Disregarding Fate (D'Vaire, Book 8), page 27
part #8 of D'Vaire Series
“It’s about time you told her that,” Kalthekor declared as he walked into the room.
“I hate you both,” she retorted as she stomped out.
“Evlithar, you leave for D’Vaire in two days.”
It was the exact same order Kalthekor had issued when he’d demanded Evlithar go to end his relationship. Evlithar walked over and pulled his cousin into a hug. “Thank you for understanding.”
Kalthekor patted his back awkwardly. “I’m not good at these things, Evlithar, but I’m trying.”
“You’re the best. You’ll be a great dad.”
“I hope to be better than my own,” Kalthekor confided.
“You will be. You know better than to lead the Valzadari into an unnecessary war for the sake of pride and leave children without families.”
“Evlithar, you’re the best of the Valzadari. Or you used to be. You’re Cwylld now.”
“You’re the best of the Valzadari, Chieftain.”
Kalthekor straightened his tunic awkwardly. “I’m sure you have plenty of duties to keep you busy until you return home.”
“Go sit down so you can eat your breakfast,” Evlithar ordered as he shooed his cousin out of the kitchen. He had to get him out the door so Evlithar could get his to-do list done, because this time when he walked out of the condo, he would do it with a clean slate and a clear conscience.
Chapter 38
Cadlyr pulled his needle through the material of the tunic he’d begun and tried to pretend he wasn’t miserable. If leaving Evlithar was the right thing to do, why do I feel like shit?
“You keep glaring at that shirt, and it’s going to burst into flames,” Talfryn remarked.
Cadlyr scowled at his brother. “If such a thing were possible, your mate would’ve ignited the entire world a thousand years ago.”
“He makes me sound so unpleasant,” Lorcan observed.
“No offense, anleydir, but you were pretty awful.”
“I concur,” Corwin added.
“Thanks to Cadlyr, you were sleeping in a cave a thousand years ago,” Lorcan retorted.
“I was around when you first thought Talfryn had left you. You were horrid,” Corwin argued.
“With good reason,” Lorcan countered. “And Cadlyr has good reason to be unhappy, so you two need to stop harping on him for his temperament.”
“We’re trying to make him feel better,” Talfryn contended.
“I doubt such a thing is possible,” Cadlyr stated.
Duke Brogan D’Vairedraconis waltzed into the room with Dra’Kaedan at his side. The dragon shifter was smiling so hard Cadlyr believed his face must hurt. “Cadlyr—”
“Let me tell him,” Dra’Kaedan insisted.
“I’m in charge of security. Let me do my job,” Brogan retorted.
“No,” Dra’Kaedan replied without missing a beat. “Cadlyr—”
“Hey, Cadlyr—Evlithar just drove through the main gate,” Aleksander said as he strode into the living room.
“I quit,” Brogan declared as he threw his hands up.
Cadlyr hadn’t understood the word dumbfounded until now. “Evlithar?”
“That’s what the dragon said, so slap a smile on your face and get ready to greet your mate,” Dra’Kaedan responded.
Nodding, Cadlyr shoved his sewing aside and rose. On unsteady legs, he headed for the entrance of their large house.
“I’ll get the door,” Brogan stated.
“Seriously? It’s Evlithar,” Dra’Kaedan countered.
“It’s my job,” Brogan argued.
“I thought you quit,” Aleksander threw in.
Cadlyr ignored his nutty family and yanked open the door. He saw Evlithar’s car pull up in front of the house and come to a stop in front of the multi-car garage. It didn’t matter if Evlithar was here for a short visit or a long one, Cadlyr was simply grateful he’d made the trip. He heard the vehicle’s engine die down and seconds later, Evlithar emerged from inside. Cadlyr did not hesitate; he strode toward him. Evlithar’s smile outshone the sun as he ran to meet him. Once he got close, Cadlyr yanked him into his arms and hugged him so tight his feet dangled inches from the ground.
Evlithar’s arms wound around his neck and he whispered, “I love you too.”
“I’m so glad you’re here,” Cadlyr replied. Though he knew the answer would hurt, he had to know exactly how much time he had to spend with Evlithar. “How long can you stay?”
