Page 3 of Distinctly Daray
Pizza shrugged, and Victor sincerely hoped he wouldn’t have to mop up vomit before his morning was over. It was rare, but Pizza sometimes ate so much his stomach literally couldn’t handle it. Incapable of speech, Rogue would let out an unendingstream of chirps until Pizza was done retching. It wasn’t a complaint for Pizza, but for the horrid people who’d overfed his other half.
“Rogue. Pizza. Come and eat breakfast,” Alaric stated calmly. The lone person the pair routinely obeyed was the Lich Sentinel, so they teleported to the counter where Alaric had set up their tiny table. They trudged to their chairs with the barest squeak of their sneakers.
Meanwhile, the people-sized table was filling up with bickering men, and Victor treasured the chaos of it. The Darays were his heart, and he loved them. And if he was lucky, someday far in the future, after everyone had met their mate, Victor too would find love.
Chapter 2
Eyes closed, the fallen knight recruit lay on the bed and fought a wave of nausea. Information flowed into his brain, and he smiled as he embraced each detail. Thanks to the Arch Lich, he was alive and would be for eternity. He was a soldier. A man bound to aid everyone within the Council of Sorcery and Shifters.
His new race was led by two remarkable men, and he was eager to empress the Reverent Knights. A door opened, and he didn’t have to lift his lashes to know it was two of the four Venerable Knights who aided their rulers. Since he could also feel the soulbinding between the pair, he deduced it was Venerable Knight Roman Calixtus and his other half, Venerable Knight Grant Valerius.
Matebonds were fascinating, and although Keegan wanted to be matched by Fate, he was far from ready for such a milestone in his new life.
“I hope I wore a smile like that a year ago when I was resurrected,” one of the men said. The most recent addition to the team of Venerable Knights was Grant, so the ailing man identified him as the speaker.
His instincts told him to stand to honor the two newcomers, but his temporarily weakened body wouldn’t allow it. He could no longer lay there daydreaming either.
He opened his eyes to find a blond approaching him.
“Good morning, can I get you a drink of water or a cracker?” a sentinel asked. The Arch Lich was guarded by two men with flaxen hair, so the fallen knight wasn’t sure which Daemon Lord was addressing him, but he refused to inconvenience anyone.
“No thank you, Daemon Lord,” he replied as his stomach rumbled loudly in the quiet room.
“Bravery is innate to fallen knights, but you don’t have to suffer,” Roman drawled. “You have three days to rest, then you’ll have plenty of chances to prove yourself to everyone. Right now, focus on what you need.”
“The crackers are pretty good too,” Grant added. “Buttery and tasty.”
“My belly is churning, VK,” the fallen knight confessed quietly.
The Arch Lich walked over with a tall glass of water. “Start with this. Bax will get you some crackers.”
“Need some help sitting up?” Grant asked.
Although it was embarrassing, the recruit nodded and was quickly aided by his superiors.
“Arch Lich, what name am I called?”
“Welcome to life, Fallen Knight Rank One Keegan Hayes,” the Arch Lich responded as his lips curved.
“Thank you so much for this opportunity, Arch Lich. I won’t disappoint anyone. I like the name Keegan.”
Once again, the door swung open, and a third blond sauntered in. Like the mated pair of fallen knights, this man was a Venerable Knight.
“Come and meet FK1 Keegan Hayes,” Roman said.
“Great to meet you, FK1 Hayes,” Venerable Knight Arvandus Ruarc-Daray remarked with a bright grin that lit up his blue eyes. “Apple is going to be so excited to see someone with red hair and freckles.”
Without a mirror, Keegan had no clue what he looked like, but it was nice to know he’d already pleased someone, even if he wasn’t sure whoApplewas yet.
“FK1 Hayes has different hair than Albie,” Baxter argued as he carefully handed a shaky Keegan a little plate heaped with crackers. “Albie’s is much lighter and has blond mixed in it.”
“I didn’t say they were identical,” Arvandus replied. “How are your crackers, Keegan?”
Keegan chewed faster and swallowed.
“Delicious,” he answered. It wasn’t a lie. Either his poor body was desperate for anything or the crackers were as good as advertised because he’d thoroughly enjoyed the first bite.
“Good, take your time eating them,” the Arch Lich commented. “There is no rush.”
