Page 29 of Heart of the High King
I’ll be at the hotel for two nights.
“Open this fucking door, Paunchy,” Sullivan roared. With an epic eye roll, Rafferty stood and let his glaring brother into his tiny space. “I’m going to pick out two outfits. Wear them. I have shit to do, and don’t embarrass yourself by eating like a pig. And you just shifted when you visited before; you don’t need your beast to get used to doing it again. I’ll call to get you teleported and a rental car.”
“Fine.”
Sullivan slapped the clothes onto the bed, where Rafferty had sat back down, and marched out without a word. With a shrug, Rafferty returned his attention to his lifeline with Aleksander.
Have it your way but it’d spare you the expense of the hotel. Can I at least send someone to teleport you?
Sullivan’s already taken care of it.
Next time let me, okay? Any one of the warlocks or druids here would be happy to come get you. Is Sullivan coming too?
No, he’s too busy.
When Aleksander didn’t reply immediately, Rafferty pulled out a bag and stuffed his clothes, as well as the book he was reading, into it. His phone didn’t have a single notification on it until after he got his toiletries inside and had it zipped shut.
Guess what I just did?Aleksander asked via text message. A second later there was a gif of a dancing animated character.
You’re excited so I think it must be something awful.
You really are starting to get to know me, Rafe.
Rafferty smiled into the empty room. Each day he did feel like he was growing closer to Aleksander, and much to his surprise, he’d even had a dream a few nights ago that had stunned the hell out of him. Aleksander had kissed him and when Rafferty woke up, he didn’t want to immediately dismiss it. Instead he allowed it to sit in the recesses of his mind while he wondered what it meant. For all the thinking he did, he still wasn’t sure. Did he like the idea? Was that something he wanted? Why was he only not bothered by the idea of a kiss but one with a man? Shaking off the questions, Rafferty went back to his phone.Enough stalling. What’ve you done now?
Be nice. I just got Noir and Kendrick to make you those little potatoes with the rosemary for dinner tonight.
That was one of the things about Aleksander Rafferty liked the most. The man never missed a detail.Is there steak too?
Did my dragon just cross the veil or something? Of course there’s steak. Dray’s going to BBQ them.
“Paunchy! Get your fat ass down here so I can drive you to get teleported,” Sullivan hollered from the first floor.
Leaving now for closest Dérive station.
Good, come over as soon as you get settled in the hotel.
The trip didn’t take long but Rafferty had hated teleporting. Running his tongue across his teeth, he tried to get moisture into his mouth and rubbed his belly as it gurgled. It was strange to be in Arizona without Sullivan, but there was also a welcoming sense of freedom. In his entire life, he’d never been anywhere alone, and he liked going to Aleksander’s house, knowing there was no one monitoring his every move. After getting checked into the hotel and with his stomach calmer, Rafferty made the short drive to D’Vaire. The moment he arrived at the gate and announced himself, it swung open and he maneuvered his way to the multi-car garage and parked.
Once he got outside of his rented vehicle, he saw Aleksander leaning against the front of the house, wearing a smile. While Rafferty had hoped things wouldn’t be awkward, a feeling of discomfort flowed through him as he walked toward the High King. But this time it was different—he was excited to see him, but Rafferty wasn’t sure what to do. Did he wave, shake hands, or give in to an odd urge to hug him?
“I’m glad to see you,” Aleksander said, standing up straight.
With those words, Rafferty calmed, and he went with the smile he had no hope of containing. “It’s wonderful to be back.”
Aleksander swung one of the double doors that led into the house open and gestured to it. “Come on in and say hello to everyone.”
“Sure.”
Rafferty walked inside and waited for Aleksander to get in front of him before he headed down the hallway to the great room, where members of the family were lounging comfortably or working on exquisite textiles he’d checked out on the Elven D’Vaire website. Trying not to be a dork, he waved and said hello to people. They passed through the kitchen, where Kendrick returned his greeting but studied him carefully, as if he were waiting for horns to sprout from his head.
Noirin handed Aleksander a tray with two glasses of tea and a plate of crackers, cheese, and bread, and the High King led them out onto the deck.
“Grab a seat,” Aleksander directed, setting their snack on a table between two chaise lounges. “And help yourself.”
Rafferty shouldn’t indulge; the last thing he needed was additional calories, but he snagged a slice of cheese.
“So, just two nights here, huh?” Aleksander asked.
