Precariously Mated #14
Summary:A precarious road is no match for an enduring friendship of two strong hearts.
At the tender age of eighteen, Prince Niko Kyrkosdraconis finds himself at a dragon fair, trying his best to maintain his strict schedule of rituals that have followed him since birth, when Fate steps in. The appearance of two strangers alters the course of his life, and Niko sets upon an unforeseen path. Centuries later, Niko is doing whatever he can to pick up the pieces of his shattered world. Unsteady and uncertain, he struggles to place faith in both himself and those around him. Much to his surprise, he finds himself with a new best friend who he grows to trust like no one else before.
Royal Duke Costas Draconis is happy to be back with the men he calls family after ten years of caring for his irascible parents. Having a knack for money, he is once again entrusted with making the dragons prosperous. Costas is surrounded by loved ones and thriving on the outside, but deep inside he yearns for his mate. Then Niko comes into his life. Costas loves the time they spend together, especially their nightly talks on the roof deck, but he must constantly remind himself that the man is not for him.
Niko and Costas go to great lengths to hide their feelings for one another and everyone else, fearful that the future holds nothing but heartache. But things are never what they seem, and Fate will always have the last word, even when you doubt her. As the obstacles before them are slowly peeled back, will Costas and Niko find a way to call each other mate? The road ahead is precarious, and in the end, Fate will have her say, and only then can Niko and Costas prove that the strongest hearts will prevail.
Dravyn's Garden #15
Summary:In one extraordinary garden, is it possible to grow love?
Drindyr Duke Dravyn D’Vairedracon is is a quiet man who finds happiness amongst his plants. His affinity for living things astonishes those around him since he doesn’t have a drop of druidic blood in his veins. Awed by his talent, his family grows convinced that someday when Fate pairs him, it will be a druid that is at his side. Someone to care for and who shares his love of gardening would be a dream come true for Dravyn.
Killian the Dwyer is a man broken and his secrets are plenty. Once the leader of the Circle of Druids, he handed off his duties and escaped, his whereabouts unknown. Rumors abound that he makes his home high in a tree in a faraway land. He is missed, and many who care for him reach out to no avail. Full of pain and taking comfort in his solitude, Killian only leaves the sanctity of his leafy abode to answer an invitation he finds himself unable to ignore.
Killian makes his first public appearance in centuries, and when he locks eyes with Dravyn, they discover they are mates. Astonished, neither man says a word and Killian retreats. Two and a half years of silence on Killian’s part have passed, and Dravyn is tired of waiting. He wants the other half of his soul but is convinced Killian won’t do for the job. Fearful of what the future holds but afraid of defying Fate, Killian cannot help being intrigued by the talented dragon. As they settle in Dravyn’s expansive garden, if the pair can find common ground, they might just discover the seeds to grow a love without limits.
Imperial Twist #16
Summary:Even for those determined to succeed, Fate is no guarantee.
Imperial Duke Damian Draconis has always known he would have two mates. His whole life, he’s yearned to prove to his parents and the world that such a match is not doomed for failure. His household is brimming with happy couples, and he wants the same joy in his heart—but on his own terms. Consumed with his desire to challenge the unfair assumption that his goal is foolhardy, he’s convinced it takes only determination to succeed.
A walk into a dingy coffee shop proves that Fate does indeed have two men in mind for him, and Damian moves forward with soaring resolve. Though all is not as it seems, with some convincing on Damian’s part, the three men come to an agreement to proceed. But right from the start obstacles make themselves known, pushing them to the brink.
Damian soon learns that what you want isn’t always what you need, upending all he thought he knew. He never imagined nor is he prepared for the way his true mate lights up his soul. In the end Damian will find that determination is not everything, and sometimes you must ignore what Fate wants if it means following your heart.
Unpredictable Fate #17
Summary:Everyone deserves a second chance in life and love.
Chieftain Kalthekor Valzadari is an elf with many regrets. Once a man concerned only with what would bring glory to his tribe at the expense of people he should’ve protected, everything changes when his son is born. Trapped in a loveless matebond, Kalthekor wants to leave his old life behind, but he is bound for eternity. Still, he can’t help but wish for freedom and a relationship as rich in joy as those around him.
Although Aristos Centaurus is brother to the leader of the Centaurs, he is unable to forgive or forget that he once spent centuries committing inexcusable acts of war. With so much blood on his hands, he cannot ignore that he should have been sentenced to death. Aris might help the centaurs now, but he keeps his distance, knowing better than to befriend any of his brethren. He doesn’t deserve happiness or love, but he yearns for it nonetheless.
