The Summoner's Path (D'Vaire, Book 10) Read online

  He didn’t know what to do, where to turn, or how to make sense of it. So Somerly decided to do what had always worked for him in the past. He would set aside choosing how his future would look and simply stay rooted in the present. Dre’Kariston was becoming the center of his heart, and there was no way that was a dreadful thing. Perhaps he would go so far as putting his faith in Fate and allowing her to resolve his situation. She gave him Dre’Kariston, and that was by far and away the best gift he’d ever received.

  Chapter 16

  Dre’Kariston was in a good mood. It was something he was experiencing more and more these days, and it had everything to do with the charming navy dragon who visited each afternoon. In the beginning, Somerly only spent a few hours with him but now, he extended it so Dre’Kariston didn’t teleport him home until it was time for him to care for his father. They hung out with Dre’Kariston’s family, then retreated to his room. Sometimes they had amazing sex and other nights, Somerly drifted off to sleep close by. Like Cinderella, at midnight the fantasy came to an end, and Dre’Kariston used magic to bring Somerly back to Court Ethelin.

  The hours apart were a waiting game, and Dre’Kariston’s heart was no longer his own. It hadn’t struck him like a lightning bolt from the sky but rather a slow, easy slide into love. He had no problem at all seeing a life stretch ahead of them continuing their unique arrangement. In a perfect world, they’d have a more natural romance where they were able to spend more time together, but Somerly’s father was very important to him. He liked that his mate was so caring and generous; it spoke volumes about his character.

  Everyone at D’Vaire—barring Dre’Kariston’s cantankerous familiar—approved of Somerly. The entire clan ate dinner together each night, and there was always someone who vied for the Ethelin dragon’s attention. While he’d thought about it plenty, Dre’Kariston still had no clue how to get Derwin on board when it came to his relationship with Somerly. Derwin and Dre’Kariston had never gotten along, despite all the centuries they’d spent together, so it was difficult to imagine anything altering that pattern. Dre’Kariston had learned that some things in life you just accepted for what they were and moved on. His lack of friendship with Derwin was one of them, and Dre’Kariston always tried to make the best of it. He didn’t antagonize him unnecessarily and gave him plenty of space.

  That was something Derwin was taking more of since Somerly came on the scene. With Renny refusing to devote any time in trying to be an ally to Derwin, there was no one else in the house the familiar was connected to on any real level. Derwin had taken to retreating to his room for most of the day, and Dre’Kariston had little clue how he was filling his hours. There was no use in asking; Derwin didn’t consider Dre’Kariston any kind of confidante. Dre’Kariston had to admit he was enjoying the respite from Derwin’s often nasty attitude. It was something that shamed him because he valued the bond that should exist between warlock and familiar, but there was no solution to the problem.

  The only other cloud on Dre’Kariston’s sunny sky was that during the last couple of weeks, Somerly was quieter than normal. His youth and vibrancy were something Dre’Kariston appreciated, and his light was now slightly dimmer. He wasn’t going to allow any issue to fester, so Dre’Kariston fully intended to tackle the problem as soon as he got Somerly to D’Vaire. He was waiting for his daily text that gave him the thumbs up to collect him and worrying that the health of Somerly’s father might have something to do with the tension he was sensing from his mate.

  Before Dre’Kariston could spin his mind into circles over the possibilities, his phone beeped. His mate was ready to be teleported. Dre’Kariston wasted no time and within seconds was standing near Somerly’s treehouse.

  “Hey, you.”

  Somerly’s smile didn’t quite reach his navy eyes. “Hi.”

  Dre’Kariston took a few steps so he was in Somerly’s personal space; then he grabbed two belt loops and tugged him close. He took the dragon’s mouth in a deep kiss and didn’t let him get any oxygen into his lungs until he was pressed languidly against Dre’Kariston. Because of the secrecy Dre’Kariston was forced to live in for so many centuries, his previous liaisons were with humans. To protect his identity in case there were any vengeful Cwylld elves ready to finish the job they’d started with his people, he’d made sure each man he fucked spent as little time with him as possible. Sex was quick, efficient, and meant nothing more than getting off. Being with Somerly was the exact opposite, and Dre’Kariston cherished not only the eager way the dragon melted against him but the passion in his every touch.

