Chapter 22

G rant was in a fantastic mood, and it had everything to do with the beautiful man walking ahead of him into the conference room reserved for Reverent and Venerable Knights. Not only was Roman's ass doing dazzling things to their black casual uniform, but Roman was also a wonderful mate. Kind, considerate, and sexy, Roman was exactly what Grant would've wished for from Fate if he'd gone long enough without meeting Roman to beg Fate to give him his other half.

With an appreciative smile, Grant sat in the chair Roman had pulled out for him.

"Thank you," Grant said as the other men in the room settled around the table.

Roman grabbed the seat next to him and kissed Grant softly. "Anytime."

"Sam, didn't I tell you?" Arvandus asked, planting his elbows on the table and resting his chin in his hands. "They're getting cuter every day."

Samson rolled his eyes and placed a plastic box of fresh cookies on the table. "Everyone gets a treat but Arvandus because he's annoying."

"Excuse me if I'm excited about Roman and Grant," Arvandus protested and moved so fast to snatch a cookie that Samson had no chance to stop him. That didn't prevent Samson from slapping Arvandus's arm.

"Samson doesn't want us embarrassing the happy couple," Drystan stated.

"We can all gush privately later," Conley added.

"That's fair," Roman said. "I gush about you two. Samson and Brynn too. As for Arvandus, I mostly feel sorry for Albie."

"Imagine getting stuck with Arvandus's ass not once but twice," Drystan remarked with a sad shake of his head.

"Apple has no complaints," Arvandus commented with a grin. The first of the Venerable Knights appeared to have no lack of confidence when it came to his other half, and Grant loved that for him. It was nice to be surrounded by so many couples who adored each other. Should he ever encounter issues with Roman, he already had a long list of people he could call for advice.

"Which proves that sentinels have more than one flaw," Drystan drawled. "I don't get why he let you give him a fruit nickname."

"It's none of our business," Conley replied, giving Drystan's cheek a smacking kiss. "Besides, I think it's cute."

"Is there a reason you called us in here, or do we have to sit around watching Arvandus smile like an idiot while he daydreams about Albie?" Roman asked.

Conley narrowed his golden gaze at Roman. "For a man so recently blessed by Fate, you're grumpy."

"You'd be grumpy too if you saw my workload," Roman said.

"Ah, Roman has yet to find the right work-to-life ratio now that he has a man to woo," Arvandus remarked.

"Maybe that's because no one is allowing me to carry my own weight," Grant stated, his voice strained with his annoyance at the other Venerable Knights. Although he'd expected to be guided through his first few weeks, he'd been trained. He didn't need the others to protect him or keep him from sharing the burden of their constantly growing case files. "If we had comparable workloads, I'd have just as much to do after we leave the office. But I don't, do I?"

Drystan lifted a brow as Arvandus, Samson, and Roman all avoided eye contact with the Reverent Knights and Grant. "Do Con and I seriously have to wade in and divvy up the files like you're not capable adults?"

"We thought we'd give Grant time to adjust," Samson argued, weakly in Grant's opinion.

"Did Arvandus and Roman do that for you?" Grant asked.

"Sure. I mean, a little bit," Samson replied. "We talked about how difficult it is to have both a new job and a mate."

"Look, I think I have a handle on this mate thing," Grant stated with a glance at Roman.

His other half immediately whipped his head toward Grant, and blue clashed with green. "Damn right you do."

"I want to have the same confidence in my job, but I can't do that if you guys keep protecting me," Grant argued.

"First complaint. What's something they're preventing you from doing?" Drystan asked.

"It's been six weeks since I gained my title. I have yet to be on call at night," Grant responded.

"Unacceptable," Conley remarked.

"Sorry, Grant," Arvandus said. "It's not that we don't think you're ready. We just—"

"Wanted to give me some space to get used to all the changes in my life," Grant finished. "I get it. But hey, I'm literally in a relationship with another Venerable Knight. If I have questions, I can go straight to him."

"I'll be lying next to you," Roman stated, and Grant smiled. Since the first night they'd had sex, Roman had invited Grant over to sleep every night. As far as Grant was concerned, he'd already spent his last night alone. "Wake me up and ask away."