“You said I was welcome for however long I wished to stay.”
Cadlyr lowered him so he was once again firmly on the ground and then made enough space between them, so he could see the lovely blue eyes he adored. “Yes I did, and I meant every word. I just wanted to know how long I had to enjoy you.”
“Does it make a difference?”
“Yes, it does. If you can stay for a few days, then I’ll let you talk to everyone else here but if it’s for less than that, we’re going to bed now.”
Evlithar’s cheerful laugh filled the air. “I guess I’ll have time to talk to everyone then. I’m not going back to my cousin’s condo.”
“Not anytime soon you mean?”
“No, I mean this is my home. The room we shared at the condo now belongs to my cousin’s new housekeeper. Kalthekor’s promised to visit us here. I honestly don’t know if Tamli will be joining him. She’s not really speaking to me right now, but that’s okay. I have to do what’s right for me, even if it upsets her.”
“And that’s what’s right for you? Being here?”
“Did you change your mind about being with me?”
Cadlyr kissed his nose. “Have you been drinking?”
“No, should I start?”
“After bedtime, maybe.”
“It’s a long time until then,” Evlithar observed.
“The hell it is,” Cadlyr argued as he took a step back, grabbed Evlithar’s hand, and started tugging him toward the house. “We’ll get your stuff later. Now wave to our family. You can talk to them later.”
Evlithar chuckled as he was forced to nearly run to keep up with the rapid pace Cadlyr had set as they hurried past a herd of grinning D’Vaires and down the hallway to their bedroom. “Why can’t I talk to them now?” he teased.
Cadlyr didn’t reply until they were safely locked inside their sanctuary. “Because it’s been three months since we had sex.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You know how I feel about apologies.”
“Yes, but in this case, I owe you one. I should’ve made us a bigger priority. I plan on making it up to you though. I don’t want you to stop loving me.”
“Not loving you is an impossibility. I know you were only trying to help Tamlisyr and Kalthekor.”
“I was, but I also should have stuck up for us and myself.”
“I’m sorry I left you there alone.”
“I understand why you did and if you hadn’t, I might not have ever realized what needed to be done. I missed you, but I’m glad you left.”
“I love you, Ev.”
“I love you too,” he replied as he once again wound his arms around Cadlyr’s neck. Taking his mouth in a deep kiss, Cadlyr palmed his ass. His dick instantly firmed, and he used his grip on Evlithar to press their bodies close. “I need you.”
“I need you too,” Evlithar responded. Cadlyr swept his tongue past Evlithar’s lips, and the other elf moaned as he deepened the caress. Reluctantly releasing Evlithar’s cheeks, he slipped his hands under his tunic. He worked it up and over Evlithar’s head before reaching to tug his own shirt off.
“We can get under the covers if you want,” Cadlyr offered as he shoved his pants down his legs and stepped out of them.
“It’s okay. I want to see you.”
Cadlyr stuck his hands into Evlithar’s waistband and shoved the garment to the floor. Once Evlithar was naked, he wrapped a hand around his beautiful blue cock and began stroking. “Oh, that feels so good,” Evlithar mumbled as he jerked his body upward toward Cadlyr.
“Let’s get on the bed before we fall down.”
After freeing himself, Evlithar ran over and climbed up onto the mattress. He shoved all the throw pillows to the floor and then dropped to his hands and knees. “You’ll need lube,” he tossed out over his shoulder. “Don’t make me wait forever.”
“Yes, Chieftain-mate,” Cadlyr replied as he did what the tyrant told him to. Once he had the lube in his hand, he crawled behind Evlithar. Instead of using it, he opted to lave his tongue over Evlithar’s exposed hole.
“Is that…what are you—oh,” Evlithar managed.
Cadlyr didn’t bother to reply. He took a firm hold of Evlithar’s ass and used his thumbs to spread his cheeks. As Evlithar squirmed, squealed, and beat his feet against the mattress, Cadlyr feasted on him. If he’d known it would please Evlithar so much, he wouldn’t have waited so long to use his mouth where only his fingers and cock had been before. Thinking about his dick, which was already straining to come, reminded Cadlyr how much he wanted to be inside Evlithar.
