Page 18 of Distinctly Daray
Victor was happy Alaric and Chander had asked the pair of recruits to dine with them. Every Daray was concerned about the new shifting sentinel and wanted to support Phillip and his newly found mate, Keegan. So, it was vital to Victor that he provide a tasty meal for the men.
Thankfully, there were culinary experts aplenty among the D’Vaires, including a famous chef/author, and Victor had all of Henry Gennevios’s cookbooks. He’d spent an hour poring through recipes and putting together his menu. It’d taken far longer than usual, but he hadn’t left the grocery store until he had every ingredient. Too often he forgot something and had to make a return trip.
Like Victor, Brynn wanted to ensure Phillip and Keegan ate well, so he’d baked up some special cupcakes for everyone. With Brynn’s undisputed gift in the kitchen, Victor was alreadylooking forward to dessert. However, before anyone could devour Brynn’s treats, Victor had to fill their bellies.
His choice had ultimately been beef bourguignon. It was a favorite of Henry’s brother, and Victor had experience with the recipe, so that gave him confidence. Beef bourguignon was also hearty and could be easily packed up to be reheated if Phillip’s dragon forced them to cut the night short.
In fact, Victor hoped to send whatever was left of the meal with both Phillip and Keegan. Although Victor couldn’t cast a spell or produce a potion to aid Phillip, he could provide a fellow shifter with some delicious food. It might not be much, but Victor wanted to help however he could.
He’d opted to pair his beef bourguignon with dinner rolls, a fresh salad, and green beans in a balsamic sauce. To ensure the two Darays who had to eat a traditional elven meatless diet had plenty to devour, Victor had added a plate of fruits and cheeses. Thankfully, Victor’s family was aiding him in beautifully setting their round dining table.
Victor handed the salad to Baxter to carry and chuckled at the predictable scowl from the Arch Lich at the sight of vegetables. Alaric would insist Chander take some salad, but it’d be a miracle if the imp-necromancer put any of it in his mouth.
“Dra’Kaedan is ready to teleport Phillip and Keegan,” Alaric told his mate. “He and Brogan will be here momentarily.”
“I’m ready when they are,” Chander replied.
The doorbell reverberated through their large living area decorated in a stunning mixture of chocolate brown and teal, and Alaric let in Grand Warlock Dra’Kaedan D’Vaire and his other half, Grand Duke Brogan D’Vairedraconis. The short blond sorcerer was dressed casually in jeans and a shirt advertising the sanctuary bearing his name, while his dragon-shifting mate had chosen a plain tee to pair with his denim.
Dra’Kaedan had been recruited to help get Phillip and Keegan to dinner swiftly since warlocks could cast group teleportation spells. Although Keegan and Phillip could teleport themselves, Alaric and Chander had decided it was polite to take them to an unknown destination together. Faster too, since they’d arrive directly inside. The less time wasted, the better. They couldn’t have a prolonged evening given how precarious Phillip’s relationship with his dragon was, so Victor wanted to be ready to serve soon after the arrival of Phillip and Keegan.
Victor took a moment to greet Dra’Kaedan and Brogan with hugs, then rushed to pop his rolls into the oven to ensure they would be warm for their meal.
“Sam, are you coming with us?” Alaric asked.
Samson shook his head and wrapped his arms around Brynnius. The sentinel immediately leaned into Samson, and Victor’s romantic heart sighed in pleasure at the magnificent love the men shared. “No, I don’t think we need to take a big party to pick them up.”
Alaric nodded. “We will return shortly with our dinner guests.”
Seconds later, Dra’Kaedan cast a teleportation spell, and he, Alaric, Chander, and Brogan disappeared.
“Victor, need any help?” Samson asked.
“Can someone hold the serving dishes so I can pour the beef bourguignon into them?”
“How about you hold the dishes and I’ll pour?” Brynnius insisted, bustling over to assist Victor.
“Whatever you think is best,” Victor relented, knowing everyone in his household did everything possible to make his life easier.
Victor grabbed the first of the two serving bowls he’d opted to split the beef bourguignon into to get everyone fed as rapidly as possible and held it steady as Brynnius poured in thepiping-hot stew. It was barely full when Brynnius halted, and Samson plucked the dish from Victor’s grasp.
It was tempting to roll his eyes at the overzealous Venerable Knight, but Victor grabbed the other serving dish and allowed Brynnius to empty the last of his pot into it.
“Start pouring drinks for everyone,” Victor ordered the men in his family. No one argued, and soon Benton had popped open a bottle of red wine. Baxter whipped open a cabinet and grabbed goblets that he handed to Arvandus.
Preoccupied with ensuring drinks were being dispensed and that he’d forgotten nothing, Victor barely noted the shift in the air as a teleportation circle brought six men into the condo. That was until his dick grew hard and the scents of sunflowers and spicy cinnamon overwhelmed his senses. His head whipped to the side. A black-haired sentinel with wide, dark gray eyes stared at him. At his side was a redhead with pretty waves and a stunning brown gaze. The fallen knight’s mouth hung open, but it made him no less handsome.
“Victor!” Samson shouted, grabbing the dish from his hands.
Victor wanted to apologize for nearly dropping the big bowl of stew onto the floor, but he was far too overwhelmed for words. His heart pounded erratically, and he heard nothing but the rush of his own blood as he and his cat tried to process the past few seconds.
Mates.
Somehow, Fate had brought Victor the other half—strike that, the other pieces—of his soul. Victor had two mates. He trembled, and sweat dripped down his back. Thankfully, due to their large audience, his erection was wilting, but the scents of his mates had barely receded. Their expressions hadn’t changed either. They continued to gawk at him.
To call the moment awkward was an understatement of titanic proportions.
“Victor,” Chander said, moving close to him and laying a hand on his shoulder. “Are you okay?”