A misunderstanding sends Aris from the isolation of his brother’s house to Council Headquarters, where he finds himself staring into Kalthekor’s blue eyes. After an instant connection, both are ready to have a partner, and believe they can find what they need in each other. As the pair build a life and a home together, Kalthekor and Aristos realize that although they have created a wonderful foundation based on friendship and love, if they are to move forward as a family, they must find a way to face and reconcile their pasts. Only fate knows if it will tear them apart or if a blissful future awaits them.
Precariously Mated #14
Niko lifted his beer to his lips and drank deeply. It was a bit cool outside as the sky darkened, but he wouldn’t dare retreat indoors—not unless he and Costas could find another beautiful spot to hang out and discuss whatever topic burdening their minds. It was not a ritual but a tradition they’d built since the moment he arrived.
“Why are you grinning at your beer?”
Glancing up, Niko smiled brighter. “I just realized it’s been three months since I moved here.”
“Wow, has it really?”
“Yes, and this was the second week in a row I was able to handle scrubbing my bathroom and bedroom only two times.” He refused to feel ashamed of those moments when his anxiety ruled over everything and he had to give in to compulsive actions. There were days when he went to bed happy that he’d only obsessed over things he didn’t want to forget and others where he was frustrated that even while trying to rest he felt tension. It was all a part of who he was, and just like the thoughts that still circled until he forced himself to stop listening, Niko handled it the best he could.
“Is there anything you haven’t succeeded in since you arrived?”
“I don’t think I’ve improved very much with my cooking,” Niko answered thoughtfully. The men in the house didn’t complain, but so far nothing he’d made was tempting to his own palate. Maybe he was being too picky. If his new family enjoyed it, then why couldn’t he? He wished he had more time to experiment but with his rituals, desire to read books to improve at his job, and the schedule the royals had to maintain with events he had to stick with weekends and one or two nights a week. He deemed himself lucky that no matter what was going on, Costas always found time to meet him out on the roof deck each night.
“Why do you say that?” Costas’s voice sounded off somehow, but Niko didn’t see anything troubling in his gaze.
“I don’t think it’s that tasty.”
“I’m sure you just need to find recipes with ingredients you like more.”
“Perhaps that’s it.” However, he’d purposely set out to pick ones that featured his favorite things, so Niko wasn’t sure he agreed but he didn’t want to hurt Costas’s feelings by dismissing his suggestion.
“The good news is that you’re trying.”
“I feel like all I’ve done since I got here is try new things. It’s been so wonderful to have so many opportunities. I can hardly fathom everything I’ve learned of this incredible Council and the people in it. I like my job even if it intimidates me still.”
“Sometimes we have to do things that scare us for our own good.”
“That does seem to be the case for me. I thought my anxiety would grow with new experiences but instead, I’m doing better at managing it. It certainly hasn’t come close to disappearing and I do freak out internally on a regular basis, but I’m slowly learning new ways to cope.”
“I’m so proud of you.”
Niko grinned at the handsome man reclining next to his chaise. Costas’s approval meant the world to him, but the most important person he’d impressed was himself. His dragon flew every few days and each time they soared together, Niko was granted more of his fortitude. Together Niko and his beast were forging themselves into a more confident version of himself, less reliant upon fear. It did help that everything that made him sick to his stomach was still in Greece. Niko still woke at night from terrifying memories of his time with his mates, but he refused to stay a prisoner to it. “Me too.”
“Elf’s excited about the law to help shifters get their training.”
“I know. I’ve been fielding calls from other shifter leaders for the past two weeks. You had a great idea, and I don’t see how it won’t be passed. There has hardly been any dissension.”
“I was inspired by you. You shouldn’t have had to shift by yourself without any training.”
As Niko examined his life, those scary minutes or however long he’d sat outside waiting for his dragon didn’t resonate as deeply as other moments. Yes, he’d been afraid, but his beast has assured him they were going to be okay. It was his position as mate to Andriana and Gelon that had broken him in so many ways. But those weren’t things he could speak to Costas about despite their close friendship. “I suppose not.”
“You have a faraway look on your face.”
“I was considering my past. It seems as if each day my picture of it alters.”
“Sometimes profound changes can do that. I had a similar experience when I had to leave here to take care of my parents. Suddenly I realized how much I’d taken for granted.”
“You gave up one family to do your duty to another.”
“Yeah, and it was cold comfort when my father berated me as my mother cried because she couldn’t figure out who either of us was.” Costas leaned his head back as he frowned. “I hope they’re happy now without pain or lacking anything they want.”
“Me too, and I’m sorry you weren’t able to resolve all your issues with them.”
“My father refused to listen to my feelings on any subject. I fooled myself into believing we could ever mend what was broken.”