"Put him on the schedule next week," Drystan ordered. "I can guess the next issue. Divide new files evenly between the four of you. Don't make Con or I have to check up on you to ensure that's being done. You're not children, and Grant knows what the fuck he's doing."

Color rose to Grant's cheeks at the matter-of-fact statement from Drystan. It was a great boost to his flagging confidence. Since he was sharing Roman's bed, he'd given up his early morning vigil in his SUV. But that didn't mean he was any less eager to prove himself. The case files he had been given were straightforward, and Grant didn't have to ask if the messier ones were given to another Venerable Knight.

The protectiveness offered by Arvandus, Samson, and Roman was kind. However, there was a growing voice in his head wondering if they thought the new guy on the block lacked the necessary skills to complete his work at the same level they delivered.

"Thank you," Grant told Drystan.

"Keep speaking up," Drystan replied, his blue gaze a mixture of irritation at Grant's peers and respect. "If they continue to do this shit, I'll put you in charge of assigning the cases for all Venerable Knights. Give them the easy shit and see how they like it."

"We usually meet right after lunch to assign case files," Roman told Grant.

"I know," Grant said. "You guys are terrible at sneaking around. How could I not notice that the three of you disappear at the same time every day?"

Conley turned to Drystan and frowned. "I'm scared for the Order of the Fallen Knights."

"If the Lich Sentinel hears about this, Alaric will never let us hear the end of it," Drystan commented sadly. "He already thinks the sentinels are superior in every damn way."

"Oh, we're not going to fucking tell him," Arvandus retorted. "You don't have to live with him."

"Agreed," Samson said. "I haven't even told B, and I do not keep secrets from my mate."

"Anyway, let's change the subject," Conley urged. His response was so quick that it raised Grant's hackles.

"Yes, let's," Drystan responded immediately. Whatever was going on, it was apparently not dishonesty between the Reverent Knights. But it had to be something. No one in the room was looking at anyone else.

"Is something wrong?" Grant asked, concerned about the men he already cared for.

" Nooooo ," Arvandus replied. "No, not at all. I think everyone is good. Right, Roman? Everyone is good."

Arvandus was lying, but Grant didn't call him out. Whatever was wrong, Grant assumed it had nothing to do with him or they'd speak to him directly.

Roman's mouth tightened, which made Grant pause, but if it was something important or anything that Grant needed to know, he believed his mate would clue him in. "Arvandus is correct. Everything is wonderful."

"Great, so let's move on with our agenda," Conley insisted. "As you may already be aware, a few weeks ago, in a joint venture between the sentinels and the harpies, they located the Tarinthi tribe. In the past, the Tarinthi lived among phoenixes but split less than amicably a long time ago."

"This wouldn't have been anything you've studied, so we'll give those of you that need it a refresher," Drystan said. "Fate made many connections between the phoenixes and Tarinthi elves. Hybrids were born, and this group of phoenixes had a barbaric practice of death and rebirth. Unless their head is severed from their bodies and moved several feet from their bodies, phoenixes will reform. Unfortunately, it's not that easy for hybrids. They grew ill for months and many permanently lost their memories. The Tarinthi hated watching their loved ones endure this and demanded the practice stop."

"But the phoenixes considered it a sacred, historical ritual and refused," Conley remarked. "The Tarinthi had enough and left. A splinter group of hybrids went off on their own, led by a horrid man who continued the phoenix practice. Today, that group is mostly Alderfenixes ruled by Emperor Ellery, and two of them are D'Vairefenixes. Elf convinced the Alderfenixes to meet with the Tarinthi, and it went well. This morning the Tarinthi officially joined the Council."

"By doing so, the Tarinthi elves became the two hundredth race in our Council," Drystan explained. "To commemorate that milestone, the Council has decided to host a parade. Obviously, that'll require security. Since we directly handle the protection of Vegas, the fallen knights were assigned the duty of overseeing logistics. Con and I want Grant to be in charge."

"And, for the record, Drys and I decided you'd be at the head of this project before we knew how your co-VKs were babysitting you," Conley assured Grant with a smile.

Overcome with gratitude for the trust they were placing in him, Grant bit his lip and enjoyed the happy thumping of his heart.

