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

  Wullem peered up at them with damp eyes. “She died when I was barely more than a teenager, but I still feel the loss. Thank you for remembering her.”

  “I’m afraid we aren’t friendly with King Ethelindraconis. I don’t know how long he’ll allow us to trespass on his land. Will you come with us to our home? I’d like to give you a better life than unpaid chores and a bed. I believe the warlocks should remain together, and I hope that we’re able to find others like you that have had no choice but to be brave and strong while finding the best way to survive,” Dra’Kaedan said.

  “Our house is amazing. So is King Aleksander. And you’ll get your own room,” Renny added.

  “May I bring my things?” Wullem asked. “I don’t have much, but I have a few possessions that belonged to my mother I’d like to keep.”

  “We wouldn’t dream of allowing you to leave them behind. Why don’t you go grab them, and we’ll wait here,” Dre’Kariston invited.

  “I would be happy to escort you,” Gavrael stated and after a nod from Wullem, the pair strode off in the direction where the warlock lived.

  “That was unexpected,” the Lich Sentinel drawled out.

  “I didn’t even introduce you or Gavrael. Shit, I’m sorry,” Dra’Kaedan said.

  “I doubt he would’ve remembered the names had you told him. He’s skittish but I sensed no lies in his words,” Alaric responded.

  “We’ll introduce him to everyone when we get back to Arizona, Squirt,” Aleksander promised.

  From a distance, Dre’Kariston spotted a short man with a mix of brown and blond hair running somewhat in their direction. His hair was long and shaggy and flopped as he jogged. In a flash, he went from a full run to a complete stop, and it was then that Dre’Kariston’s body went haywire. His dick tented out his dress slacks and his mouth dropped open when he realized the man was his mate.

  The man’s handsome face morphed into a grin as he strode toward them. He was a dragon shifter, which was odd because the man was almost the exact same height as Dre’Kariston’s five feet and five inches. As far as Dre’Kariston knew, all dragons towered over six feet. Without any thought, Dre’Kariston strolled in his direction.

  “Where the hell are you going?” Brogan demanded but Dre’Kariston ignored him.

  As he neared the Ethelin dragon, he noticed that his eyes were indeed the same navy as his own and when he smiled, the shifter had a single dimple to the left of his mouth.

  “Hi,” the stranger offered once they were close enough to be heard.

  “I’m Dre’Kariston. I’ve waited a long time for you.”

  “I mean seriously, what the fuck, Dre’Kariston?” Brogan blurted out as he stomped over to where the pair were standing.

  “Didn’t you hear what he said? That’s his mate,” Dra’Kaedan hissed.

  “Oh shit, sorry,” Brogan offered sheepishly.

  “I’m kind of running late—can I give you my number?” Dre’Kariston’s mate asked.

  “Only if you tell me your name first.”

  The man’s laugh was hearty. “Oh, right. Duh. I’m Somerly.”

  They rattled off their respective numbers and both dutifully punched the digits into their phones.

  “It’s great to meet you. I wish I had more time, but I promise to call you later,” Somerly said.

  “If you don’t, I’ll be the one calling you.”

  His smile was brilliant. “Deal. Have a wonderful day.”

  “You too,” Dre’Kariston called after the dragon who was already sprinting away.

  Dra’Kaedan grabbed him and kissed him full on the mouth. “Congratulations! What a fucking day. It started with a total asshat who somehow managed not to fuck up raising Aleksander. Then we get a warlock. And the best part—you finally got your damn mate.”

  “And you have yours, so I don’t know why you’re kissing me.”

  His twin chuckled merrily. “Come on, let’s get our Wullem and get the fuck out of here.”

  Dre’Kariston agreed and as they walked over to meet the timid sorcerer who’d just become a D’Vaire, he allowed his thoughts to go to Fate. He thanked her for the day. For over six centuries, he’d waited for his mate—and while that would’ve been more than enough, in her grace she’d also led them to a missing warlock. He was still in a bit of shock over the handsome dragon, but Dre’Kariston’s brain could only focus on the hope that his good fortune would continue.

  Chapter 8

  Somerly ran as fast as his legs could carry him toward his father’s large house. He was late, and Boian wouldn’t be happy about it, but Somerly couldn’t keep the grin off his face. If he hadn’t been running behind, he might’ve missed meeting the sexy sorcerer Fate determined would be a good match for him. Before he could start drooling over the dark eyes and abundance of curly black hair, Somerly swung open the door of his home and smacked straight into his best friend.

  “You’re late. King Boian sent me out to look for you,” Lex informed him as he grabbed Somerly’s shoulders to keep him from falling. Like most dragons, Lex was a couple of inches over six feet, so he didn’t appear bothered by their crash landing into each other.

  “I have big news, but I have to speak with my dad first,” Somerly responded with a broad smile.

  “You aren’t going to be smiling around your dad, but I’m curious about your news. I’ll go up and wait in your room until after your tongue-lashing.”