“My father was much the same. It was his way and I had no voice.” Niko understood now that his parents had never loved him, and they’d kicked him out at the first opportunity. Growing up without their affection had made him believe he was the one lacking when the fault lay with them.
“You know, it’s been a long time since you spoke to him. Have you considered writing to him now? We know his kingdom is part of the Council.”
“I was cast aside because he disapproved of my mates. They are still the same. And that was simply an excuse anyway. I can see now that he never cared for me or my feelings.”
“Are you sure? Once they pass, there’s no winding back the clock.”
Niko turned to Costas and set his beer down. “Do you know I never learned to ride a horse?”
Costas lifted an eyebrow. “How in the world did you get around? It’s not like we had cars when you were young.”
“He decreed that I was to ride in a cart.”
“Did he give a reason?”
“I was a shy child who was overwhelmed by things easily. I’ve mentioned before that my sister practically raised me. Nitsa was always there to take me outside to play or read me stories. My father hated it. He told me I did nothing but weep and hide behind her skirts. I think I was five or six years old at the time. When the other young boys were being given lessons in weaponry, he told me I wasn’t welcome to learn. He wasn’t going to waste any coin on having a blade made or take up any of the trainers’ time with the likes of me.”
“Your father sounds like an asshole.”
“Why are you grinning at your beer?”
Glancing up, Niko smiled brighter. “I just realized it’s been three months since I moved here.”
“Wow, has it really?”
“Yes, and this was the second week in a row I was able to handle scrubbing my bathroom and bedroom only two times.” He refused to feel ashamed of those moments when his anxiety ruled over everything and he had to give in to compulsive actions. There were days when he went to bed happy that he’d only obsessed over things he didn’t want to forget and others where he was frustrated that even while trying to rest he felt tension. It was all a part of who he was, and just like the thoughts that still circled until he forced himself to stop listening, Niko handled it the best he could.
“Is there anything you haven’t succeeded in since you arrived?”
“I don’t think I’ve improved very much with my cooking,” Niko answered thoughtfully. The men in the house didn’t complain, but so far nothing he’d made was tempting to his own palate. Maybe he was being too picky. If his new family enjoyed it, then why couldn’t he? He wished he had more time to experiment but with his rituals, desire to read books to improve at his job, and the schedule the royals had to maintain with events he had to stick with weekends and one or two nights a week. He deemed himself lucky that no matter what was going on, Costas always found time to meet him out on the roof deck each night.
“Why do you say that?” Costas’s voice sounded off somehow, but Niko didn’t see anything troubling in his gaze.
“I don’t think it’s that tasty.”
“I’m sure you just need to find recipes with ingredients you like more.”
“Perhaps that’s it.” However, he’d purposely set out to pick ones that featured his favorite things, so Niko wasn’t sure he agreed but he didn’t want to hurt Costas’s feelings by dismissing his suggestion.
“The good news is that you’re trying.”
“I feel like all I’ve done since I got here is try new things. It’s been so wonderful to have so many opportunities. I can hardly fathom everything I’ve learned of this incredible Council and the people in it. I like my job even if it intimidates me still.”
“Sometimes we have to do things that scare us for our own good.”
“That does seem to be the case for me. I thought my anxiety would grow with new experiences but instead, I’m doing better at managing it. It certainly hasn’t come close to disappearing and I do freak out internally on a regular basis, but I’m slowly learning new ways to cope.”
“I’m so proud of you.”
Niko grinned at the handsome man reclining next to his chaise. Costas’s approval meant the world to him, but the most important person he’d impressed was himself. His dragon flew every few days and each time they soared together, Niko was granted more of his fortitude. Together Niko and his beast were forging themselves into a more confident version of himself, less reliant upon fear. It did help that everything that made him sick to his stomach was still in Greece. Niko still woke at night from terrifying memories of his time with his mates, but he refused to stay a prisoner to it. “Me too.”
“Elf’s excited about the law to help shifters get their training.”
“I know. I’ve been fielding calls from other shifter leaders for the past two weeks. You had a great idea, and I don’t see how it won’t be passed. There has hardly been any dissension.”
“I was inspired by you. You shouldn’t have had to shift by yourself without any training.”
As Niko examined his life, those scary minutes or however long he’d sat outside waiting for his dragon didn’t resonate as deeply as other moments. Yes, he’d been afraid, but his beast has assured him they were going to be okay. It was his position as mate to Andriana and Gelon that had broken him in so many ways. But those weren’t things he could speak to Costas about despite their close friendship. “I suppose not.”
“You have a faraway look on your face.”
“I was considering my past. It seems as if each day my picture of it alters.”
