Chapter 7

D amian had guarded his brother, Chrysander, since Fate first made his twin a King many centuries ago. Since then, Damian had continued to keep a watchful eye on any potential threat even as Chrysander was made Emperor. Damian didn't trust easily, so it was rare for him to leave Chrysander alone or to take out the earpiece that kept him connected to the many dragon Dukes tasked with aiding Damian in keeping the Emperors safe.

But being with the D'Vaires afforded him the rare opportunity to fully relax. If they were at the D'Vaire mansion, they were safe thanks to the sorcerers who kept the place shielded from strangers.

With the same magical protection in place above them at the theme park, Damian had anticipated a day of both fun and leisure. His earpiece was even in his pocket instead of his ear. But surprisingly, there was a dragon among them raising his hackles. Damian wasn't ready to pluck his device out of his pocket yet, but he idly wondered how much he could learn from a thorough background check.

Would it hurt to ask one of my Dukes to get started on that right away?

"Damian, what's wrong?" Marcus asked, concern in his voice.

Taking his black gaze off the dragon dunking a ball through the basket a few feet away, Damian turned his head to the most handsome man to ever breathe. His features were patrician, elegant, and perfect. Marcus was normally immaculate and never had a hair out of place, but today his brown locks were slightly windblown. A touch of humor glimmered in his velvety teal eyes. It gave the oft-serious Ducsarcelle a carefree look that suited him as well as the tailored suits nearly overflowing his stuffed closet.

"Something's definitely not right here," Damian muttered, though part of him was aware that hardly answered Marcus's inquiry. His mind was too preoccupied with suspicion for him to articulate his thoughts fully.

Brogan is somewhere in the park , Damian thought. Surely the Grand Duke had already conducted various detailed background checks. No one waltzed into the D'Vaire mansion without Brogan kicking up a fuss.

But this dragon hadn't entered via their sanctuary. It was the dragon's blood connection that had gained them entry. Had any security checks been done, or had this dragon been added to powerful D'Vaire family and brought to the park today without anyone delving into her past?

Marcus leaned close and brushed his sensuous lips with Damian's. "I thought you were enjoying our day at the park."

Raking a glance from Marcus's sneakers up to his chest showcased magnificently in a rich aqua T-shirt, Damian smiled without thinking. "I'm with you, of course I am."

"Tell that to your scowl."

Looping an arm around Marcus and tugging him close, Damian lowered his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "Something isn't right here."

Praxis chuckled obnoxiously. "Dude, you're just pissed that Imogene is kicking your ass at every game."

Imogene was the newest D'Vaire. The half-sister of Aleksander and Worth had been immediately liked by Damian and everyone else in their extended family. With her ready smile and easygoing personality, Imogene had endeared herself to Damian, and sometimes it was hard to remember that the blue-gray dragon had spent less than a year with her brothers.

"According to Imogene, this is her first visit to an amusement park," Damian retorted, ready and willing to defend his skepticism of the usually kind Imogene. "Yet here she is winning constantly without even hardly trying."

"Perhaps she is a natural athlete," Marcus suggested.

"Or she lied," Damian said, his black gaze narrowing as she landed another perfect throw. "And if she'll lie about something so mundane as her prowess in carnival games, what else is she hiding?"

"What are you accusing my sister of?" Aleksander asked from behind Damian.

Although the High King had startled him, Damian faked nonchalance as he turned to face the bi-colored dragon. Damian refused to acknowledge his embarrassment at being caught off guard—both by Aleksander and the absurdly remarkable skills of his only sister. Instead, he grabbed Marcus's hand and glared at Aleksander.

"Have you guys been practicing carnival games at the mansion?" Damian asked.

"No, you're as terrible at them as you are at video games," Worth chimed in from next to his elder brother. It warmed Damian's romantic heart to see the blond man at Worth's side, and he was still grateful to Fate for matching up another person he loved.

Fate had plenty more work to do, and Damian was impatient. He wanted everyone to experience the kind of love Marcus had brought into his life. Each person deserved the chance to know without a doubt they had a partner who'd be there for them and fill their heart with delight. Damian often marveled at the strength of matebonds.

But Damian revealed none of his feelings about romance. He was far too busy trying to figure out how Imogene was accumulating such an enormous collection of prizes. If she kept it up, the entire park would need to restocked by nightfall.

"Praxis, stop telling everyone I suck at video games," Damian ordered.

"Then get better at them, Damianos," came Praxis's response.

"Hey Damian," Imogene called out.

Damian lifted a dark brow as the pretty raven-haired dragon jogged up to him and thrust a stuffed animal at him.

"Look at this awesomesauce dragon!" Imogene exclaimed. "Can you believe they have one almost the same color as Marcus? It took me a few tries, but once I saw him, I had to make sure I could get him for you."

Ashamed of his unkind thoughts about Imogene, Damian glanced down at the toy dragon that was perhaps only a shade or two less vivid than Marcus's beast. He was an idiot. While he'd stood there formulating all the reasons why she'd invaded D'Vaire with foul intent, she'd been working toward winning him a close replica of Marcus's beast.

"Thanks, Imogene, that was thoughtful of you," Damian said as Marcus kissed his cheek.

"Now, don't you feel like a shit for thinking nefarious thoughts about my sister?" Worth asked.

Imogene's gaze widened. "What did I do?"

