Page 44 of Killian
“Tell him the D’Vaires honor Fate,” Aleksander said. “Enjoy your time with him.”
Aleksander rose and left. The rest of the D’Vaires followed in his wake. Brogan glanced behind him with concern in his eyes, but the Duke was overprotective. Dravyn was not ready yet to bring Killian to D’Vaire land, but he hoped he could someday.In the meantime, he had to rush or he would miss his weekly chance to see Killian.
Chapter 17
Acool breeze brushed the hair from Killian’s temples, and he was unsurprised when a fat raindrop hit his nose. The clouds had been dark for hours. Rain was a delight to Killian. For those with weaker magick or none, it meant nourishment for the land and their crops. Fewer people would starve with each soft plop onto the earth. Killian lifted the hood of his cloak to cover his head and tried to stay focused on how much he enjoyed a shower from the sky.
But it was difficult. Lowering his chin, he sucked in a deep breath and allowed his disappointment to mount. Dravyn had not arrived. Their meetings over the past few weeks had been a tentative step forward in discovering if their matebond could work someday. Or so Killian had thought. But the shy Duke with those magnificently dark, nearly innocent eyes clearly did not agree.
A flap Killian recognized as a dragon’s wings disrupted the silence of the woods, and Killian bared his teeth. If some beast thought he could end the life of Killian the Dwyer, he was about to learn that even plant-growing sorcerers had a few ways of escaping death. But instead of belching fire, the dragon disappeared behind a low hill. Although Killian was curious, hecould not stay. It would be reckless, and he knew he should return to the relative safety of his castle.
Killian readied his teleportation spell, but someone called his name. His heart fluttered with joy and relief.
“Killian,” Dravyn called out a second time.
“I am here,” Killian replied. With a wave of his fingers, he created a ball of golden light, and he nearly swallowed his tongue as Dravyn rushed toward him.
The Duke paused with a huff as he struggled with the garment he was trying to don. But all Killian focused on was the plethora of sculpted muscles on display. Dravyn was broad-shouldered, and his body was a far cry from Killian’s own lanky form. Killian doubted he’d ever seen a man so exquisitely—and massively—built. His mate had a fine form Killian longed to touch and taste. Long before Killian was ready, the tunic fluttered down and covered the gorgeous body Dravyn typically hid beneath his clothing.
Killian’s gaze drifted up to Dravyn’s handsome face, and he grinned. Instead of humbly keeping his chin dropped to his chest, Dravyn faced him unblinkingly. He stopped just a foot away from Killian, his cheeks going pink.
“I am so sorry I’m late,” Dravyn said, his gentle voice contrite. Killian allowed the gold ball lighting up the night to grow, and he moved it above Dravyn’s head. It not only gave him a better look at the handsome dragon, but protected Dravyn from the rain. “My family wanted to talk with me. They did not miss my leaving the house to meet you and wondered the reason.”
“What story did you give them to please their curiosity?” Killian asked without judgment. Everything about their relationship was so unsettled and somehow new despite the many years that had passed. So, Killian refused to judge Dravyn for his desire to conceal things from his family. Perhaps whenthey had built something worthwhile between them, Dravyn would be eager to share the news.
“I told them the truth,” Dravyn replied. “Lying does not come easily to me, and I did not want them to worry.”
Surprised and pleased, Killian felt his smile reappear. “You told them you are meeting me?”
“Yes,” Dravyn said, his face flushing with more color. “They were delighted for me. But still worried about my safety, I think. Our world is treacherous.”
“It is. They had no objection to my magick?”
Dravyn bowed his head, and his tangled hair slid forward to conceal his eyes. “My King believes a lover of plants would be a good fit for me.”
“I agree.”
“They were happy you healed me. You have my gratitude.”
“Stop thanking me, Dravyn. It was my pleasure and privilege to offer you a bit of my magick. Even if you were not my mate, I would have helped you.”
The dragon’s broad shoulders hunched, and he shuffled his feet. “If Fate had not paired us, we would have had no reason to meet again. Our paths would not have crossed.”
“I suppose that is true. Fortunate for us both, perhaps, that Fate did pair us,” Killian dared to say.
Despite Dravyn’s agreement to keep meeting, Killian was unsure how invested the dragon was in their matebond. Anger and sadness had festered in Killian for over a century and a half as he’d been ignored by Dravyn. But those feelings had disappeared. Dravyn was not responsible for the distance between them, and Killian’s heart broke at what the Duke had suffered.
He wanted to learn everything he could about Dravyn and hopefully build a life together if they both agreed. Not onlywas it what Fate wanted, but Killian desired a partner. One with common interests, a smattering of freckles, a deep green gaze, and deliciously rippled muscles.
Dravyn lifted his head and offered Killian a small grin. “I am growing to believe we are quite fortunate. Can we meet again soon?”
“Next week?”
Dravyn’s feet rustled the leaves beneath him as he shifted his weight. “I thought that since I no longer must hide who I am meeting from my family, we could increase our meetings.” He frowned, and his gaze dropped. “That is, if you agree and your schedule would allow it.”
Killian liked the boldness Dravyn had displayed since his arrival. It was Dravyn who was inquiring about additional nights together, and in his haste to apologize, the Duke had forgotten to be shy. He’d squared his lovely shoulders and stared Killian bravely in the eye. Was that the man underneath the fear of asserting himself? Killian didn’t know, but he decided what he liked best was the mixture of the shy man and confident Duke.
“It would be my honor to have more time with you,” Killian assured Dravyn. “Can we meet nightly?”
