Page 17 of Distinctly Daray
“Which is why my spell was different,” Phillip said. “With the aid of the other members of Sorcery D’Vaire, Chand rewrote the spell he used for Sam.”
Sorcery D’Vaire was a renowned think-tank of the most accomplished sorcerers and shifters in the Council. Together, the group had changed history, and although they were ahumble lot that didn’t advertise their ongoing projects, Keegan kept abreast of the news and already understood how fascinated the world was by Sorcery D’Vaire.
“Unlike last time,” Phillip continued, “the version used for me was supposed to wipe the memory of my beast so that if my mate had been a shifter before, neither man nor dragon would know the difference.”
Deflated, Keegan sighed. So much for being a shifter. “Oh.”
“But I cannot communicate with my beast directly, and his unruliness has increased since we met. What if they were unsuccessful? What if he is yearning for his other half? But how do I approach a sorcerer like Chand and ask him if his spell did not function as he intended?”
“Good point, that would be even more awkward than us,” Keegan teased.
“Yes, but if that is indeed the issue, I cannot remain silent. I owe it to my beast to discover if there is a way to resolve the problem.”
“That’s true. So, when are you going to talk to Chand?”
“I am not sure.”
“We are awkward together, so I’m not sure if I can help you relax, but I’ll be at your side for that conversation if you want me to be.”
Phillip smiled. “I would appreciate a friend at my side.” His gray gaze hit the table. “I hope I did not offend you by calling you that. We are mates, I know, but I would like to be your friend too.”
“We’re definitely friends. Someday we’ll be best friends. I think that’s important for mates.”
“Thank you.”
Keegan’s brow creased. “What are you thanking me for?”
“For offering to aid me with your presence.”
“Sorry it’s not a calming one.”
“Stop apologizing.”
Keegan laughed. “It’s so hard not to respond immediately with an apology.” He breathed in deeply and shoved aside his automatic desire to say he was sorry again. “Okay, when are we going to talk to the Arch Lich?”
“Perhaps we should accept the invitation to dine with him before I insult him.”
“Just throwing this out there, but do you think we can arrange to have this conversation without your leader around? I know undead guys are supposed to be incorruptible, but I don’t want to find out if sentinels can actually murder fallen knights.”
“I already thought it would be good to speak to Chand alone.”
“See, I told you that you were brilliant.”
“As are you.”
“Okay, let’s play a game or I might find a reason to apologize for something.”
“Like what?” Phillip asked, his expression confused.
Keegan laughed. “With me, you never know.”
Content that their evening had been the best so far, Keegan grabbed a box and, with the aid of Phillip, started setting up a game. He had to believe that somehow, someway, they would build a strong friendship and move past their awkwardness to honor the matebond Fate had promised them.
In the meantime, Keegan would do his best not to fantasize about turning into a shifter. Being raised from the dead was enough of a cool factor for him, and luckily, his other half could fly, so Keegan too would soar one day.
Chapter 7
It was rare for the Darays to have new guests at the condo, which was why Victor was in a flurry as he cooked. Invitations were doled out to people in their extended D’Vaire family regularly, but with so many protective sentinels, fallen knights, and reapers living there, Victor couldn’t recall the last time someone unrelated to their tight clan had arrived at their home.