"Kicked Damian's ass at the games," Praxis replied. "He's a sore loser."

"Don't mind him, Imogene, I too believed him to be a mature adult," Marcus added.

"Thanks for being on my side," Damian muttered.

"If you insist on acting unreasonable, I'm afraid it's impossible for me to be on your side," Marcus answered pragmatically.

"This is why Fate made Chrys the Emperor, even though you're the oldest twin," Praxis taunted.

Damian had no choice but to laugh. "There are at least a million reasons Fate chose Chrys to be Emperor, and I'm positive I was never on her radar for the title."

"Plus, the Council needs Elf," Praxis agreed.

"Speaking of Elf, I have to get back to the games," Imogene said, taking off toward a basketball hoop at a dead run. "He's way ahead of me."

"Wait, what?" Damian asked. He'd been so consumed with thinking dark thoughts about Imogene that he hadn't realized she wasn't outpacing everyone at the park.

"Yeah, I'm not sure who is doing more destroying today," Praxis replied. "Elf is wreaking havoc with a hoop, and Tiri is beating Zane's butt at Skee-Ball."

Although Damian hadn't let Chrysander or Ellery out of his sight, he'd somehow missed the many wins His Majesty had racked up. But there was no missing the toys in Chrysander's arms as he cheered on his mate or the bigger pile near their feet that some helpful attendant had placed in a plastic bag.

"But tell us again about what my sister's lies are and what tricks she has up her sleeve," Worth drawled.

"We are never to speak of this again," Damian said, cuddling the dragon she'd given him against his chest. His misgivings had melted away and been replaced by gratefulness. It was thoughtful of Imogene to work so hard to gift him such a wonderful prize—anything that was remotely close to Marcus or his beast was an immediate winner for Damian.

"I swear my respect for you grows daily, Marcus," Worth responded. "Dealing with Damian must be a chore."

"One I thoroughly enjoy," Marcus said emphatically.

"Did you call me a chore?" Damian asked Marcus.

Marcus grinned, and Damian had no choice but to kiss that perfect smile.

"Only sometimes," Marcus replied with a wink.

"Well, I adore you," Damian told him.

Marcus stepped close, crushing the plush dragon between them, and looped his arms around Damian's neck. "I love you too."

"Aww, aren't they cute, Owliver?" Worth drawled.

"Indeed," Oliver replied. Nearby, two children shrieked with joy, and Oliver smiled. "We should go see what Orion and Zarasha are up to."

"We'll go with you," Rafe said.

The four men and the two wolves who guarded the High Kings headed toward the children, who were chatting with Brogan and Dra'Kaedan. Damian was surprised they'd managed to drag the Grand Warlock away from the cakes, but he supposed even Dra'Kaedan had to get full at some point.

"So, are you planning on winning me anything today?" Marcus teased.

Damian shook his head. "No, you're going to win something for me."

"Hmm, might be easier to negotiate a price to gain a portion of Imogene's prizes," Marcus mused.

"I feel like an ass for thinking anything mean about her."

"As you should."

With a sigh, Damian lowered his head to Marcus's shoulder. "Why do I suck so bad at games? I have some coordination. I can swing a darn sword."

"You're excellent with a sword. I don't know why it doesn't translate to similar prowess in video or carnival games, but your lack of skill shouldn't make you jealous of others and allow you to think unkindly of them."

"I didn't really think she was lying about anything."

Marcus chuckled. "Now, who is the one telling untruths?"

"No matter what, you're going to be practical and honest," Damian said, smiling at the man he loved. "Is it really any surprise that I'm crazy about you?"

Pink colored Marcus's cheeks much as passion did, and Damian didn't try to hide his interest in the sexy dragon who was only inches away. "I know what you're thinking," Marcus whispered. "And that will have to wait until we get home. But you damn well better be inside me tonight."

"Why do you think I'd ever have an argument with that?"

"I don't know. Today, you started accusing innocent people of plotting to undermine the world based on their prowess in carnival games. Who knows what other unhinged thoughts have entered your mind?"

Damian rolled his eyes. "Come on, baby, let's go help Chrys hold some of Elf's prizes."

"Don't allow your jealousy to grow unchecked again. If you mention anything about Ellery's alleged evil machinations, your brother may have you banned from Court Draconis."

"You'd run away with me, wouldn't you?"

"As if you need to ask," Marcus replied, a line of annoyance at the question forming between his brows. "At your side is where I belong."

"I have a sudden craving for coffee," Damian said. They shared a smile as they each recalled the grubby coffee shop where they'd first laid eyes on each other. It went without saying that neither of them bothered to reflect on what impact the man who'd worked the counter had had on their relationship. Damian's unrelenting belief in making a triple matebond work despite the many red flags staring at him in the face wasn't something he'd ever forget, but the past was better left behind. Somehow, Marcus had forgiven him for his illogical determination, and they'd long ago mended the hurts Damian had caused. "Should we get a cup?"

"I'd love that."

Elated with Marcus and the life they'd built together, Damian checked to ensure Zane and Costas were nearby to watch his brother as he led Marcus to the closest coffee shop—which thankfully still allowed him to keep watch on Their Majesties. Although discovering he was terrible at the carnival games was a letdown, Damian was a lucky man and thanked Fate for every generous gift she'd bestowed on him.