Page 51 of Worthy Promises
Oliver watched as Mac’s brother, Carter, stalked up to several smartly dressed imps and offered them hugs. From what Oliver had read, the imps had a small population and all wereconsidered part of the extended D’Vaire clan. Perhaps someone connected to Worthington’s family would be lucky enough to find their other half tonight.
“Yes, we need to see if they need any aid,” Worthington replied. “Then we have to introduce Owliver around.”
Pleased to be at Worthington’s side, Oliver laced their fingers together and went where he was led.
∞∞∞
After a long but successful evening—where two different couples discovered they had been matched by Fate—with Oliver at this side, Worth was thrilled to be home. The second they’d arrived, Asteria had raced up to her favored spot on his shoulder. He’d showered her with affection, but she’d rushed to snuggle with Oliver as Orion and Zarasha had tripped over each other’s words to tell them how much fun they were having. It was no surprise to Worth that Aleksander and Rafe were ensuring the children had an excellent time. Being abandoned by Asteria was fine; he’d share anything with Oliver.
Assured that all was well in the D’Vaire household, Worth had shooed Lex and Rutledge off to bed. Their event had been terrific, and with some luck their sister sanctuary would receive applications. Many years had passed since it’d opened, and it still housed a small group of resurrected elves as its only rescues.
Worth had explained everything he could about both the corporate Elven D’Vaire and the sanctuary as he’d introduced Oliver to the many family connections in the large hotel conference space. Pride like Worth had never known had flowed through him and his dragon as he’d stood side by side with the other half of his soul.
In his lovely floral shirt that he’d been too shy to wear until his brother had insisted, Oliver was unmatched by anyone else on the planet. It’d been a wonderful night, but Worth was speedily peeling off his suit in the bathroom attached to his suite. Owls had fascinated Worth for many years, so he had plenty of pajamas featuring his second-favorite animal, and he’d selected a pair with a bright yellow background to match Oliver’s eyes.
Once Worth had donned a coordinating T-shirt in the pink of his dragon, he knocked on the door to alert Oliver that he was joining him in the bedroom.
“Are you changed?” Worth asked as he stepped into his bedroom, hoping he’d catch Oliver half-dressed.
In a cute pair of pink-and-white pajamas with cartoon dragons, Oliver stood in the center of the dark blue-and-black space.
“I am,” Oliver replied. “You have a lot of owls in here.”
Worth’s gaze swept across the suite, and he grinned at the owl figurines, artwork, and even a pencil holder he’d asked for on the solstice many years ago. “I mentioned I was fascinated by them.”
“Does everyone have their room decorated in D’Vaire colors?”
“No,” Worth replied, stepping closer to Oliver. The owl shifter’s hair was slightly mussed, and it made Worth smile. “I chose the design when I first arrived. I was ashamed to be a pink dragon back then. It’s still like this because I couldn’t convince myself the cost was worth a full overhaul. Linens have been updated as needed, but it has otherwise stayed the same. But have no fear, we’ll plan something together. It must suit us both.”
Color rose in Oliver’s cheeks, and that longing Worth had noticed on his mate’s first visit to the house was easily read in hiseyes. Since they were alone, Worth hoped that meant Oliver was equally eager for kisses and snuggles.
“If that’s what you want,” Oliver said.
“It is. Have no fear. Larissa will aid us. She’s a brilliant decorator and is responsible for most of the house.”
“It was kind of her to make pajamas for me and Orion.”
Worth reached out and took Oliver’s hand in his. “Pajamas are her favorite thing to craft, and I’m afraid I greatly encouraged her to have a pair ready for you both for tonight.”
“Will you tell me how you wound up with Asteria now?”
The littlellerka’irrohad already retired to her area of the room. Like the wizard familiars in the house, she had a tablet so she could watch television or movies. Worth could hear the muted sounds through the fabric curtain separating her from the rest of the suite.
“Now, you’ll have to trust me that everything I’m about to tell you is the truth,” Worth said. “The Fae in our home with their souls tied to Faedrekan have an ability to travel to their home in dreams. Those dreams are memories of the past. After Rorie first arrived, he took us all in one. Without our permission, I might add. Anyway, while there I went to a mating ceremony—or what they call asiramen v’airsell nioll—and allerka’irrobefriended me. She was my constant companion throughout the long magical dream, and I was devastated to lose her. But I needed not be. We were barely awake the next morning when Drekkoril sacrificed a tiny sliver of his soul to make a magical version of my lost Asteria.”
Oliver blinked. “You visited the Fae realm?”
“Yes, it was quite beautiful.”
“What a life you’ve led. So…wait. Jeremiah doesn’t paint from reading texts. He saw those things.”
“Yes. But, of course, we’d prefer that our dream stays secret, so he tells anyone who asks that he’s read plenty of Faebooks. That’s not a lie. He has, but he was also there.” Oliver continued to stand there, flummoxed, as he processed what Worth had told him. The little frown on his face was cute, and Worth had to fight to keep his hormones under control. He and his dragon wanted to strip the owl and memorize every inch of his body. “Owliver.”
“Yes?”
“It’s time for bed.”
More color rushed to Oliver’s handsome face, and Worth grinned at him. “I suppose it is. Do you have a side of the bed you prefer?”
