Page 15 of Distinctly Daray
“Are you getting close to needing one now?”
Phillip heard a growl of agreement from his dragon, but the potion he’d taken muted his beast enough that he shook his head. “Not yet. But soon.”
“Okay, what should we talk about until then?”
With a shrug, Phillip shuffled his feet. “I have no idea.”
Chapter 6
Keegan had thanked Fate profusely for bringing him a mate—especially so soon after his resurrection. But being enormously grateful did nothing to calm his nerves when he was with Phillip. He wasn’t scared of his beast, thanks to Phillip’s honesty. The moment things started to spiral out of control, he’d get the Arch Lich and go into stasis.
There would be no random shifts because Phillip and the team around him would not allow it. What made Keegan uncomfortable was a mystery. Phillip was kind, thoughtful, and willing to learn the games Keegan now brought with him on his visits to his dorm. They did their best to keep the conversation going.
But it was as if something was missing. Keegan winced. Thinking that way was awful, but Keegan couldn’t help it. Perhaps it was Keegan’s guilt about their different paths. Keegan was dominating the fallen knights in his classes, and he strived to work harder each day. But poor Phillip was left to entertain himself with textbooks.
As a sentinel, Phillip trained with his people, but he had to take a potion to keep his beast from roaring to life in the middle of an expert whip of his dagger. Keegan hated that his lifewas barreling toward a successful future while Phillip remained sleeping longer than he was awake.
What did it mean for the future? Would Keegan graduate and continue to visit his mate for an hour or two a day with a sorcerer outside the room to put Phillip in stasis? Keegan knew the sorcerers were working hard to create stronger potions for Phillip, but things had grown progressively more difficult.
Phillip had admitted that his beast was protective of Keegan, and it was making it harder to control him. Keegan didn’t want to be any part of the reason Phillip was struggling. But he’d learned not to voice his guilt or apologize any longer. It agitated Phillip, and Keegan didn’t want to upset his mate.
With a heavy sigh and his heart aching for Phillip’s difficulties, Keegan checked his watch and confirmed that his allotted time to be with his other half was nearing. Keegan closed the textbook he’d long ago memorized and thrust a hand through his thick waves to ensure no stray hairs were sticking up.
Keegan made the short walk toward Phillip’s dorm and greeted the Arch Lich and Lich Sentinel. They were getting comfortable in a pair of seats outside Phillip’s room. Keegan’s presence made Phillip’s dragon so mercurial it wasn’t safe for anyone to put any further distance between Phillip and a sorcerer capable of putting him in deep stasis.
Phillip pulled open the door, and Keegan smiled. One of the coolest things about Phillip’s dragon was his ability to know that Keegan was in the hall without him even having to knock to alert the sentinel to his presence.
“Please come in,” Phillip invited, stepping aside to allow Keegan to enter.
Keegan planted himself in the chair at the small round table someone had added to Phillip’s space so they could play games. “How was your day?”
With alacrity, Phillip sat across from Keegan. “I trained, so it was enjoyable.”
“I meant to ask, why is the poison on your daggers different from the other sentinels’?”
Phillip’s charcoal gaze was carefully blank. “Chand has tested it and found it to be more intense than the green. Death would be instant.”
Surprise had Keegan’s eyes bugging. “Okay, then what does the black poison do? I assume it’s stronger than yours since your leaders have it.”
“Their daggers differ because they are the rulers of the Sentinel Brotherhood,” Phillip stated carefully. “While we are on the subject of the Darays, Sam extended an invitation today. He was wondering if we wanted to have dinner at their condo. Everyone is so kind, they want to give me whatever changes of scenery they can.”
“Wow. An invitation to dine with the Darays? I’m overwhelmed.”
“You do not wish to go?”
“Oh no, I didn’t say that,” Keegan rushed out. His face flushed and his armpits grew damp with nervous sweat as they usually did around Phillip. This time Keegan could excuse it somewhat. He’d stuck his foot in his mouth, and the last thing he wanted was to miss out on an opportunity to accept such an invitation, but he had to be honest too. Phillip was the guest of honor, not him. “It’s an incredible privilege to be asked. They don’t have to invite me though—I’m not a sentinel. I don’t want to impose on their family.”
“Their family has fallen knights in it, Keegan. I do not believe they would have invited us if they did not wish us to accept.”
“So, you want to go?” Keegan asked, dearly hoping Phillip was on board. Not in his wildest dreams had Keegan thoughthe’d have an opportunity to go to the home of the man who’d resurrected him. Not to mention everyone else in the esteemed Daray family.
“Yes, but I understand if you would prefer to skip it.”
“No way, I’d love to go with you.” Keegan grinned. “Do you think we can talk them into playing a board game with us? We’re getting good at them.”
Phillip smiled, and Keegan loved the way it lit up his dark eyes. “We have only been playing for a few days. I would hardly consider us experts.”
“Says the man who consistently beats me.”
