Page 109 of Mystique of the Fallen
“Of course, they may murder you in your sleep,” Drystan added.
“I sleep with a sentinel. Hopefully, he loves me more than them. I may survive the night,” Chander drawled.
“HopefullyI love you more?” Alaric asked.
“You did ask me to babysit your goblins.”
“Because who else would I trust with the goblins you summoned for me than the man I love and a sorcerer well-equipped to handle them?” Alaric replied.
“Wow, I was taught sentinels couldn’t lie,” Grant said. “You told us your options were limited and that’s how Chander got the job.”
Alaric pivoted on one booted heel and headed for Evergreen and Dudley’s temporary desk. “Fallen knights will forever be the bane of my existence.”
“We will discuss this later, Lich Sentinel,” Chander called out. To Roman’s amusement, every sentinel in the room wore matching expressions of concern. If the Arch Lich was annoyed, the sentinels were unable to ignore it. Roman wasn’t sure if that was part of their resurrection spell or the incredible presence of Chander himself.
Alaric gave a nod but offered no comment. Roman thought it rather convenient that he suddenly had so much to do that he couldn’t converse any longer with Chander. But like Alaric, Roman didn’t like confrontation with his other half or to have any problems between them. As a man in love, he understood that sometimes the better part of valor was escape and staying as silent as possible.
“Chander, I have a quick question,” Grant said.
Chander fixed his pewter gaze on Grant and frowned. “No, I’m still not summoning you any goblins.”
“While I hope someday you’ll change your mind, that wasn’t my question. It was just an idle thought, but here goes,” Grant replied. “I know why you named me Grant. Roman recognized me, and it would’ve probably have been odd as fuck for him to call me anything else, considering we’d already met. But how’d you pick Roman’s name?”
“Okay, wasn’t expecting that question,” Chander remarked, his mouth quirking into a smile. “I guess I should start by saying I wasn’t a great teenager. It’s fair to say I was an asshole. Anyway, I decided on a list of names that I considered warrior names. The first one was supposed to be Titus. Instead, this first damn fallen knight that wasn’t a dragon Emperor is telling me—cocky-ass Arch Lich—that his name is Vann. Honestly, I was annoyed. Again, not a good person. Roman is next. He’s hot as fuck. Looks like a fucking marble statue. In my head, I’m like he looks like a perfect specimen right out of history. So, I wadded up my list and named him Roman.”
“Stop telling everyone you were a terrible person,” Conley argued. “You had a shit upbringing, and there were far too many expectations on your shoulders for a teenage kid. But seriously, you’re not wrong. Roman looks like if he stood still long enough, he could pass for a super lifelike statue of a roman soldier.”
Grant sized Roman up, and they were both grinning when their eyes met.
“Damn right he does,” Grant said.
“So, basically I’m so good-looking you were overwhelmed and thought none of your names fit me,” Roman drawled.
“If that helps you sleep at night, go with that,” Chander retorted.
Grant tugged Roman into his embrace. “I help him sleep at night.”
“I’m sure you do,” Chander said. “And I need to go fix things with my mate so we both sleep well tonight.”
“Go take your shit upstairs, then we’ll get to work so we’re ready for the retreat in the morning,” Drystan ordered.
“Give me one moment to appreciate this gorgeous male specimen,” Grant teased as he sealed his mouth to Roman’s. Not one to ignore such a lovely invitation from the man he loved, Roman slipped his tongue between Grant’s soft lips and tasted him fully.
Fate had kept him waiting for centuries, but Roman no longer counted the cost. In his arms was the man who completed his soul. They were best friends and understood each other fully, and Roman adored him with every inch of his heart.
So, he thanked Fate, Chander, and every other cosmic force in the world that had helped bring Grant into his life the second time. Their first meeting and those tense few weeks before his death were no longer a concern. To Roman, what mattered was what they had now, and he’d readily spend eternity cherishing Grant and the incredible relationship they’d built.