“Sometimes profound changes can do that. I had a similar experience when I had to leave here to take care of my parents. Suddenly I realized how much I’d taken for granted.”
“You gave up one family to do your duty to another.”
“Yeah, and it was cold comfort when my father berated me as my mother cried because she couldn’t figure out who either of us was.” Costas leaned his head back as he frowned. “I hope they’re happy now without pain or lacking anything they want.”
“Me too, and I’m sorry you weren’t able to resolve all your issues with them.”
“My father refused to listen to my feelings on any subject. I fooled myself into believing we could ever mend what was broken.”
“My father was much the same. It was his way and I had no voice.” Niko understood now that his parents had never loved him, and they’d kicked him out at the first opportunity. Growing up without their affection had made him believe he was the one lacking when the fault lay with them.
“You know, it’s been a long time since you spoke to him. Have you considered writing to him now? We know his kingdom is part of the Council.”
“I was cast aside because he disapproved of my mates. They are still the same. And that was simply an excuse anyway. I can see now that he never cared for me or my feelings.”
“Are you sure? Once they pass, there’s no winding back the clock.”
Niko turned to Costas and set his beer down. “Do you know I never learned to ride a horse?”
Costas lifted an eyebrow. “How in the world did you get around? It’s not like we had cars when you were young.”
“He decreed that I was to ride in a cart.”
“Did he give a reason?”
“I was a shy child who was overwhelmed by things easily. I’ve mentioned before that my sister practically raised me. Nitsa was always there to take me outside to play or read me stories. My father hated it. He told me I did nothing but weep and hide behind her skirts. I think I was five or six years old at the time. When the other young boys were being given lessons in weaponry, he told me I wasn’t welcome to learn. He wasn’t going to waste any coin on having a blade made or take up any of the trainers’ time with the likes of me.”
“Your father sounds like an asshole.”
Dravyn's Garden #15
Yanking off his gloves, Dravyn crammed them into the back pocket of his cargo pants. Crossing his arms over his chest, he waited for the guy to cross the distance between them. He was the last person on this planet Dravyn wanted to see, but if he wanted his freedom, he was going to have to deal with Killian the Dwyer.
“This is an amazing garden for a dragon,” Killian said once he was a few feet from where Dravyn had his boots planted into the sandy dirt.
“For a dragon?”
“Shifters aren’t normally known for their cultivating skills.”
“What exactly do you think we are known for?” Dravyn asked, wondering why the hell they were having this weird-ass conversation. He didn’t think Killian could be any more condescending if he tried.
“The obvious answer is for going from man to beast.”
“And when we aren’t in beast form, what is it you think we do?”
“I don’t know. I’ll confess I don’t really know any shifters.”
“You live in a tree; do you know anybody?”
“What’s wrong with living in a tree?”
“Look, I don’t give a shit where you live. What are you doing here?”
“I thought that would be obvious. We’re mates. I’m here to see if we can make things work.”
“I wrote you letters for two and a half years. You ignored them,” Dravyn pointed out. “So, excuse me if I’m surprised you have any interest in Fate.”
“Druids believe in Fate.”
“Apparently on their own sweet-ass timetable, with no concern for anyone else’s feelings.”
“I know you’re angry, and you have every right to be but—”
“But nothing, Killian the Dwyer. Go back to your tree.”
“I have a lot of explaining to do and—”
“Excuses to make.”
Killian’s brownish-green eyes with their interesting glints of gold narrowed. His face was even more remarkably handsome than Dravyn recalled, which only pissed him off more. The glossy hair was shaggier, and he seemed to have forgotten to put on shoes, but Killian was a perfect male specimen of lanky proportions. “Are you going to let me finish a statement?”
“You can talk all you want,” Dravyn retorted. He pulled his gloves out of his pants and tugged them on. “I’ve got work to do. Take your damn plants back too, I don’t want them near my garden.”
“I wasn’t going to leave them behind, so I’m going to need space in your precious garden.”
“Nope, get lost. You’ve got experience in that. Like when you walked into a ballroom and refused to acknowledge your mate, then teleported home to your tree.”
“You seem very bitter about the tree thing.”
“Must be nice to ignore your responsibilities and hide in a tree.”
“Hiding?”
“You heard me. Now beat it so I can work,” Dravyn growled as he crouched to check on his hybrid. There was no way he was going to lose another one. This plant had taken over a year of work to create, and each time he took one out of his cramped greenhouse, it refused to bloom and died. He wanted to give a cutting to Ellery for his solarium, so he had to solve this puzzle.
“I don’t know where to go. Where’s our room?”
Dravyn rocketed back to his feet and whipped around. “Our room?”