Though he hated to do it, he removed one hand to begin warming up the lube. Once it no longer felt so cool, he replaced his lips with his fingers and rimmed them around Evlithar’s anus before working them inside. He wanted Evlithar delirious, so he found his prostate and made sure he stroked it with each pass he made. Evlithar’s whole body was quivering, and he was mumbling all kinds of things Cadlyr had no ability to interpret. His own body was so overwhelmed by sensation, his ears were ringing, and his breath was being forced out of his lungs in harsh bursts.
“Can you? Oh yes, you can. You need to use three fingers!” Evlithar’s voice had risen higher with each word. Was he not so frantic to be joined with Evlithar, Cadlyr might’ve had the capacity to laugh at his mate’s condition. Instead, he simply did as he was told and had to use his free hand to grip Evlithar’s hip. The other elf was rocking back so hard, Cadlyr was afraid he’d wind up hurting himself.
Once neither one of them could withstand the anticipation any longer, Cadlyr yanked his digits free and literally poured the lube over his dick. Not only was he slickened up, but so was the bedding as he squeezed some out over Evlithar’s backside.
“For Fate’s sake, that’s fucking cold,” Evlithar shouted.
“Sorry,” Cadlyr mumbled as he shuffled closer. He grabbed the base of his sex and steadily pushed inside of Evlithar.
“You must hurry,” Evlithar demanded.
“I’m not going to just ram it in, relax,” Cadlyr bit out. Evlithar’s heat was enveloping his cock, and all he wanted to do was slam into the elf who was opening so gloriously for him.
“It’s in. It’s in. Come on. Fuck me.”
Holding Evlithar’s sides, Cadlyr began pumping his body into Evlithar’s. Though he needed to come, he did want it to last long enough to please them both. He watched his length glide in and out of Evlithar’s stretched pucker as the other elf dropped down to his elbows on the mattress. Evlithar took the bedding into his fists and rocked backward. Together they found a rhythm which whipped Cadlyr into a frenzy. This was a homecoming and though his desire was to last, he knew he wasn’t going to get his wish.
“Cadlyr, Cadlyr, Cadlyr,” Evlithar chanted as he reached under and grabbed his own dick. He couldn’t have been jerking himself for more than a minute or two when he let out a mighty roar and then his hole clamped down hard around Cadlyr. He couldn’t have fought his release at that point, and he didn’t try. Lightning streaked down his spine and his mouth opened in a silent scream as his balls emptied.
“I forgot how good that was,” he heard Evlithar murmur when Cadlyr’s senses finally kicked back into gear. It felt like his brain had poured into Evlithar when he’d come.
Though he would’ve preferred to stay buried inside of Evlithar forever, he slowly eased out of him. He made quick work of their cleanup before lying down and pulling Evlithar close. “We’re pretty good together.”
Evlithar leaned his head on Cadlyr’s chest. “I should say so.”
“I’m so damn glad you’re here.”
“You’ll have to get an army of people to pry me away.”
“Being at D’Vaire will make you happy?”
“Being with you makes me happy. D’Vaire is a bonus I couldn’t have imagined.”
“Thank you for returning to me.”
Evlithar’s head popped up, and he dropped a kiss on Cadlyr’s mouth. “It’s like I told my cousin. I made the mistake of missing out on a life with you once. The last thing I want to do is make the same mistake twice.”
“No more disregarding Fate.”
“Not for this elf.”
“This one either. I love you, Ev.”
“I love you too.”
“I’m so glad you’re home again.”
“Me too. I won’t leave your side again.”
Cadlyr wrapped his arms around him and held him tight. “A promise I know you’ll keep.” And one Cadlyr would hold true to as well as they navigated their lives together. They were proof that Fate might not always get her timing right, and she might serve up some unnecessary trouble, but she had picked two elves perfect for each other.
Epilogue
Grand Warlock Dra’Kaedan D’Vaire was relaxing in King Aleksander’s office with the man in question, Dra’Kaedan’s often bossy mate, and his twin when he felt a buzzing at the base of his skull.
“Did you feel that?” he blurted out before he thought better of the question.