  “You ready to go to D’Vaire?” he asked.

  “Yeah.”

  Without releasing Somerly, Dre’Kariston cast the spell and moments later, they were standing locked together in his bedroom.

  “Would you kiss me again?” Somerly asked as he often did.

  Dre’Kariston didn’t bother with a verbal reply. He placed his lips on Somerly’s and used his tongue to please him. Somerly wound his arms around Dre’Kariston and rubbed against him. It was impossible to miss the hardness poking him, and Dre’Kariston released Somerly’s jeans to grab two handfuls of his firm ass. Somerly let out a moan and though Dre’Kariston hated to do it, he lifted his head.

  Before he could get a word out, Somerly spoke. “Will you fuck me? For real, like inside me instead of just the stuff we’ve been doing?”

  “I actually wanted to talk to you before we had sex.”

  Somerly’s eyes were pleading. “Couldn’t we talk after? Please?”

  “How the hell am I going to refuse you?”

  Dre’Kariston was thrilled with the genuine smile on his mate’s face. “I’m glad you can’t.”

  “Honestly…me too.”

  Dre’Kariston would’ve liked to slowly peel off Somerly’s clothes as he drove him insane with passion and need, but the dragon wasn’t having any of it. He pulled out of Dre’Kariston’s embrace and ripped his shirt over his head. The sneakers were easily toed off; then Somerly shucked his socks. While it might have sped things up to get naked himself, Dre’Kariston decided to enjoy the show first. Somerly grinned as he shoved his jeans and underwear to the floor.

  After stepping out of them, Dre’Kariston watched with rapt attention as his stiff cock bobbed. The head was an angry red, and Dre’Kariston was feeling rather smug that it took nothing more than a couple of hot, extended kisses to put his mate into such a condition. It was only fair; Dre’Kariston was in a similar state himself.

  “How do you want me?”

  Dre’Kariston’s brow lifted at the loaded question. There wasn’t a way he didn’t want Somerly, but he needed to remain focused. “On the bed. All fours.”

  Without any hesitation, Somerly hopped up onto the mattress and positioned himself on his hands and knees. He spread his legs wide, and Dre’Kariston was rewarded with the enticing view of his pucker. Springing into action, Dre’Kariston tore off his button-down and the rest of his clothes. Crossing the room, he smoothed a hand over Somerly’s back as he reached down and grabbed the lube from the drawer in the end table. Once he had it in his hand, he climbed behind his mate and simply looked his fill.

  “So fucking sexy, Somerly,” he said as he dumped some of the slick on his fingers and rolled them together to warm it. Then he eased two of them inside Somerly. The dragon let out a deep groan and arched his back. He pushed in and back out again as he skated his palm over all the skin he could reach. This was more than just fucking, and Dre’Kariston wanted that connection with this man he so cherished.

  He took his time stretching Somerly with a smooth, steady motion, then found his prostate and coasted over it on every third downstroke. Somerly was muttering nonsense and lowered the front half of his body onto the mattress. He buried his face into a pillow and clutched the coverlet in his fists. Dre’Kariston decided it was time to for more, so he worked three digits slowly into Somerly, who pounded his feet on the bed.

  “You okay?”

>   “Yeah, yeah. I’m just wishing you were inside already.”

  “In time.”

  “That’s what I’m afraid of,” Somerly grumbled. Dre’Kariston grinned and tortured his mate by cruising over the ball of nerves inside Somerly with each pass of his nimble fingers. His own desire ramped up with the anticipation of connecting this way with Somerly, and his dick leaked with his eagerness. Though he wanted to impress Somerly with his skill in the bedroom, once he was buried in him, he was probably going to go off like a rocket within seconds.

  Dre’Kariston had to get Somerly as close to the edge as possible. He used his free hand to cup Somerly’s balls and massage them.

  “Mean fucking warlock,” Somerly spat out as he rolled his forehead over the pillow beneath him.