“I’m guessing you don’t sleep in a tree, as you’re strongly opposed to anyone occupying one. I promise you it doesn’t hurt the tree in question.”
“I’m not opposed—shit, who cares. That’s your business, not mine. What you aren’t doing is sleeping in my room.”
Killian took off and marched toward the deck that accessed Dravyn’s section of the house.
“Hey, where the hell do you think you’re going?” Dravyn demanded as he stalked after the sexy druid.
“That deck.”
“Stay away from it,” Dravyn snarled, but Killian was already thundering up the wooden steps.
“Wow, you hypocrite. Look at this,” Killian crowed once Dravyn got up to the wide deck. “That’s a bed in a tree.”
“Get off my deck.”
Killian stuck his head into the open doors of Dravyn’s sitting room. “Indoor and outdoor living. Very nice. Oh, and there are two beds, so we don’t have to share right away.” Killian dropped his bag on the one nestled in the tree. “I’ll take this one until we get to know one another better.”
“You aren’t sleeping in my room.”
“It’s a beautiful space.”
“It was until you marched into it.”
“It’s okay, we have to try. We might not be able to make this work, but at least we’ll have given it our best shot.”
Dravyn shook his head and pulled his baseball cap lower, over his eyes. The druid was stubborn, and he wasn’t going to sacrifice his hybrid for this asshat. “You need to go. Take your plants, your bare-ass feet, and get lost.”
Killian’s gaze dropped to his toes as Dravyn stomped back down the stairs. “I hate shoes.”
“Well, I hate you.”
“Okay, I deserve that,” Killian called after him.
“You should also think about a haircut.”
“Look who’s talking.”
“This is an amazing garden for a dragon,” Killian said once he was a few feet from where Dravyn had his boots planted into the sandy dirt.
“For a dragon?”
“Shifters aren’t normally known for their cultivating skills.”
“What exactly do you think we are known for?” Dravyn asked, wondering why the hell they were having this weird-ass conversation. He didn’t think Killian could be any more condescending if he tried.
“The obvious answer is for going from man to beast.”
“And when we aren’t in beast form, what is it you think we do?”
“I don’t know. I’ll confess I don’t really know any shifters.”
“You live in a tree; do you know anybody?”
“What’s wrong with living in a tree?”
“Look, I don’t give a shit where you live. What are you doing here?”
“I thought that would be obvious. We’re mates. I’m here to see if we can make things work.”
“I wrote you letters for two and a half years. You ignored them,” Dravyn pointed out. “So, excuse me if I’m surprised you have any interest in Fate.”
“Druids believe in Fate.”
“Apparently on their own sweet-ass timetable, with no concern for anyone else’s feelings.”
“I know you’re angry, and you have every right to be but—”
“But nothing, Killian the Dwyer. Go back to your tree.”
“I have a lot of explaining to do and—”
“Excuses to make.”
Killian’s brownish-green eyes with their interesting glints of gold narrowed. His face was even more remarkably handsome than Dravyn recalled, which only pissed him off more. The glossy hair was shaggier, and he seemed to have forgotten to put on shoes, but Killian was a perfect male specimen of lanky proportions. “Are you going to let me finish a statement?”
“You can talk all you want,” Dravyn retorted. He pulled his gloves out of his pants and tugged them on. “I’ve got work to do. Take your damn plants back too, I don’t want them near my garden.”
“I wasn’t going to leave them behind, so I’m going to need space in your precious garden.”
“Nope, get lost. You’ve got experience in that. Like when you walked into a ballroom and refused to acknowledge your mate, then teleported home to your tree.”
“Must be nice to ignore your responsibilities and hide in a tree.”
“Hiding?”
“You heard me. Now beat it so I can work,” Dravyn growled as he crouched to check on his hybrid. There was no way he was going to lose another one. This plant had taken over a year of work to create, and each time he took one out of his cramped greenhouse, it refused to bloom and died. He wanted to give a cutting to Ellery for his solarium, so he had to solve this puzzle.
“I don’t know where to go. Where’s our room?”
Dravyn rocketed back to his feet and whipped around. “Our room?”
“I’m guessing you don’t sleep in a tree, as you’re strongly opposed to anyone occupying one. I promise you it doesn’t hurt the tree in question.”
“I’m not opposed—shit, who cares. That’s your business, not mine. What you aren’t doing is sleeping in my room.”
Killian took off and marched toward the deck that accessed Dravyn’s section of the house.
“Hey, where the hell do you think you’re going?” Dravyn demanded as he stalked after the sexy druid.
“That deck.”
“Stay away from it,” Dravyn snarled, but Killian was already thundering up the wooden steps.
