Chapter 24

Somehow, Killian had dragged Dravyn out of his garden. Their monthly dance was tonight, and to Killian's immense joy, Dravyn had decided to spend the entire day with him since they'd share their evening with thousands. Leaving Dravyn with a steady supply of magical missives to allow them to communicate constantly had been one of Killian's best ideas, and he was reaping the rewards.

Although being alone with Dravyn was something Killian desired, he'd opted to take the dragon to Castle Leolinnia instead. Killian was often around Dravyn's quiet family home, and he wanted Dravyn to learn more about the people in Killian's heart.

"This castle is glorious," Dravyn whispered in reverence as his dark scaly gaze took in the four wide fireplaces and the intricate tapestries gifted to Kaedan's family by their adoring populace. Many people dined regularly in the room, so it was large and long wooden tables and matching chairs dominated the space.

The stone walls were white-washed, and Kaedan used a spell to keep the ceiling navy with twinkling gold stars. But it wasn't the decor that brought Killian peace. It was the many memories he had of sharing great food and conversation with the men and women of The Council.

"I hope you will not be unimpressed by the humble tree I sleep in," Killian teased.

Dravyn shook his head and, to Killian's joy, took the druid's hand. "If I could sleep in nature as you do, I would."

"Shall I grow a tree for you to rest in?"

"Could you?" Dravyn asked, his eyes widening with surprise and a longing Killian could not ignore.

"Tomorrow, you will have it. I will beg it to grow above the room you built for your plants."

Dravyn had a few inches of height on Killian, so he had to lean down to land a kiss gently on his cheek. "Thank you, I cannot wait."

"Perhaps someday I will ask for the gift of sleeping beside you in your tree."

The deep blush on Dravyn's freckled cheeks had Killian smiling. "You are welcome to my bed whenever you wish."

Helpless to resist Dravyn, Killian cupped the back of his neck. Killian lifted to his toes and sealed their mouths together. His tongue swept between Dravyn's lips, and he swore even the magick in his soul rejoiced in the pleasure bubbling through his veins as the dragon eagerly returned his kiss.

"I swear no matter where I go, there is a couple swapping spit," a familiar voice drawled.

Dravyn pulled away, but Killian wouldn't let him retreat without one last sweet buss.

"Chand, go away," Killian said without glancing at the Arch Lich.

"You are the one with the mate, why are you in such a poor mood?" Chander asked.

"You are interrupting my time with him," Killian argued, glancing away from Dravyn's bowed head to glare at the cloaked demonic necromancer standing in front of his tall sentinels.

"Take him to your tree," Chander replied.

"An excellent suggestion. If you will excuse us?" Killian asked, fully prepared to teleport himself and Dravyn far from Castle Leolinnia.

"The dance will start as soon as the sun sets," Benton said. "You will need a full belly before we go since you insist on using every bit of your magick each month. If you do not eat, you will collapse."

"You are an assassin, why are you always so concerned with my care?" Killian asked.

"Because we have spent most of our lives caring for Chand," Baxter replied on behalf of his mate. "Without us, he would likely not eat or rest."

"I am perfectly capable of caring for myself," Chander argued.

"Then why do you not?" Benton demanded.

"Dravyn, could I interest you in a pair of sentinels?" Chander asked, his pewter gaze annoyed. "I can command them to remain invisible for eternity. You will never even have to see them."

"What is the point of sending us away if no one can see us?" Baxter asked. "You could do that without making us follow Dravyn. Sometimes, for an intelligent man, you have horrid ideas."

Killian had to pull his bottom lip in so he wasn't tempted to give in to laughter at the disgruntled expression on Chander's face.

"To think everyone wonders why I am so often agitated," Chander muttered.

"That is not because of us," Benton retorted. "It is because people are so often trying to murder you."

Baxter nodded at his other half. "Truly, he is lucky to be alive. If it were not for us and his diligent practice with his daggers, his pyre would have already been lit."

"I still say we should contact Alaric—"

A growl ripped through the room, and Chander whipped a hand up in the air, which immediately hushed Benton. "You know better than to speak his name in my presence. That man is unwilling to meet with me. He does not care about The Council, nor can I aid your people if your leader cannot bring himself to have an audience with me. I have no respect for a ruler who believes his schedule so valuable he cannot even pen a letter refusing my invitation. No, the man just sends back my sentinels with a one-word reply. How many times now have I asked him to take a single damn moment of his day to consider the needs of this Council or the necromancers who created your race two thousand years ago? Was it wrong to tie your souls to ours? Yes. Have I tried to separate that bond? Also, yes. As far as I am concerned, he is the one no longer worthy of my time."

"Killian, help us out here," Baxter pleaded.

Killian shook his head. "I am on Chand's side. Your people are imprisoned and deserve freedom. The necromancers cannot change their attitude about sentinels if your leader continues to disrespect the Arch Lich. Chand's job is demanding enough, trying to unite his people. Despite the danger the necros face daily, they refuse to understand how having a sentinel could save them. That is how deep their distrust is. The Lich Sentinel's refusal to consider a meeting only widens the gap between the two races. How will we ever give the sentinels an escape from what you admit is a prison without the aid of the necros who must summon them? On each occasion that a necro is gravely wounded and a sentinel pops into view because of how your souls are tied, it terrifies people and furthers the rift between the races."

"The Lich Sentinel is zealous in his desire to care for sentinels," Benton argued. "It is hard for us to spend more than a few minutes with the man, such is his dedication to our people. I fear his devotion to the sentinels is the very thing keeping him from agreeing to travel to our realm for even a few minutes."

"Then he is both stubborn and a fool," Chander stated, crossing his arms. "Killian, I am traveling to Renata this afternoon, would you and Dravyn care to join me?"