  With a dark chuckle, Dre’Kariston played with his mate until neither one of them could wait any longer. He pulled away from Somerly’s stretched hole and grabbed the bottle of lube from where he’d tossed it down next to them. Dumping more of it into his palm, he didn’t even bother waiting to warm it before he wrapped his fingers around his cock. The coolness was never felt; it was only pleasure that stole through him. Part of him wanted to continue to jerk himself, knowing it would take very little to come, but Dre’Kariston ignored that idiotic part of his mind. In front of him was the sexiest sight on the planet, and he wouldn’t deny himself the opportunity of being with Somerly.

  Bracing one hand on Somerly’s hip and grabbing the base of his cock with the other, Dre’Kariston lined himself up with his mate’s hole. The man in question let out an almost-sigh and begged him to hurry. It was such a soft plea for fulfillment, Dre’Kariston decided not to torture Somerly by drawing things out. Instead he slowly pushed inside him, so he didn’t hurt him. Somerly’s body opened for him, and the heat of him wrapped around the head of Dre’Kariston’s dick was indescribable.

  He continued to inch his way forward until at long last, he was fully seated in Somerly. Though he wanted to ram into him like a rutting animal until they were both soaked in sweat and screaming, he gave Somerly some precious time to adjust to the invasion. Once he was confident he wouldn’t cause Somerly any harm, he clutched his other hip and pumped in and out of him.

  Somerly let out a keening wail, then found a rhythm that allowed him to rock backward at the same time Dre’Kariston surged forward. Every muscle Dre’Kariston possessed strained to keep him in check so that he didn’t climax before Somerly did. He gave a mental cheer when Somerly released the bedding clutched in one tight fist and reached beneath him to play with his cock. Dre’Kariston’s breath was puffing out as his lungs fought to keep him oxygenated.

  “That’s it, Somerly,” he managed to gasp out. Dre’Kariston licked his dry lips. “Come for me.”

  The dragon, as he often did when ordered to, let out a shout, and his hole clamped down on Dre’Kariston’s length. Knowing that Somerly was painting the bed beneath him with his seed, Dre’Kariston allowed himself to follow. Surging forward, he let go of all restraint and his orgasm hit him with an intensity he couldn’t have dreamed possible. The ecstasy lifted him to another plane, and he swore time skipped over him. Or that was how it felt when he took stock of himself and found himself plastered over Somerly, crushing him into the mattress.

  “Sorry,” he offered in a whisper as he kissed one glistening shoulder.

  “I hope you didn’t just apologize for the best sex ever.”

  Dre’Kariston carefully lifted himself up on his hands, and though he detested the idea, he did manage to convince his dick it couldn’t stay inside Somerly forever. He pulled free and laid another kiss on the smooth skin that covered Somerly’s spine. “No, it was for smashing you into the bed.”

  Somerly, who hadn’t moved at all, let out a sigh. “I rather liked it.”

  “We did pretty good together.”

  “I’ll say.”

  Dre’Kariston somehow found the energy to propel himself off the bed and to the bathroom to grab a wet cloth to clean them both up. He returned to where Somerly was lying and washed away the come leaking from his perfect ass. He instructed the reluctant dragon to roll over, so he could mop up his front. Somerly gave him a sly grin as he lay there in all his naked glory. Dre’Kariston appreciated the view and pressed his lips softly to Somerly’s flaccid cock, then tossed the rag in the general direction of the hamper.

  He heaved himself down next to Somerly and pulled him into his arms. “Thank you, that was incredible.”

  “I feel as if I should be the one thanking you.”

  “Nothing about that felt ordinary.”

  “I never feel ordinary around you. I feel smart and sexy.”

  Dre’Kariston kissed him. “That’s because you are those things.”

  “You definitely are.”

  “I’m glad you think so.”

  “I need a nap after that.”

  “You aren’t the only one.” With Somerly’s help, Dre’Kariston managed to get them under the blanket. “Get some sleep.”

  Somerly’s expression was hopeful. “So we can have another go ’round?”

  Dre’Kariston chuckled. “Not if you snore in my ear.”

  Making a big show of rolling away so his back was nestled against Dre’Kariston’s front, Somerly let out a loud yawn. “I’ve done all I can to prevent it.”

  Wrapping one arm over his middle, and cuddling as close as possible, Dre’Kariston buried his face in Somerly’s neck. “Sleep now.”

