Page 10 of D'Vaire or Nothing
“Oh, get over it,” Helen said. “Arvandus and Albie both waved back. No one is embarrassed but you.”
Drystan turned to Conley and shook his head. His cheeks were pink, which made Conley laugh.
“You’re silly, but I love you anyway,” Conley told his mate.
“You can’t drive, but I love you too,” Drystan retorted with a smacking kiss.
“Say nice things to Conley,” Helen demanded.
“I know, Mom. He’s happy, I swear,” Drystan insisted.
“I can vouch for Drys,” Conley assured his mother. “No one else could make me happy but him.”
“Really, son, raise your standards,” Aeron teased, and Conley laughed. His life was a rich one, and that had everything to do with the incredible people in it. And the most important of them was the man he’d died—and now lived—alongside.
Chapter 4
Venerable Knight Arvandus Ruarc-Daray grinned between bites of the delicious pasta dish he’d ordered. Across the table, the stunning man Fate had given him twice sat with irritation stewing in crisp green eyes. There were a few empty booths, but Arvandus had insisted on being seated at a table close to the entrance so they could watch their beloved family stroll through the resort.
It was a good thing Arvandus had something to do because Albrecht hadn’t been inclined to offer much in the way of conversation. Arvandus wasn’t bothered. Albrecht was on the quiet side, and that was especially true when something was bothering him. Thankfully, Arvandus wasn’t the source of Albrecht’s irritation.
“How is your dinner, Apple?” Arvandus asked.
Albrecht’s fork froze halfway between his plate and his mouth. A sliced carrot fell from the tines, and Albrecht’s shoulders sank.
“It is delicious. Are you enjoying your pasta?”
“Yep, it’s yummy.”
“I apologize; I am not being a good mate.”
“As your other half, I must disagree,” Arvandus said, wishing Albrecht would glance up so his long lashes weren’tcovering his pretty irises. Albrecht was an ancient sentinel who’d been horribly mistreated by his now-deceased necromancer, and his emotions were often clouded in his flat gaze. But Arvandus knew him far too well to miss anything in those beautiful orbs—which was why Albrecht had bowed his head.
Albrecht’s chest expanded with his large inhale, and he set his fork onto his plate. “You are kind to me. Gentle. Forgiving. Even when I do not deserve it.”
Scooting his chair in as far as he could, Arvandus reached across the table and lifted Albrecht’s chin with his finger. He smiled at the Skeleton Lord.
“What you deserve is to be loved and understood,” Arvandus assured him. They were close enough together that Arvandus caught the faintest scent of a fall apple orchard. It was his favorite smell and wrapped around Albrecht like a warm hug.
“So do you, and I should not be allowing my irritation to ruin our date.”
Arvandus grinned with relief at the mixture of self-directed annoyance and joy on Albrecht’s face. The self-recrimination he’d expected, as Albrecht was forever hard on himself. But it wasn’t dominating his mood, and that was the best Arvandus could hope for whenever Albrecht internalized his emotions.
“Want to talk about it?” Arvandus asked.
“No, it can wait until later. It is foolish. I am being silly. We both know it, and you are far too kind not to chastise me for it, Van.”
“Don’t call me that sexy name in this fine establishment. I can’t eat pasta if I’m hard.”
Albrecht’s smile caused his dimples to sink deep into his cheeks, and it somehow made his face even more attractive.
“I like it when you are hard.”
“No dirty talking until you’re done being annoyed. Let’s talk about it, okay?”
“Why am I allowing myself to be so mad about it?”
“Because it’s been part of your life for a long time.”
