Page 95 of D'Vaire or Nothing
“I’ll warn you, if Mavi learns of this, he’ll want to join me in whatever I do. We’ve done everything together our entire lives. But yes. I accept. I would love to work with you and for druids. Can you imagine me…little Selti with his tiny garden working alongside druids?”
“I like sweet Selti better than little Selti.”
“I wonder if my dick is small compared to yours.”
Ashby laughed. “You have a filthy mind. Come back outside and play with my flowers.”
“I was looking forward to that all day, then you kissed me. Now, all I can think of is how good you taste and how nice it feels to have your tongue in my mouth. Will we have more kisses later?”
It was a dangerous idea, but Ashby loved it. So, he pulled Seltivare close. “Yes, many more kisses. But outside. Afterward we go upstairs and I sleep on the couch so I avoid finding out what size your dick is before morning.”
“You can share the bed with me, Ashby. It’s fun to tease you, but I promise not to fondle you while you sleep.”
Ashby gave him a feather-light kiss and led him out of the tree. “I thought you’d be a trembling and scared virgin. But no matter what, I’m still sleeping on the sofa. You’re too tempting to do anything else. And it pulls out to a bed, so I’ll be comfortable.”
“Don’t bring up your past lovers. I’ve spent my life wrestling with my brother and I can throw a decent punch, though I prefer a rapid kick to the shin. I’m not so good a person that I won’t find those men who’ve seen you naked and pummel them senseless.”
His eyebrows raised, Ashby held out his hand, and a cross Seltivare took it. “It’s been a long time since I had a lover. I was young the last time I sought someone out, and they were all forgettable encounters. What I wanted was a mate to share everything with, and Fate finally brought you into my life.”
“Can you believe my mother sent me off to a new job and on my first public shift, I meet you? I’m surprised she wanted Mavi to live here with me. I thought she’d be completely emboldened by her success and would drag my twin everywhere on the planet until he, too, discovered his other half.”
“Your mother is fantastic, and I’m grateful she pushed her little elves out of the nest.”
Seltivare glared at Ashby. “I’m thirty, and I would’ve met you eventually.”
“Yes, I know how old you are, but I was tired of waiting. If you’d listened to your mother more often, maybe we would’ve met years ago.”
“If you were Mavi, I’d be kicking you right now. Show me your flowers, Ashby.”
Delighted by the disgruntled elf, Ashby brushed their lips together and led Seltivare to the Royal Family Blue sweet peas.They were the first thing he’d planted at D’Vaire, and it fit that Seltivare smelled just like them.
Chapter 5
Seltivare was in an excellent mood. After a wonderful matebond ceremony and several kisses in the garden, he’d been brought to a beautiful suite decorated in a garden motif. The comforter he’d pulled over the new pajamas Larissa had made for him was white but embroidered with flowers in shades of pink, purple, and blue.
To Seltivare’s consternation, Ashby was a perfect gentleman and refused even a goodnight smooch before retreating to his pull-out couch. Seltivare had woken up with the sunlight pouring through the glass doors that led out to a balcony. With no awkwardness, he and Ashby had taken turns showering and preparing for their day.
A lively breakfast had followed, and Seltivare was quickly growing fond of the bright happy family of D’Vaires. Which was why he was so surprised to find their sister sanctuary, Elven D’Vaire, nearly empty of people and almost solemn in its atmosphere.
“Many years ago, this place was founded by the tribes related to our family. Valzadari. Cwylld. Acwellan. Indrenakas. Sae’Varis. Mystamre. Verdanyth. While we’ve advertised as much as possible, we rarely receive applications,” Dra’Kaedan explained quietly as they stood in a living room decorated in asoft rainbow of colors. The mansion was on Mystamre land, but there were no other huts or homes visible. “The lone residents are a group of resurrected elves who’ve built their own rules for their tribe. They train with sentinels and wear clothing they find comfortable. Their hair is long, but they opt to wear it tied away from their faces instead of beaded.”
“I wish such a place had existed centuries ago when Zoli and I needed a home,” Vateltir said as they stood in the empty living space. “But maybe we would have feared applying.”
“We desperately want to understand what keeps people from wanting to join this sanctuary,” Dra’Kaedan commented, crossing his arms over his T-shirt. “Can you tell me a little about your tale and what led you to become Tristis?”
“Excuse me, Grand Warlock,” said an elf with dark blue skin as he rushed to them with a plate of fruits and cheeses. “We made some refreshments for you. Perhaps your family would like to have a seat and enjoy the snack?”
“Thank you, that was very nice of you,” Dra’Kaedan responded and immediately moved to sit on an ivory couch laden with beaded and embroidered pillows.
Seltivare joined their small group and sat next to Ashby with barely a few inches separating them. It was lovely to breathe in his azalea scent and get to admire his handsomeness as they discussed the sanctuary and his parents’ tale. On Seltivare’s other side, Mavizare dropped onto a cushion and helped himself to the snack.
“Grand Warlock, if you need anything else, please text me,” the Indrenakas elf remarked as he headed for the door. “I’ll be back in a few hours to provide lunch to our residents. They eat later, and we cater to their schedule.”
“I will, enjoy your morning,” Dra’Kaedan said. “Thank you so much.”
The elf left the house, and Dra’Kaedan sighed.
“We used to keep families of the different tribes here and would rotate them out to give everyone a chance to help,” Dra’Kaedan expanded. “I think that plan backfired. No one dug in roots, and we haven’t expanded. Only the resurrected elves live here permanently, and they were sheltered at their former home. They have never left the estate, and we refuse to push them past their comfort level. As for their care, it falls into the hands of employees that sign year-long contracts. Something they insisted upon until we grow. But that’s our problem. I’m curious about your origins if you want to share them.”