  “Okay.”

  Dre’Kariston smiled against Somerly’s skin and was pleased with life in general. He made a mental note to speak to Somerly about his father’s health as soon as they woke up from their nap. Somerly wasn’t withdrawn during their lovemaking, but Dre’Kariston wasn’t going to allow any issues to fester between them. They were moving forward, and Dre’Kariston hoped they were edging that much closer to completing their matebond.

  Chapter 17

  Several decades had passed since Somerly was a virgin, but he’d discovered after having been with Dre’Kariston—sex could be transforming. Or maybe it was just that his heart had been stolen by a crafty warlock. He grinned as he thought about the aversion he’d always had to magickind and the irony of his thoughts. Once he would’ve never believed a spell-weaver could make him feel anything but distaste. Dre’Kariston changed all that. He was a solid, welcoming presence in his life, and he didn’t want a future without him.

  However, things weren’t simple enough for him to just pack his bags and move into Dre’Kariston’s home. Despite his affection for Dre’Kariston, his duties to Court Ethelin couldn’t be erased. It was something that weighed on him with each passing day. Somerly could barely concentrate on anything besides the tangled mess he’d found himself in. One part of him would do everything he could to make sure Dre’Kariston remained at the forefront of his decisions, and the other believed that was a betrayal to his only parent. It was difficult to rationalize in his mind what was fair to whom and what the right choices were.

  “Hey, you’re thinking pretty hard over there. I thought you were tired and wanted to get some rest,” Dre’Kariston said. Somerly was so lost in his thoughts, the sound of Dre’Kariston’s voice startled him. He managed to stifle the urge to jump but barely.

  “And here I was assured there would be another round of sex. It’s after dinner and we’ve had a nap.” Just the idea of having Dre’Kariston buried in his ass again was getting him hard, but the warlock didn’t close the space between them where they were sitting on the sofa in his bedroom, mindlessly watching television.

  “Maybe we could talk first.”

  “Okay.”

  “I know you have a lot of responsibilities, but is there more going on with you? You seem distracted lately. Is your father doing okay?”

  Uncomfortable with the lies he’d constructed and the distance it would always represent between them, Somerly fought the urge to squirm. That happened all too often around the warlock. “He’s fine.” />
  “Is there something else going on? I’m a pretty good listener if you want to talk.”

  There were a truckload of things pressing on his brain, but he couldn’t unload it on Dre’Kariston. His treacherous mind went straight back to the conversation he had with Lucretia at his engagement party a couple of weeks before. She’d urged him to come clean with his lover, so they could build an arrangement that worked for all after their wedding. He wondered if opening up to Dre’Kariston might help or harm matters. “There’s a lot of stuff going on at home.”

  “You mean besides your father’s poor health?”

  “Yeah. I’m just not sure if it’s good to talk about them or not.”

  “You aren’t obligated to tell me anything you don’t want to, Somerly, but I’ve had some practice concealing things. If you want to unburden yourself and swear me to secrecy, I’m okay with that. You’re my mate and therefore you come first. I want to be here for you. I want to be your ally, but I also understand if you aren’t ready for that yet. We haven’t known each other that long, and trust takes time to build.”

  “I know it’s only been a matter of weeks, but it feels a lot longer.”

  Dre’Kariston smiled and reached over to squeeze his leg. “Yeah, you’ve pretty much taken over my heart.”

  “I wish we’d met decades ago.” Somerly would’ve loved to meet Dre’Kariston when he was younger. It would have made such a difference if he’d only known him before his father arranged a marriage for him. The nuptials might never have come to pass if he’d been at Dre’Kariston’s side already, and perhaps King Boian would have gotten used to the idea that Somerly was gay.

  “Tell me about it. I’ve been alone for over six centuries. I would’ve liked to share more of my past with you as well.”

  “I just don’t know if it’s good to tell you everything that’s going on in my life. It…well, it might make stuff weird.”

  “It’s okay, Somerly. I told you. You don’t have to say a word. I just hope you can find a way to lessen your burden. I can tell you’re under more stress than you were when we met and as your mate, I don’t like to see you unhappy or tense.”