“Wow, you hypocrite. Look at this,” Killian crowed once Dravyn got up to the wide deck. “That’s a bed in a tree.”
“Get off my deck.”
Killian stuck his head into the open doors of Dravyn’s sitting room. “Indoor and outdoor living. Very nice. Oh, and there are two beds, so we don’t have to share right away.” Killian dropped his bag on the one nestled in the tree. “I’ll take this one until we get to know one another better.”
“You aren’t sleeping in my room.”
“It’s a beautiful space.”
“It was until you marched into it.”
“It’s okay, we have to try. We might not be able to make this work, but at least we’ll have given it our best shot.”
Dravyn shook his head and pulled his baseball cap lower, over his eyes. The druid was stubborn, and he wasn’t going to sacrifice his hybrid for this asshat. “You need to go. Take your plants, your bare-ass feet, and get lost.”
Killian’s gaze dropped to his toes as Dravyn stomped back down the stairs. “I hate shoes.”
“Well, I hate you.”
“Okay, I deserve that,” Killian called after him.
“You should also think about a haircut.”
“Look who’s talking.”
Imperial Twist #16
“Aren’t you scared someone is going to bust into the kitchen and steal Chrys?” Praxis teased in between bites of eggs and bacon.
Damian gave his youngest sibling a hard glare, though it was difficult to keep his smile at bay. He liked the cheeky kid that had somehow grown into a well-adjusted teenager despite Andriana’s and Gelon’s influences. “You do realize that you’re insulting your own dad-mate, right? He’s going to be here.”
When Praxis had grown close to his father and Costas, he’d borrowed the term Trystan D’Vaire used for his own parent not related by blood—the former Emperor Conley. “No way, because he’s a financial duke, and you’re the one in charge of security. Besides, you literally never leave Chrys alone.”
“Right, like I follow him and Elf into their room at night.”
Praxis laughed so hard he snorted. “Gross. No, I mean like when he leaves the house. You’re always with him.”
“He’s not going anywhere this morning.”
“What if he wanted to?”
Chrysander said nothing as he grinned around his coffee mug. There would be no help from that quarter.
“You know what? I think there’s too much of an age gap between you and me to have sibling rivalry, and yet you’re always crawling up my butt about something. What gives?”
“I’m the youngest and you’re the oldest. It’s my job to annoy you.”
“You’re doing a great job.”
“Thanks. I’m an overachiever.”
“I know it. You got top marks in every subject this quarter,” Damian commented proudly. Not only was the kid friendly and nice but wickedly smart.
“Yeah, somehow Dad-mate has helped me not suck at math.”
“You didn’t suck—you didn’t have any opportunity to be taught what you needed until you arrived here,” Niko corrected.
“Sometimes you’re too nice, Dad.”
“He’s always too nice. It’s one of his many fine qualities,” Damian retorted.
Damian stood and stuck his plate in the dishwasher. “Chrys, call or text me if you need to go out.”
“Yeah, so Damianos can crap his pants as he races out of the coffee shop,” Praxis teased.
Because it annoyed him, Damian ruffled Praxis’s hair. The fourteen-year-old predictably slapped at his hand. “Exactly. I’m going to leave Elf in charge around here since the rest of you like to run amok,” Damian joked as he saluted His Majesty. He strode over to the threshold of the living area and stopped when he heard Praxis’s chuckle. “And Costas, you can give Tiri a dollar for giving me the finger.”
“He really does have eyes in the back of his head,” Praxis said as Damian got his feet moving again. He didn’t need to see behind him to know what Costas was doing. Damian had learned everything about being a duke from Costas, and they’d been side by side from the time he and Chrys were a century old. It was comforting to know your family so well you could guess correctly about their actions even when you weren’t facing them.
It was probably foolish, but Damian couldn’t bring himself to leave his communication device at home as he waved at the duke that manned the desk outside the condo and stepped into the elevator. Being the Imperial Duke is too much a part of who I am to simply clock out when my duty for the day is done, he thought as he rode down to the garage level. Since he was so often with Their Majesties, he rarely drove. However, he kept a few snazzy beasts for when the mood hit, and he chose the black Ferrari for his jaunt to the coffee shop.
Damian gave his youngest sibling a hard glare, though it was difficult to keep his smile at bay. He liked the cheeky kid that had somehow grown into a well-adjusted teenager despite Andriana’s and Gelon’s influences. “You do realize that you’re insulting your own dad-mate, right? He’s going to be here.”
When Praxis had grown close to his father and Costas, he’d borrowed the term Trystan D’Vaire used for his own parent not related by blood—the former Emperor Conley. “No way, because he’s a financial duke, and you’re the one in charge of security. Besides, you literally never leave Chrys alone.”
