plan."

"Or stuff his pockets with cookies before we leave for the day," muttered Dra'Kaedan's other half, Grand Duke Brogan D'Vairedraconis.

"Well, I may have worked with Alpha Orcinus to set up a cake bar for us," Praxis replied with a grin. "It's going to be mini cakes made by the chefs of the different restaurants. There will also be an area where you can essentially build your own cake with toppings."

"Okay," Dra'Kaedan answered. "You just made my every dream come true. So, if anyone needs a teleport home because they're tired or forgot something, you know where to find me."

"Baby, we have to go on at least one roller coaster," Brogan argued.

"Fine, I'll squeeze in a few rides. If you want to go on any more, you can do it by yourself," Dra'Kaedan told the love of his life. "Make some friends and ride with them."

Brogan scowled. "I have friends."

"Wait," Renny said. "Why isn't Brogan throwing a fit about security?"

"I don't throw fits," Brogan argued with a glare for Renny. "But I already have it worked out. Every sorcerer will put a damn bubble above the park. Also, Alaric is bringing the sentinels. There should be plenty of people available to protect us."

"Is Alpha Orcinus going to allow us to put an enormous bubble over his park?" Dra'Kaedan asked skeptically.

"Uh, I didn't ask," Praxis replied. "I guess I'll check with him on Monday?"

"Do that. Otherwise, we'll have to put together groups like we do at the dragon fair," Brogan commented. "With so many people going, that may take me weeks to figure out."

"Who are you expecting to attack us at an amusement park with only our family and friends in attendance?" Chrysander asked.

"He says that like Damianos isn't going to follow him around all day," Praxis teased.

"It's my job," Damian argued.

"Well, I don't care what my job is," Reverent Knight Conley Gylde-Kempe remarked, his gold gaze twinkling with anticipation. "I'll be riding everything I can and not caring who needs protection."

"The only thing scarier than your driving is getting on a roller coaster," Drystan grumbled.

"You'll love it, Drys," Conley assured him with a smacking kiss. "You fly as a dragon; you can handle flipping around in a little seat."

"What about Zarasha and Orion?" Oliver asked, referring to his seven-year-old brother and his best friend. "What can they ride?"

"Orion is likely tall enough for most rides, but Zarasha isn't. Some she can get on with an adult next to her, but others she'll have to skip," Praxis replied apologetically. "No worries though, they have an entire section of the park designed for kids. Smaller coasters and other rides Zarasha can go on."

"I'm not riding on anything Zarasha can't go on," Orion said. "So, I'm glad there is stuff we can do together."

"I don't mind if you go on a ride I can't," Zarasha assured Orion. She was practically bouncing in place in anticipation, which made Rafe smile. "But I'm glad there are some we can do together. I'm so excited to go."

"I will take you on any ride you need an adult for," said her cousin Xakiok.

Xakiok had unintentionally harmed his cousin by sticking her into what they'd believed was a permanent state as a stuffed animal, and he hadn't forgiven himself for the error. She was a girl again, but it had made no difference to Xakiok's outlook. Rafe wondered if Xakiok would ever release any of his guilt or if he'd use magic again. Poor Xakiok deserved far more joy in his life than he allowed himself, and Rafe worried about him.

As the co-ruler of D'Vaire, Rafe wanted the best for everyone in the house he shared with Aleksander. It was rare for him to go a day without begging Fate to match up his loved ones, whether they were in High Court D'Vaire or a member of his extended family. The extended family is question was currently enthusing in his backyard because the Draconises had planned this extraordinary day at an amusement park.

"Worthington and I will help however we can with that too," Oliver assured Xakiok.

"Any other questions?" Praxis asked. "I have the website for the park we're going to so everyone can check that out, and I can talk to Alpha Orcinus if we come up with any questions about stuff not listed there."

"Just one," Aleksander said, his voice rumbling pleasantly through Rafe. "When are we going?"

Pleased by Aleksander's enthusiasm, Rafe allowed his concerns to melt away. If there was a single hint of tension at any point at the amusement park, he'd take Aleksander directly to the cake tables and have Dra'Kaedan teleport them home immediately. But with the guest list restricted to their family and friends, Rafe hoped they could enjoy a fun experience. The sole thing he wanted Aleksander worried about was whether he'd brave the next ride.