"Wow, thanks. What do I need to know?" Grant asked as Roman patted Grant's thigh affectionately and grinned at him.

"A committee will be formed in the next couple of days," Drystan replied. "You'll be on that. All security-related questions will go through you. It's up to you to decide how many people you want and where to put them. Alaric happily volunteered the sentinels, so you can use them too. He'll be on the committee with you, so you can work on that together if you want to add them."

"You'll be included when we plan the route," Conley said. "Since you're not as familiar with the city as you may wish to be, feel free to ask any of us about options. The committee will also oversee how races will be included by hosting lotteries and contests. It's up to you how involved you want to be in that process."

"Could be kind of fun to help with that," Grant commented, his mind spinning with all that was being laid in his lap. The day he started as Venerable Knight, he'd wanted a chance to prove himself. He was being handed the perfect opportunity on a silver platter. Nothing would prevent Grant from giving the project his best effort.

"I think so," Conley agreed. "I'd be totally involved with every aspect if it were me."

"Unless you get some assholes on the committee," Drystan remarked.

"True," Arvandus said with a grimace. "Some of those Council leaders are real pains in the ass."

"I'm sure they'll treat Grant with kindness," Roman argued, then turned toward Grant with a dazzling smile. "And if they're assholes, you can plant yourself in every decision just to annoy the shit out of them."

" Ooo , good plan," Arvandus commented as Samson rolled his eyes.

"You need to start by considering who you already know is going to give you trouble," Samson said. "Alaric will. It's in his nature. We love the guy, but he can corner the market of annoyance if he wants."

"Sometimes I think Chand buries his face in a book so often to keep from murdering him," Arvandus added.

"I like Alaric," Grant argued.

"We all do," Drystan insisted. "He's great. A wonderful friend. A loving family member. Honorable. Confident. Kind. But also arrogant, easily irritated, and holds a grudge like no one's business."

"So, it's up to us to irritate him back," Arvandus commented with a grin.

"Here's what you do," Samson said. "We get B to write a list of sentinels he thinks Alaric would volunteer first to help with security for the parade. Then you can request those sentinels directly from Alaric. With his inability to lie or be anything but virtuous, he'll have to do as you ask, because he'll know those guys are the ones who will help you the most. Nothing Alaric hates more than being outwitted."

Arvandus laughed so hard he snorted. "That's diabolical."

Drystan scowled in disbelief. "Do you honestly think Brynn will do that? He might find it dishonorable to undermine the Lich Sentinel."

"Except the Darays love poking at each other," Samson argued. "And maybe I won't tell him why I asked until after I have the list."

"No," Grant stated emphatically. "Don't trick your mate for my gain. If Brynn isn't on board to help, that's fine. It'd be fun to fuck with Alaric, but I don't like dishonesty."

Samson swallowed thickly, and his gaze briefly darted around for reasons Grant couldn't explain. "Okay. I'll talk to B and see what he thinks. But honestly, I think he'll be good with it. Especially if he's already holding a grudge against Alaric. Issues crop up between sentinels constantly since they take everything so literal."

"I can ask Apple too if Brynn isn't cool with it," Arvandus volunteered.

"My mate is nicer than yours, which is why I suggested going to B first," Samson said.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Arvandus asked, his lip curling in disgust. "Apple is nice."

"I'd say it's a general consensus that Brynn is the sweetheart of the Darays," Conley argued.

"Apple is sweet," Arvandus argued.

"The good news is that fallen knights are just as prone to inane arguments as sentinels," Drystan drawled.

"No, don't lump me in with him," Roman retorted. "Arvandus used to be a sentinel. That's why he's like this."

"Anyway," Drystan remarked. "Grant, this project is totally in your hands. But we're all at your disposal for whatever you need. We can call in fallen knights from other cities to handle the parade route. And if we can be of any assistance, don't hesitate to ask."

Grant smiled. "Thanks for trusting me with this, I'm looking forward to it."

"You earned the right to handle a project like this and trained hard to be a VK," Conley assured him. "You'll kick ass. We believe in you."

Once again, heat rushed to Grant's face. He was delighted to know they supported him and thought him worthy of his title. And now Grant finally had an opportunity to prove to himself that he was right where he belonged.