Page 37 of Heart of the High King
Chapter 15
For the last three days, Aleksander had spent nearly every waking minute with Rafferty. They’d flown together for at least an hour in the afternoons, consumed meals that his foodie mate thoroughly enjoyed, and hung out with the D’Vaires, giving Rafferty time to get to know some of the people who were so immensely important to Aleksander. There were even a few kisses sprinkled in, though they were quick, and Rafferty usually stammered out a reason to leave the room or distract him with conversation as his cheeks reddened, but Aleksander would not press him, nor would he complain.
With six weeks between visits, Aleksander had set aside his normal working schedule to focus solely on Rafferty. However, he did have a few obligations he could not ignore, so he put on a suit, slid his dragonskin sash with the D’Vaire name proudly embroidered on it, and opened the wooden box he kept in his closet. Inside was a gleaming crown first put on his head the day Ellery and Chrysander decided he needed to be a High King. Madeline had designed it similar to the one he’d worn before his title was elevated. It featured heavy accents of gold—a color only allowed by his court and the one ruled by the emperors.
Rising from the swirls of gilt and silver was his dragon, and Aleksander always marveled at Madeline’s ability to replicate his navy and black scales with such accuracy. Raking a hand through his hair, he put the coronet into place. When he walked out of his bedroom, he found Rafferty sitting in the great room, watching some show with Worth.
“I should only be gone an hour,” Aleksander said.
Rafferty’s gaze widened, and a flush rose from under his maroon collar. Gulping heavily, his eyes hit the floor. “You look nice.”
“Thanks, I always feel like I’m playing dress-up when I’m in a suit.”
“You ready to go, Lankenstein?” Dra’Kaedan asked, sweeping into the room regally, in his crown and heavily embellished cloak.
“That’s a new one, Squirt. You’ve been on the internet again, haven’t you?”
“Yeah, my old ones were getting stale. That’s all I have for today though, so make the most of it.”
“I’m ready, where’s the rest of the gang?”
Dra’Kaedan’s parents—the ones who first created the Council before they were murdered—walked in next. Like Aleksander and the Grand Warlock, they were dressed as the leaders Fate made them. “Where’s Brogan?”
“What do you mean? I thought he was right behind me.”
The back door whipped open, and Killian the Dwyer strode in with his forest-green cloak buttoned up. Aleksander would bet his considerable fortune that he’d forgone shoes. His fingers laced with Dravyn’s, he got to where they were standing. “Where’s our elven contingent?” Killian asked.
“With me,” Brogan stated, striding into the room with the leaders of the Acwellan, Cwylld, and Tisidal tribes.
“I think I’d forgotten how many leaders live at D’Vaire,” Rafferty said, awe on his handsome face.
Saura flicked her son’s arm. “That’s because so many of them act like children.”
“Lankenstein, give your mate a kiss, so we can get this show on the road. We don’t want to be late for our meeting,” Dra’Kaedan remarked with a roll of his eyes for his mother.
It could’ve been awkward as Aleksander was still trying to figure out when it was okay to be affectionate, but Rafferty hopped up and their lips brushed softly. “I won’t be gone for longer than an hour or so.”
“Have fun or whatever.”
“You too.”
Aleksander took a step closer to Dra’Kaedan and winked at Rafferty. Lowering his lashes so he wouldn’t get dizzy, Dra’Kaedan teleported them to a Dérive spot only a few feet from the elevator that would take them up to the Office of the Emperor. Every Friday afternoon, he went to an advisory panel meeting along with several other hand-selected leaders. Their job was not only to prepare bills into careful bulleted lists that every ruler could access but to write legislation that would benefit everyone. Aleksander’s job of providing funds to D’Vaire and two sanctuaries didn’t give his schedule much time to tackle many, but he did what he could to help.
They made it through the mandatory security checkpoint, then arrived upstairs to be waved past another duke. Emperor Chrysander’s twin brother, Imperial Duke Damian Draconis, took every precaution he could to keep the men in charge safe. Once in the lobby, they were greeted warmly by Royal Duke-mate Niko Draconis who, like most of the people they’d be with this afternoon, was part of the extended D’Vaire family. Ushered into Chrysander and Ellery’s office, Aleksander found that everyone had already shuffled into the attached conference room.
Killian opened the door, and there were more hugs and greetings as they made their way toward seats.
“What’s new at D’Vaire?” Chrysander asked. People were chatting around the table, and Aleksander never had to worry about his anxiety on these Friday jaunts. Everything about their meetings was relaxed and comfortable.
Swallowing the disappointment at not being able to convey the truth of his relationship with Rafferty, and that he had to lie to family, Aleksander offered what he could after sitting. “Kendrick’s brother, Duke Rafferty Kestledraconis, is visiting for a week. We’re trying to show him a good time.”
“It is impossible not to enjoy yourself at D’Vaire,” Ellery said.
“His Grace and Aleksander have become best buds. He refuses to help me come up with new names for Bigfoot,” Dra’Kaedan remarked.
“We’re going to have a popcorn buffet and watch movies tonight,” Chieftain-mate Evlithar Cwylld-D’Vaire enthused.
“We should do that again next weekend when the whole family is together,” Ellery suggested.
