Page 82 of Worthy Promises
“Speaking of lives, Noirin’s birth isn’t too far off,” Life commented as if reading Eternity’s mind. “Are we planning on giving her child a special gift?”
“The firstborn of the only female Duchess in her own right?” Justice asked. “Of course we are. Should we summon theTier’llomento discuss it?”
Eternity smiled. “We’ll have far more than ten willing to attend.”
“This is probably the first time I’ve looked forward to entering that damn room,” Death drawled.
Fate rubbed her hands together. “This is exciting.”
“Mental note: Do not give the child anything that is so stupidly hidden that they cannot reason out their gift in the first place,” Justice said with a sidelong glance at Fate.
“Is no one ever going to let me live down giving Aleksander a gift he didn’t discover for centuries?” Fate demanded.
“If he hadn’t met Paszra, the man would still be feeding his mate disgusting beverages to protect him from magic and be blissfully unaware of how special he truly is,” Death retorted.
Eternity stood and looped her arm through Death’s. “Really unforgivable and stupid idea, Fate, but perhaps we keep it a secret until the child is old enough to master it or wait until their first shift. In any event, we will definitely come up with a better plan for their…is it a son or daughter, Life?”
“You will find out when the child is born,” Life answered.
Death rolled her eyes. “Noirin and Kendrick have already told everyone it is a boy. Pay better attention, Eternity.”
Annoyed at her sisters because she’d overlooked one damn detail in the D’Vaires’ lives, Eternity frowned. She’d ignored eternal beings for far too long and had a plethora to manage; she could not watch the D’Vaires as closely as some of her sisters. “You are in quite the unpleasant mood today, Life. You could have just told me.”
“I’m sorry, but Fate is worrying me with these foibles of hers,” Life replied. “This is how Folly started. Minor tweaks that soon grew into interfering with malice.”
Fate gasped. “How dare you lump me into the same category as that miscreant?”
“You do have a mischievous streak,” Justice stated.
“As long as she keeps those blasted angels in their realm and doesn’t let them near our favored planet, she can meddle however she wants,” Death remarked.
“As if I would mess with my angels,” Fate said. Something in her voice raised Eternity’s hackles, but the angels had lived in solitude for too many thousands of years for her to believeFate would endanger their happiness or way of life by inviting strangers into their realm.
“Good, keep that thought in mind the next time you decide to interfere in lives,” Justice commented. “Now, let us go decide what to do with the firstborn D’Vaire.”
Eager to create a special gift for the new drakeling, Eternity smiled and turned her mind to new ideas for the Seneschal Duchess’s son. Knowing Zarasha’s days as a stuffedto’faerwould soon end added to her joy. It was a good day to be a goddess.
Chapter 28
Bracing his hands on the desk, Oliver scooted his chair forward. It was his first day working at D’Vaire, and he already loved having Worthington nearby. Their eyes met, and Worthington’s lips curved into a tantalizing smile. Asteria dug her little paws into Oliver’s shoulder, then lay down, presumably to take a nap.
“How are you enjoying your morning so far, Owliver?” Worthington asked.
Oliver’s gaze swept around the room. At the other end, Aleksander was staring at his computer screen with intense concentration while his other half talked to the two wolves getting settled on a giant doggie bed near Rafe’s desk. Along the eastern wall, Kitchi was on the phone with someone, and Rutledge was bent over a tablet, his stylus moving across the screen furiously.
A big round table sat in the center. Two of the D’Vaire Dukes were already planted there, and Brogan and Mac were arguing good-naturedly about the merits of warlocks versus wizards. Sunlight spilled in through tall windows and the glass doors that led to the outside, highlighting the warm honey tones of the wooden floor.
Oliver easily recognized Jeremiah’s handiwork in the many gorgeously rendered dragons and other D’Vaire shifters dotted along the crisp white walls. The atmosphere put Oliver immediately at ease, and he didn’t miss the horrible silence that had previously marked his workdays.
But what he appreciated the most was having Worthington close. Nothing was better than being with the man he loved, and Oliver’s heart overflowed with happiness.
“It’s wonderful,” Oliver replied, returning Worthington’s dazzling smile.
“You may change your mind after you have to listen to Worth complaining about every little penny spent by either a D’Vaire or someone at Dérive,” Mac drawled.
“I would hardly excel at my duties as Duke Argent and Chief Financial Officer if I allowed money to be spent in excess,” Worthington argued.
Kitchi set his phone in the cradle. “Plus, you’re cheap.”
