Page 83 of Distinctly Daray
“Big surprise, he’s just as nosey as me,” Evergreen muttered.
“I blame your influence on my inability to mind my own business,” Dudley stated with a grin.
“Corrupting you is part of my life’s mission. But spill it already, Victor.”
“Okay, last night Keegan, Phillip, and I finally told each other that we’re in love,” Victor said.
Evergreen stared balefully at Victor. “Okay, well, I’m honestly shocked it took you guys that long because I figured it out forever ago. Now, tell me the rest because you aren’t going to make some big grandiose announcement at D’Vaire about that.”
Victor laughed. “No, there’s more. We’ve decided to have our matebond ceremony.”
“Yay!” Evergreen enthused. “Congratulations, that is so exciting. Everyone is going to be so happy to help you plan. I assume you’re doing the ceremony at D’Vaire too.”
“We haven’t actually talked about it, but it’s pretty traditional for our family,” Victor replied.
“Of course we wish to honor tradition,” Phillip responded.
“And it’s where Phillip first shifted and flew,” Keegan added. “It’s a special place for his dragon. I love the idea of adding to our memories there.”
“You guys, we need to have a toast,” Evergreen insisted, snatching his goblet off the end table and raising it up. “To Victor for answering that ad and becoming part of my family. To Chand for resurrecting your two beautiful men. To Fate for bringing you three together. And to love, which will bind you for eternity.”
“I will definitely drink to that,” Phillip said, shifting so he could tap his beer bottle against everyone else’s drinks.
Victor used one hand to toast his dear friends and his mates as he used his other to wipe happy tears from under his eyes.
“That’s a beautiful toast. Thank you,” Victor said, blowing an air kiss at Evergreen. “I want to add a little wish for Fate. DearFate, if you’re listening, please bring Evergreen and Dudley the men who will complete their lives.”
“And Fate, don’t be afraid to give me a couple of mates if you want,” Evergreen shouted, hooting with laughter.
“But not too many because Evergreen will need to quit his job and I will not survive as office manager by myself,” Dudley added.
“You both deserve the best mates,” Keegan said. “I’m trying to picture who you could wind up with.”
“If either of them are going to wind up with fallen knights, reapers, or sentinels, they will have to wait until Chand resurrects new ones since both Evergreen and Dudley have met all the current living ones,” Phillip pointed out.
“At least my mom isn’t afraid of sentinels anymore,” Evergreen said. “If it weren’t for me insisting she hang out with Dudley, she’d still avoid them.”
“She has conquered her fear admirably,” Dudley defended. “She treats me with kindness and has called me family.”
“Do you want to be with a sentinel? Is that your first choice?” Keegan asked.
Evergreen shrugged. “Mostly I think if I was with a sentinel, he’d wind up hanging out with Dudley more than me since I don’t weapon train or anything like that.”
“No, because I would move out. If you meet your mate, it will be awkward for the three of us to continue living here together,” Dudley stated.
“Don’t start this shit with me again, Dudley. We’re a family. We’re staying together. Did Victor move out when he met his mates? Did everyone move out of the Daray condo after Chand and Alaric reunited? No. Plenty of Darays have added their mates to the condo since then too. Everyone stayed rightwhere they were. If you meet your mate first, I’m staying here with you guys. Just try to boot me out on my ass. It won’t work.”
“Dudley, Evergreen’s right,” Victor said. “His feelings about living with you aren’t going to change if he meets his mate or mates first. They would love to have you to hang out with. Plus, all the plants will die. You can’t do that to them or Evergreen.”
“Victor is correct. Families should stay together if they love each other,” Phillip stated. “That is what Alaric would tell you, is it not?”
Dudley scowled. “I suppose you are right.”
“Of course he is,” Keegan insisted. “You’re Evergreen’s best friend. Nothing will change that unless you let it.”
“Your mates are smart and beautiful,” Evergreen enthused to Victor.
“Trust me, I know.”