  “Dad’s not as bad as you think.” It was a statement Somerly must’ve told his friend a million times a week. Lex is as hard-headed as they come, Somerly thought with a shake of his head.

  Lex snorted but didn’t bother to respond verbally. He turned the corner and headed up the stairs. After straightening his T-shirt, Somerly walked briskly toward his father’s office. Once he crossed the threshold, he heard his father muttering behind his desk. When Boian glanced up from whatever had his attention, his face was flushed with anger.

  “I’m sorry I’m late,” he offered. He’d learned over the years it was always best to own up to his transgressions. It might not always spare him punishment, but he liked to think it made the entire process go a bit smoother.

  “Most young people would be pleased to know their parent loved them enough to take such care in choosing a spouse for them.”

  “I’m grateful you’ve worked so hard to find me a good wife.”

  “Then sit down so I can give you your instructions. There’s going to be an engagement party soon, and we need to ensure that it’s perfect.”

  It was pointless to tell his father he’d just met his mate, as it wouldn’t affect his future. King Boian had worked since Somerly’s first shift to arrange his marriage and nothing would get in the way, including his other half. It was going to be a sticky subject, but he hoped his mate would understand Somerly had no choice. As a prince, he had to do his duty. His whole life was about being royalty, so he hoped Dre’Kariston would want Somerly for himself. He decided he’d wait as long as possible to tell Dre’Kariston about his parentage and the title he’d acquired at birth. “Sure Dad, just tell me what I need to do.”

  “I’m certainly not going to trust you with arranging any of it. I told you it needs to be perfect.”

  “Okay.”

  “I’ll give you the date and time. You’ll need to be fitted for a new suit and to make sure you aren’t late for either, you must be punished for today’s tardiness. I believe one week grounded to the house and not being allowed to attend the evening meal should be appropriate.”

  Somerly wanted to remind his father that he wasn’t a child, but it would fall on deaf ears, so he nodded in agreement.

  “You may go to your room, Somerly. I had some unwanted guests today, and they’ve put me behind schedule.”

  And in a bad mood, Somerly thought as he left his father’s office and headed upstairs. He put his punishment out of his head and allowed his mind to circle back to the stunning man he’d met. He liked that their eyes were almost the s
ame shade of navy, and he wondered why the man wore a crown. Dre’Kariston was some kind of sorcerer—not something that pleased Somerly if he was being honest—but he wasn’t schooled enough in types of magic to know what kind.

  As soon as he opened the door to his room, he found Lex reclining on his bed, watching television.

  “About time,” Lex said as he hit the remote so the screen went black.

  “I wasn’t with my dad for more than a few minutes.”

  “Did you get punished?”

  “Grounded for a week with no dinner.”

  “Where does he come up with this stuff? You’re one hundred and four.”

  “I don’t want to argue about my dad.”

  “Fine with me. Tell me about your big news.”

  Somerly wanted to tell his best friend—he’d never kept anything from him—but he had a sudden reluctance to share the truth about Dre’Kariston. His instincts told him Lex wasn’t going to understand the huge complication Dre’Kariston represented in his life. “I met my mate.”

  Lex’s brown eyes went wide. “Seriously? That’s awesome. Tell me everything.”

  “You have to swear to not tell anyone about this conversation.”

  “Last time I checked I was your best friend, and I’ve been keeping your secrets all my life.”

  “I know, I’m sorry. It’s just you know my dad would freak.”

  “His problem, not yours.”

  “Let’s not get into it for the millionth time.”

  Lex shook his head a little but didn’t argue further. “Fine, fine. Let’s talk about your mate. I want to know everything.”

  “I met him as I was running toward the house. I only had a minute with him. He gave me his phone number, and I think he’s simply gorgeous. He’s about my height with black curly hair and dark blue eyes. He was wearing a silver crown and an elaborate cloak in navy blue, black, and silver. I think he was wearing a dragon sash under it, now that I think about it, but he was a sorcerer.”

  “A sorcerer? What the hell was he doing here? Your dad hates magic.”

  “I’m not sure, but Dad mentioned unwanted guests. Maybe he was one of them.”

  “He gave you his number. What about his name?”

  “His name’s Dre’Kariston.”

  Lex sat up straight on the bed and his brows drew together. “Did you say Dre’Kariston?”

  “Yes. I know it’s a weird name, but I like it.”

  “As in Grand Summoner Dre’Kariston D’Vaire?”

  “I don’t know if it was that guy, but his name was Dre’Kariston.”

  Lex shook his head again and his dark hair almost covered his eyes. “Somerly, I’ve told you a million times—you need to pay more attention to the world around you. Your mate’s part of the Council of Sorcery and Shifters.”

  “You don’t even know if it’s the same Dre’Kariston you’re talking about.”

  “There’s only one Dre’Kariston. He’s a warlock. Did you see a blond guy with him? Same dark eyes but wearing a gold crown?”