“Right, like I follow him and Elf into their room at night.”
Praxis laughed so hard he snorted. “Gross. No, I mean like when he leaves the house. You’re always with him.”
“He’s not going anywhere this morning.”
“What if he wanted to?”
Chrysander said nothing as he grinned around his coffee mug. There would be no help from that quarter.
“You know what? I think there’s too much of an age gap between you and me to have sibling rivalry, and yet you’re always crawling up my butt about something. What gives?”
“I’m the youngest and you’re the oldest. It’s my job to annoy you.”
“You’re doing a great job.”
“Thanks. I’m an overachiever.”
“Yeah, somehow Dad-mate has helped me not suck at math.”
“You didn’t suck—you didn’t have any opportunity to be taught what you needed until you arrived here,” Niko corrected.
“Sometimes you’re too nice, Dad.”
“He’s always too nice. It’s one of his many fine qualities,” Damian retorted.
Damian stood and stuck his plate in the dishwasher. “Chrys, call or text me if you need to go out.”
“Yeah, so Damianos can crap his pants as he races out of the coffee shop,” Praxis teased.
Because it annoyed him, Damian ruffled Praxis’s hair. The fourteen-year-old predictably slapped at his hand. “Exactly. I’m going to leave Elf in charge around here since the rest of you like to run amok,” Damian joked as he saluted His Majesty. He strode over to the threshold of the living area and stopped when he heard Praxis’s chuckle. “And Costas, you can give Tiri a dollar for giving me the finger.”
“He really does have eyes in the back of his head,” Praxis said as Damian got his feet moving again. He didn’t need to see behind him to know what Costas was doing. Damian had learned everything about being a duke from Costas, and they’d been side by side from the time he and Chrys were a century old. It was comforting to know your family so well you could guess correctly about their actions even when you weren’t facing them.
It was probably foolish, but Damian couldn’t bring himself to leave his communication device at home as he waved at the duke that manned the desk outside the condo and stepped into the elevator. Being the Imperial Duke is too much a part of who I am to simply clock out when my duty for the day is done, he thought as he rode down to the garage level. Since he was so often with Their Majesties, he rarely drove. However, he kept a few snazzy beasts for when the mood hit, and he chose the black Ferrari for his jaunt to the coffee shop.
Unpredictable Fate #17
With nimble fingers, Aristos logged into CouncilParlay and searched the list of assigned bills for the number that matched what he deemed as a stupid one. He was perplexed when he couldn’t find it, so he looked at the drop-down box and found that it was only showing the uncompleted ones. Perhaps I set it to “In progress,” Aristos thought, though he had no memory of doing so. He decided to make it show everything, so he could find it in the correct numerical order.
“There it is,” he muttered aloud. But his glory was short-lived as next to it were the words “Notes available.” Aristos’s brows drew together as he wondered how that was fucking possible when he hadn’t uploaded them, so he clicked on it. At the top of it, where it should have listed his name and his shifter community, he found that he’d been usurped by an elf. Since he had the entire advisory panel’s contact information, Aristos quickly opened the file and found the number he was searching for.
“Chieftain Valzadari’s office, this is Walker speaking, how can I help you?”
“What do you mean, ‘Walker’? That’s not an elven name,” Aristos said without thought. Perhaps so much time without communicating beyond the men in a house who merely tolerate me isn’t doing wonders for my manners.
“You are correct, sir. I am not an elf. May I ask who this is, and how I can assist you today?”
“I’m sorry. I don’t get out much. I need to speak with Chieftain Valzadari. My name is Aristos Centaurus; I work for the archon. This is regarding the advisory panel. If he can’t take my call, I can leave a message.”
“Mr. Centaurus, if you don’t mind holding, I’ll see if the chieftain is available.”
Aristos assured him that he could certainly stand by, and he drummed his fingers on his desk as he pondered his wasted afternoon. He barely had time to ruminate when a cultured voice answered, and the easily detectable lilt of a man who’d likely spoken Elvish for centuries or more before learning English came through.
“This is Chieftain Valzadari, thank you for calling, Mr. Centaurus. How can I help you today?”
“Yeah, hi, Chieftain, I’m hoping you can help me by explaining why I’m on CouncilParlay and trying to upload this bill only to find that you’ve done my job for me.”
“I don’t understand, I only took care of the bills assigned to me by Their Majesties last Friday.”
“Well, obviously you didn’t, Chieftain, or I wouldn’t be on the phone with you right now. I don’t appreciate busting my ass all afternoon to read something and take the kind of intelligent, insightful notes our Council leaders require, only to find that I’ve been usurped. You need to stick with what numbers you get, and if you want to switch or something, you need to use this fancy software and communicate that. My time is valuable, and I don’t appreciate wasting it.”
