Page 89 of Distinctly Daray
“I don’t know, sweetie, I guess because I was reincarnated instead of resurrected, my kitty and I were both given a clean slate,” Victor replied. “I’ve never been so happy to know Chand won’t use the same spell as he did for you again. No one should have to contend with a beast who can’t help but react instinctively. I bet nothing cleared his memory. Maybe he can still feel the pain of losing Keegan.”
“Thank you for being understanding and not calling me a fool for even pondering any of this.”
“You’re never a fool, Phillip. I know you don’t like it, but I’m texting Keegan.”
Victor fished out his phone, but Phillip stilled his hand. “No need, Sparkles. He has entered the condo.”
The profound relief flowing through Phillip’s dragon from his sentinel senses locating the fallen knight was so huge, Phillip grew almost lightheaded. Their suite door swung open, and Keegan was there, wearing the bright grin that always picked up Phillip’s spirits.
“Hi,” Keegan said, rushing over to greet Phillip and Victor with soft kisses. “Everything okay?”
“Phillip’s dragon grew overprotective and was anxious without knowing where you were,” Victor replied.
Phillip sighed. He hadn’t wanted to tell Keegan about the war he’d fought in his head, but he also lacked the ability to lie, so he couldn’t have kept it secret anyway.
“You should’ve texted me,” Keegan chastised gently, taking a seat on the couch next to Phillip. “I was at Redmilla’s in Vegas, surrounded by fallen knights. My friends insisted on coming here to mingle with our high-ranking brethren.”
“We learned a little about Phillip’s dragon and have a couple of theories,” Victor explained, then went into detail about the conversation he’d shared with Phillip.
“It sucks to think about you guys dying, but the idea that it was my fault is really terrible,” Keegan said, sadness dominating his big brown eyes. “Sorry.”
“No one blamed you, and it is certainly not your fault. Do not apologize. We failed you, or more accurately, I did. If we are correct, I was a dragon shifter in that life too. It was up to me to save you from whatever peril chased you.”
“We’re going to assume that it wasn’t the fault of anyone in this room,” Victor stated forcefully. “What’s important is that we respect Phillip’s dragon in the future.”
“Oh, easy, I’ll text where I’m at if that helps,” Keegan replied immediately.
Phillip decided it wasn’t enough to have his mates going out of their way to tell him every detail about their lives on the off chance it helped keep him calm. He also owed them his secret. Plus, they had a matebond ceremony to plan soon, and Alaric had already pulled him aside with the reminder that they’d need to use the black poison.
While Phillip could bind his soul to Victor’s and Keegan’s with the aid of the blades created by Chander for that purpose, it was tradition for a sentinel to use his own blades and poison. And he was not one to stray from his brethren. Plus, Phillip wanted Victor and Keegan to know everything about him.
“I need to tell you both something,” Phillip stated. “But before I do, I must ask that it go no further than this room. Keegan, that would be a bigger commitment from you than Victor as it means keeping something from the rulers of the fallen knights.”
Keegan shrugged. “Officially, I work for the Sentinel Brotherhood, and I’d keep any of your secrets from whoever you want. I love you, and you’re both more important to me than anything else in this world.”
“You have my vow to keep it secret too,” Victor added. “And I love you both.”
“I adore you both,” Phillip replied. He sighed and was glad he had a calm dragon as he gave away the one thing the sentinels kept from the entire Council. “It is easier if I show you, I think. As you know, my gray poison is stronger than the green used by my brethren. Stronger only in how fast it works though. The neurotoxin and its effect on the body are much the same. However, you are aware the Skeleton Seven have two poisons too. Theirs swirl together like mine. But every sentinelhas access to dual toxins. One green. One black. Give me your arm, Keegan.”
Without a word, Keegan held out his limb.
“I can’t switch mine to green alone. I have tried, but even with the mix of gray, it doesn’t work on Keegan.” Phillip sliced the blade across the fallen knight’s arm, and it made no mark. Then Phillip repeated the process to himself. “Nor does it work on any sentinel.”
Keegan and Victor wore matching expressions of confusion.
“That’s not what I was taught,” Keegan managed.
“That is why it is a secret, Sunshine.” Phillip changed the poison to black. Like the green, it was imperfect for him. It remained a mixture of gray and black, which reminded him he needed to be gentle with his cuts since his toxins were so potent. Phillip poked the incredibly sharp tip of his dagger to his own fingertip. A drop of blood welled.
Phillip grasped one of Keegan’s fingers and barely tapped the top of his weapon to it. Despite the lightness of his touch, it bled the tiniest bit. Keegan’s gaze widened painfully, and Victor’s mouth dropped open.
“Part of the problem is that my dragon knows there is a method to harm fallen knights,” Phillip said. “To our knowledge, only sentinels have this power, and we would never harm a fallen knight, but Fate surprises us often.”
“Yeah, if you can hurt them, maybe one of these other populations we know nothing about can hurt you both,” Victor exclaimed. “I’m not sure either of you should ever leave the damn house again.”
Keegan swallowed thickly. “Thank you for trusting us with this secret, Phillip. Keep reminding your dragon I’m okay. You’re right. No sentinel would ever hurt a fallen knight.” Hegrinned. “Not even Alaric, and he’s the one complaining about us all the time.”
“I need to talk to Alaric. No Cinder Lord of mine is getting any assignment that puts them anywhere near some asshole who might have poison in their house they’ve been hanging onto until a fallen knight or sentinel shows up,” Victor grumbled. “I mean that’s what Chand made, right? The poison that lets fallen knights bleed long enough to bind their souls? If he can figure it out, so can someone else.”