“Feel what? What’s wrong?” Brogan demanded as he nearly knocked Dra’Kaedan over when he bounded to his feet from the couch where they were bullshitting with their leader.
“Yes, I felt it,” Dre’Kariston replied with a somber look.
“Is anyone going to answer me?” Brogan shouted.
“When you calm down I will,” Dra’Kaedan countered.
“What’s up, Squirt?” Aleksander asked.
“Something’s up with the room where Carvallius and Latarian are being kept. Both of the invisible magic globes Dre’Kariston and I put in there are buzzing,” Dra’Kaedan answered.
“Does that mean they’re awake? Have they left the room? What’s our plan of attack?” Brogan’s questions were fired off in rapid succession as he began pacing in Aleksander’s spacious office.
Dra’Kaedan gave his mate an annoyed glare. “First thing we’re going to do is switch you to decaf.”
Aleksander glanced at the cell phone on his desk and swiped his finger across it. He used his thumbs to type into the device as he announced, “Alaric and Chand will be here in a few seconds.”
Dra’Kaedan was pleased to hear it. The Lich Sentinel had surveillance cameras installed all over and probably already had his men in the field checking out whatever had happened in the room. “Would you sit down?” he asked Brogan. “You keep pacing, and Alaric and Chand are going to teleport right into your fat ass.”
“How many times do I have to tell you it’s not fat? You’d think you would know better than anyone. You’ve seen me naked,” Brogan retorted as he sat back down on the couch next to Dra’Kaedan.
“Let the Lich Sentinel and Arch Lich arrive before they start discussing their sex life,” Dre’Kariston pleaded toward the ceiling.
As if Fate had heard him, Alaric and Chander arrived in a shimmer of magic almost simultaneously.
“Hey guys,” Chander greeted.
“What’s up?” Dra’Kaedan responded.
“Carvallius and Latarian have disappeared. I have footage to show you,” Alaric stated. He handed his phone to Dra’Kaedan and as he hit the key to make it play, he used a bit of his great wealth of magic to create a screen large enough so that everyone in the room could view it at the same time. It was over so fast, Dra’Kaedan had to hit it twice before he understood what he was seeing. In a flash, the two large boxes which housed the resurrected warlocks went from being in the room to disappearing.
“They’re just…gone,” Brogan said.
“Yeah, I sent Albie and Cass to see if they could find a trace of where they went. They should be contacting me any moment to give me an update,” Alaric replied. “How can they go from being there one minute and gone the next?”
“I don’t know why you’re asking us,” Chander retorted. “All of you refused to let any of us sorcerers go to Europe and check out the situation firsthand.”
“I know you would’ve had no problem walking into danger,” Alaric told his mate. “But there’s no way anyone else was going to allow any of you to put yourselves in harm’s way. I’m sure you can certainly speculate on the possibilities surrounding their disappearance.”
“I’ve got a bunch of things running through my mind. I’d like to know what Albie and Cass find before I start narrowing it down enough that we’re working with feasible options,” Chander remarked. He slipped his fingers in between Alaric’s hips and his glowing dagger before leaning up to kiss his chin.
This time it was Alaric whose phone got his attention and he glanced at the screen. “Albie and Cass are incoming.”
A second later, a cloaked Skeleton Lord Albrecht Ruarc-Daray popped into the room. He was followed by Skeleton Lord Cassius Daray, who unlike Albrecht, immediately yanked the hood of his cloak off once he was finished teleporting. Dra’Kaedan knew Albrecht preferred to stay covered, which was a shame since his face and hair were stunning.
“We can find no trace of where they might’ve gone,” Albrecht revealed in his deep voice. “It looks as if the video is just as it appears. They were simply there one moment and gone the next.”
“They’re closer to death than the last time I was there, but that doesn’t explain their disappearance. If it’d been Fate pulling them to the other side of the veil, they wouldn’t have taken the boxes they were placed in with them,” Cassius added.
“No path at all to follow?” Chander asked, though he seemed to expect no answer as he didn’t wait for one before he began speaking again. “I suppose they could’ve been summoned to another realm much as the former sentinel compound was. Perhaps their bodies were encoded with a spell which allowed those who took part in their summoning the ability to call their bodies to any location. It makes the most sense.”