“I understand the value of time, Mr. Centaurus. My own is limited, and I certainly did not take it upon myself to add to my workload by doing something assigned to the archon. I can offer you no explanation as to why you believe you were delegated something that clearly I was given on Friday, but I would suggest that you double-check with the archon or perhaps consult your own notes for a numerical or clerical error,” Chieftain Valzadari responded, and though his tone wasn’t angry like Aristos’s, it was clear to him that the elf was not pleased.
“I certainly didn’t make a mistake, Chieftain. We could go back and forth over this, but we both have shit to do. Just make sure you don’t do my work next time,” Aristos retorted.
“Mr. Centaurus, I have already explained that I did not. Since you refuse to consider that the error might not be my own, I see no point in continuing this conversation.”
“Me either, Chieftain. I know how to do my damn job,” Aristos snapped and didn’t bother saying any kind of good-bye before he ended the conversation. “Damn elves are always fucking things up for me.”
“There it is,” he muttered aloud. But his glory was short-lived as next to it were the words “Notes available.” Aristos’s brows drew together as he wondered how that was fucking possible when he hadn’t uploaded them, so he clicked on it. At the top of it, where it should have listed his name and his shifter community, he found that he’d been usurped by an elf. Since he had the entire advisory panel’s contact information, Aristos quickly opened the file and found the number he was searching for.
“Chieftain Valzadari’s office, this is Walker speaking, how can I help you?”
“What do you mean, ‘Walker’? That’s not an elven name,” Aristos said without thought. Perhaps so much time without communicating beyond the men in a house who merely tolerate me isn’t doing wonders for my manners.
“You are correct, sir. I am not an elf. May I ask who this is, and how I can assist you today?”
“I’m sorry. I don’t get out much. I need to speak with Chieftain Valzadari. My name is Aristos Centaurus; I work for the archon. This is regarding the advisory panel. If he can’t take my call, I can leave a message.”
“Mr. Centaurus, if you don’t mind holding, I’ll see if the chieftain is available.”
Aristos assured him that he could certainly stand by, and he drummed his fingers on his desk as he pondered his wasted afternoon. He barely had time to ruminate when a cultured voice answered, and the easily detectable lilt of a man who’d likely spoken Elvish for centuries or more before learning English came through.
“Yeah, hi, Chieftain, I’m hoping you can help me by explaining why I’m on CouncilParlay and trying to upload this bill only to find that you’ve done my job for me.”
“I don’t understand, I only took care of the bills assigned to me by Their Majesties last Friday.”
“Well, obviously you didn’t, Chieftain, or I wouldn’t be on the phone with you right now. I don’t appreciate busting my ass all afternoon to read something and take the kind of intelligent, insightful notes our Council leaders require, only to find that I’ve been usurped. You need to stick with what numbers you get, and if you want to switch or something, you need to use this fancy software and communicate that. My time is valuable, and I don’t appreciate wasting it.”
“I understand the value of time, Mr. Centaurus. My own is limited, and I certainly did not take it upon myself to add to my workload by doing something assigned to the archon. I can offer you no explanation as to why you believe you were delegated something that clearly I was given on Friday, but I would suggest that you double-check with the archon or perhaps consult your own notes for a numerical or clerical error,” Chieftain Valzadari responded, and though his tone wasn’t angry like Aristos’s, it was clear to him that the elf was not pleased.
“I certainly didn’t make a mistake, Chieftain. We could go back and forth over this, but we both have shit to do. Just make sure you don’t do my work next time,” Aristos retorted.
“Mr. Centaurus, I have already explained that I did not. Since you refuse to consider that the error might not be my own, I see no point in continuing this conversation.”
“Me either, Chieftain. I know how to do my damn job,” Aristos snapped and didn’t bother saying any kind of good-bye before he ended the conversation. “Damn elves are always fucking things up for me.”
Saturday's Series Spotlight
Monday's Mystical Magic
Author Bio:
Jessamyn Kingley lives in Nevada where she begs the men in her head to tell her their amazing stories which she dutifully writes it all down in what has become a small mountain of notebooks. She falls in love with each couple and swears whatever book she wrote last is her absolute favorite.
Jessamyn is married and working toward remembering to start the dishwasher without being distracted by the scent of the magical detergent. For personal enjoyment, she aids in cat rescue while slashing and gashing her way through mobs in various MMORPGs. Caffeine is her very best friend and is only cast aside briefly for the sin better known as BBQ potato chips.
Precariously Mated #14
Dravyn's Garden #15
Imperial Twist #16
Unpredictable Fate #17
