Page 52 of D'Vaire or Nothing
“They’re idiots,” Aristos muttered.
“One of those idiots was chosen by Fate to rule the centaurs,” Cadlyr drawled.
“From my experience, Fate is excellent at choosing soulmates, but she can be shit sometimes at picking leaders,” Aristos said. “My father was one of the worst choices, for example.”
“I was expecting a dig at me,” Cadlyr mused.
“If you’d like me to insult you, I can, but we both know you’re the most honorable Cwylld chieftain ever born,” Aristos stated.
“I agree completely,” Evlithar remarked as he beamed at Cadlyr and took his hand.
“Your opinion is biased, Ev.”
“As it should be,” Kalthekor insisted. “Now, what did you wish to show me in here?”
Evlithar quickly explained the idea he and Cadlyr had envisioned.
“Personally, I love the idea of you perfectly recreating the Valzadari sword Fate put on his chest, but either way, Kal’s going to look gorgeous,” Aristos enthused.
“I have little concept of artistic design, but I agree with Aris,” Kalthekor said with a smile. “Thank you for thinking of me; it brings me great pleasure to wear your wonderful creations, and I delight in showing off in front of the other chieftains in dragonskin since that is nontraditional for elves.”
“Hmm, I wonder if we could find a fabric with horseshoes on it,” Evlithar remarked as his brain readily supplied more ideas. “Like something small and relatively subtle. We could line the cloak with it so you got a peek as you walked.”
“Use Aris’s hoofprints and have Dra’Kaedan use magic to create it exactly as you want,” Cadlyr suggested.
Evlithar couldn’t clap with enthusiasm without releasing his mate’s hand, so he did an excited little hop. “I love that. Perhaps in a deep blue with black hooves?”
“Any chance this could be a matching-cloaks situation?” Aristos asked. “You’ve made me a couple of them now, and I’m almost no longer afraid of stepping on one so I land on my face in public.”
“Aris does wear traditional elven clothing to events regularly,” Kalthekor added with an amused glance at his other half.
“My apologies, Aris, I should’ve suggested that from the start,” Evlithar said. “Yes, you’re both chieftains; I’d be happy to make you one too.”
“Let’s not do matching,” Cadlyr suggested. “Make Kalthekor’s in Aleksander’s dragonskin and Aris’s in Rafe’s. That way they’re unique. We haven’t discussed how to trim them. I suggest each of them be different embroidery or beads.”
“Kal’s should be beaded given his company,” Aris said.
“And yours can have embroidery,” Evlithar remarked. “We will need to sneak in at least one centaur.”
“Why am I getting so excited about new clothes?” Aristos asked with a grin.
“Because we are lucky enough to have two of the most talented artisans creating ensembles for us,” Kalthekor told Aristos.
“You flatter us,” Cadlyr said. “Now, go find some beads that match the swords on your chest.”
“Kal, you may have to take off your shirt for me to match them perfectly,” Aristos commented as the couple walked away.
Evlithar chuckled at the purple flush in Kalthekor’s cheeks and couldn’t hear his cousin’s response. Valzadari tunics were traditionally open at the throat, so it was easy to view Kalthekor’s mark from Fate, but Aristos loved to tease Evlithar’scousin. It was wonderful to know that Kalthekor was as happy in his relationship as Evlithar was with his beloved Cadlyr.
“I guess we have an enormous project to tackle,” Cadlyr said.
“Yes, and we’ve discussed the cloaks but not the pants and tunics to pair with them,” Evlithar replied. “Thanks for volunteering to help me.”
“You’re my favorite person to work with.”
Evlithar shifted and embraced Cadlyr. “I will need your help later when we are alone.”
“Ev, I’d be happy to strip you out of these clothes and listen to you order me around as we make love.”
“I hope this day proves to be a short one.”
“Me too,” Cadlyr replied as their lips met. Evlithar sighed into their kiss and thanked Fate for all the bounty she had brought into his life and the lives of everyone he adored. The extended D’Vaire family had been heavily blessed by the goddess, but Evlithar still mourned for the people he loved who didn’t have their mates yet.
If they were lucky, Fate would pair them soon.
