Page 70 of D'Vaire or Nothing
“What’s your schedule this week? You need to meet everyone. We can start with the D’Vaires who live in Arizona. It’ll be easier that way than to bombard you with everyone here at the resort.”
“I’m off until Thursday, Heath, and I’d love to meet your family. The real ones. The ones who love you unconditionally and would never dream about forcing a shitty poison down your throat.”
“I hope we can work it out so you’re willing to someday call D’Vaire home.”
“Your life scares me. At least all the fancy people in it,” Brinley confided. “But I want to be with you, Heath. I do. We’ll figure it out. My future isn’t decided yet. I have a job. A crappy apartment and some clothes. That’s it. Everything else I’ve earned is in savings, waiting for me to figure out my life. Maybe Fate thinks I’ve procrastinated long enough.”
“I’m here to help you however you want. Hold your hand while fancy people are nice to you or to talk through your choices. I want you to be happy. Not just run off somewhere to be with your mate.”
Overcome with affection and gratitude, Brinley scooted closer to Heathcliff on the little sofa at their table and rested his head on his shoulder. “I really like you, Heath.”
Heathcliff took his hand and laced their fingers. Then he brought their arms up and pressed his lips to Brinley’s skin. “I really like you too. So does my phoenix.”
“I can’t wait to meet him. Fire and fire. Even though the old Magus Superus was a fucking moron, flames can work together sometimes.”
“The best of them can.”
Brinley agreed. Growing convinced that Fate had offered him the finest of mates, he thanked her for allowing him to meet the wonderful shifter who was stealing his heart.
Chapter 5
Brinley’s face was red, but he was keeping himself together as best he could. His current state of embarrassment was the fault of the Brynewielm Duke, and he planned to take him to task the second they were alone. The gorgeous man had invited Brinley to his home. A quick teleportation and Brinley had landed outside an enormous mansion in the high desert of Arizona.
Inside was a peace Brinley hadn’t known he was searching for until he found it. If Brinley had somehow been invited to the High Draconis Court before meeting Heathcliff, he doubted it would’ve hit him with the same intensity. He wouldn’t have recognized the soft wave of joy spreading through his soul.
Heathcliff had brought happiness into Brinley’s formerly dull world. All his life, he’d worked hard and kept himself from dreaming. That was why his future was blurry and he couldn’t decide his path. Brinley had done nothing but survive. Until the most handsome man on the planet had walked into his new place of employment.
But the phoenix shifter who was winning his heart was in big trouble, and the moment Brinley was alone with the man, there would be an immediate discussion. Brinley refused to embarrass himself further, so he stood in the two-storygreat room of the D’Vaire mansion and smiled appropriately as Heathcliff introduced him to the lively people who called it home.
Titles. There were so many of them. But Brinley relaxed at the way they teased each other, sprawled over the pale grayish-beige couches, and acted like normal people. He wasn’t sure what he’d expected. Perhaps instead of colorful throw pillows and shelves with replicas of the most incredible mating athames and oversized rings, he’d imagined the room would be filled with stark thrones.
Despite witnessing the D’Vaires and their large extended family trailing through the resort for several days without a crown in sight, it was as if Brinley had expected them to wear them at home. He was a fool. It was a wonderful thing to be wrong about, and Brinley’s muscles unclenched as he relaxed at Heathcliff’s side.
If he weren’t so pissed at Heathcliff, he’d take his hand. Staring at the side of Heathcliff’s face, Brinley ignored his desire to see it covered with a mating mark and narrowed his eyes at the lovely man.
As if sensing his stare, Heathcliff glanced at him, and his dark eyebrows flew up. “What’s wrong?”
The blunt question quieted the room, and Brinley’s fire desperately wanted to escape as he became the center of everyone’s attention.
“I’d like to speak to you about it privately,” Brinley said, proud of himself for managing the words without growling.
“Follow me,” Heathcliff ordered.
Brinley wasn’t sure if they were done with introductions, and he didn’t care. Neither did Heathcliff. The phoenix shifter stalked out, and Brinley offered the other occupants a tremulous smile as he raced after Heathcliff. The tall shifter didn’t stop until he was at a door with a metal plaque bearing his name.
Heathcliff turned the knob, and Brinley was so dazzled, he nearly forgot what had drawn them to the glorious space. The suite was enormous—Brinley’s little apartment would’ve easily fit in the bedroom. And unlike Brinley’s sparse furniture, it was gorgeously decorated with a gorgeous array of blues. Upon closer inspection, Brinley discovered accents of indigo and violet.
Those were the colors of the hottest flames, and it suited a phoenix. And a fire mage. The walls were navy and gave the space an intimate feeling. A large bed that Brinley could easily imagine Heathcliff in was covered in a bedspread of dragonskin with metallic silver accents. Tall windows let in the sunshine, but heavy drapes fell to the pale wooden floors. The nightstands, headboard, and dresser were a deep matte black. Above everything was a stunning chandelier.
“This room is fucking perfect,” Brinley whispered as he twirled across the area rug.
“You look good in it. Your eyes are bluer, and I don’t think it’s just because you’re pissed. What’s wrong?”
Brinley forced himself to stop finding things to marvel over—like Heathcliff’s intricate crown of silver, gold, and blue showcased in a glass box—and marshaled his thoughts. He swung his attention to the phoenix shifter who was aggravating him and glowered.
“Did you forget to mention something to me before I teleported?”
“No.”