"Dray, Renata is a new town," Killian explained. "It includes survivors of recent dragon attacks in that area. They are still rebuilding and sent word this morning that they will not attend the dance. Aloisa and Clara were set to bring them food tomorrow, but if we can visit now, I can grow whatever they like." He turned to Chander. "Is Kaedan around? He can ensure it lasts until next month."

"My plan was to find him, but I ran into you first," Chander explained.

Dravyn's shoulders stooped. "I think it best if you go without me. They have recently experienced a dragon attack and will not wish to have any of my kind around."

"You are not just another dragon," Chander argued before Killian could get a word out. "You are the mate of Killian the Dwyer. No one thinks poorly of you, and I believe it is good for everyone to know that not every dragon is a menace."

Dravyn lifted his gaze to Killian's. "Do you think it is wise for me to go?"

"I would be proud to have you at my side," Killian said, holding his breath as he waited for Dravyn to reply. For Killian, it was an important step for him and his mate to be seen as a united front tending to the people of The Council. It was one of Killian's fondest wishes to share every aspect of his life with Dravyn.

"If you do not believe I would harm them with my presence, I welcome the opportunity to visit their village," Dravyn replied.

Surprised and delighted, Killian kissed his soft mouth and grinned. "Thank you, should we go find Kaedan? There is not much time until the dance."

"My guess is we will find him in the kitchen filling himself with sweets," Chander suggested, already moving past Killian and Dravyn toward Hilanore's domain to find the Grand Warlock.

"I should have asked Noirin to make more pastries for Kaedan," Dravyn muttered.

Killian winked at him. "I will remind you before next month's dance."

A flurry of emotions crossed Dravyn's face, but he said nothing. Killian squeezed his hand.

"What is on your mind, Dray?" Killian asked as Chander took off with his sentinels on his heels.

"I thought…well…perhaps…perhaps I could visit Castle Leolinnia with you again prior to the next dance."

"I would like that very much."

Dravyn cleared his throat. "Are you truly going to bring me to your tree?"

As Killian filled his lungs with his next breath, his mind eagerly conjured image after explicit image of him sharing the plump mattress spread out on the floor of his tree. His rod thickened as he tried to envision the parts of Dravyn's body he had not yet seen. He could not help but wonder if every aspect of Dravyn's form was built on the same grand scale as his broad shoulders.

If so, Killian mused his jaw would be greatly tested as he sucked Dravyn's thick cock. That was a challenge Killian yearned for, and he didn't have to ask if his thoughts were in his eyes. As he stared at Dravyn, the dragon gulped and his pink flush rose to the tips of his ears.

"Although I yearn to taste you just now, if I relent and give in to my desires, I will teleport to my tree immediately and the dear people of Renata will suffer through the night without my aid," Killian said conversationally.

"Taste me?" Dravyn echoed in a whisper.

"Yes, I adore your mouth and would love to know how you…taste elsewhere."

Dravyn's eyes were wide, and his lips parted, but he kept silent.

"Have I shocked you with my risqué speech?" Killian asked. "I would lie and tell you I did not mean it, but I must insist upon truth in our matebond on every occasion. You fascinate me. The parts of you I have seen…and those which I have not. I should like to know all of you before long."

Leaning close, Dravyn whispered, "You should wait to say such things to me until we are alone." He tugged on his tunic and pulled his cloak closed. "I am in a most uncomfortable state."

Killian was pleased to know he was having such an effect on Dravyn since he was suffering in much the same way thanks to his words and the luscious thoughts bombarding his mind. He grinned. "I promise to make it up to you soon."

"I fear you are most unrepentant."

Killian chuckled. "You are correct."

"Stop it," Dravyn hissed. Although Killian did not want to end their flirtation, he adored the way Dravyn stood up for himself and insisted Killian act with some decorum. Killian preferred Dravyn to be in control and free with his words. "Save your speech for when we are alone."

"If you insist."

"I do."

"Come then, shall we find Chand and the others?"

"Yes, surely they have noticed you are missing by now," Dravyn argued.

"They will have noticed we have both stayed behind. I am not the only one absent. You are here with me too."

"Imagine what thoughts they must be entertaining about what has delayed us," Dravyn exclaimed.

With another laugh, Killian squeezed Dravyn's hand, kissed his cheek, and led his blushing Duke toward the kitchens. "I wish their assumptions were correct and I was discovering for myself what it feels like to touch—and lick—every inch of a dragon shifter."

"Killer, behave yourself."

"That is a horrible pet name for me."

"Too bad."

"You will be sorry if I find one as unsavory for you."

"It will be impossible since you are using every aspect of your mind to dwell on what you wish to…"

"Finish your sentence, Dray."

Dravyn glared, and Killian's heart soared at the way the shifter stomped forward with none of his usual grace. "I cannot. I am a gentleman."

"But you are definitely interested in my wishes."

Dravyn harrumphed. "Of course I am. Just not now."

"I cannot wait to show you my tree."

"Somehow I no longer believe you are speaking innocently of proudly bringing me to your home, but instead referring to your…"

"You are having a great deal of trouble with your sentences today."

"And you are trying to trick me into another round of your salacious speech. Keep your tree to yourself, and do not speak of it again until we are not standing in a castle likely full of people. Some of which may be hearing us now."

"I was speaking of my home. You are the one calling my rod a tree."

Dravyn halted and, to Killian's shock, dropped his hand. He cupped Killian's face in his palms and laid a firm kiss on his mouth.

"Hush now," Dravyn insisted. "Put your mind to the people you will feed today, and we will speak of trees later."

"I am so glad you came to visit me today and that we have so many hours yet to be together."

"My dragon and I are happy to be with you too."

Those words were everything Killian wanted to hear. He laced his fingers with Dravyn's and refocused on the tasks he had to complete before he could devote his heart and mind to his mate.