  Somerly hadn’t paid too much attention to the people surrounding his mate but it would’ve been impossible to ignore the sharply dressed group he was standing with. “There were two men around his height with blond hair and gold crowns. One was more ornate than the other, though.”

  “The ornate one? That guy is Grand Warlock Dra’Kaedan D’Vaire. Your mate’s twin brother. They were reunited some years ago, and it was all over the news. There was a large war with some elves or something that separated them. It’s hard to get details since your dad censors our Internet. What were the leaders of the warlocks doing here?”

  Somerly shrugged. “I didn’t have time to ask.”

  “I’m the one obsessed with the Council, and Fate gives you the Grand Summoner as a mate,” Lex muttered.

  “You shouldn’t be obsessed with the Council—you belong to the Consilium Veneficus.”

  “Not by choice. The Consilium ignores Fate. We have an Emperor—we should be obeying him, not hanging out here trying to get these wizards to listen to us.”

  “If Dad heard you—”

  “Then I’d get banished and be able to appeal to the Emperor to be allowed to join the Council.”

  Somerly glared. “And what the hell would I do without my best friend?”

  “That’s the only damn reason I’m here and you know it. I love my parents, but I don’t get why my dad is so loyal to yours. The same way I don’t understand why you’re always making excuses for him. I know I’m a regular old brown dragon, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want responsibilities, and your dad refuses to give me any.”

  “Lex, you have a role. I need a best friend. Dad wants to make sure you are always available to me.”

  “I’m happy to be your friend. You know that, but I’d like to contribute to the world around me.”

  “I’ll tell you what. After I marry Lucretia, I’ll talk to my dad again. I’m sure he’ll be so pleased about the alliance that he’ll be more open to the idea.”

  “Are you listening to yourself? How are you going to marry Lucretia when you’ve already met your mate?”

  Somerly blew out a breath. “It’s not like I have much choice. I’m a prince, and marrying Lucretia helps all of Court Ethelin. I can’t be selfish and interrupt years of negotiations simply because Fate wants to get in the way.”

  “I don’t even know what to say to you. How do you think the Grand Summoner’s going to feel about that?”

  “You don’t know that he’s the Grand Summoner, and I’m sure he’ll understand.”

  “I can tell you I wouldn’t want my mate marrying someone or being with anyone else—and stop being in denial. Dre’Kariston is the Grand Summoner.”

  “I don’t know why Fate would give me a sorcerer as a mate. I’m not thrilled about magic in general.”

  Lex rolled his eyes. “That’s your dad talking. You don’t even know any magickind. I think it’d be cool to cast spells.”

  “Maybe Fate should’ve given Dre’Kariston to you instead,” Somerly joked.

  “I’ve seen pictures of your mate. I wouldn’t mind one damn bit if she had.”

  Somerly found that he didn’t particularly like the interest in his best friend’s eyes. “Well, she didn’t.”

  “Don’t get mad, I’m just telling you to be grateful. You were paired with one of the most powerful magickind ever born. My only hope is I get to meet him someday. I have about a million questions.”

  “You and your obsession with the Council.”

  “Don’t worry, I can tell you all kinds of shit, so you don’t look like a moron in front of the Grand Summoner.”

  “I don’t want to learn about the Council.”

  “Hey, you should tell him about Wullem.”

  “Who?”

  Lex tilted his head to the side. “You’re Prince Ethelindraconis. You should at least know the names of everyone who lives on your land. Wullem’s a sorcerer who came to live here a few days ago. I don’t know what kind he is, but he’s not a wizard. The Grand Summoner might be able to help him.”

  “Help him how?”

  “Your mate lives in a sanctuary called Dra’Kaedan’s Coven. It’s a part of Court D’Vaire. They help misfits.”

  “Did you say D’Vaire?”

  “Yep. I’ve said it a few times, but I get that your mind’s probably all over the place after meeting your other half. Not only is your mate magickind, but he also lives with your dad’s least favorite bunch of dragons.”

  “If he finds out who my mate is…”

  “He would lose his fucking mind.”

  “What am I going to do?”

  Lex stood up and gave him a pointed look. “I can’t tell you what the right decision is, Somerly, but you’ve been given a priceless gift. One I’m super jealous of. If it were me, my bags would be packed, and I’d be on my way to Court D’Vaire to find out everything I could about the Grand Summoner.”

  “I can’t just
ignore the plan my dad set out for my life. It affects everyone in Court Ethelin.”

  “I get that you take your responsibilities seriously, but you’ve always ignored the world around you and done exactly what your dad expects of you. Maybe what he thinks is good for Court Ethelin is dead wrong. I don’t know. What I do know is, Fate’s supposed to always make the right decisions. She gave us an Emperor. Our king ignores that. I’d hate to see my best friend follow his example and do the same with his own mate. I gotta go. I’ll talk to you later, Somerly.”

  Without a word, Somerly watched him leave. He was caught in a maelstrom between what his gut was telling him and what his mind was insisting upon. There was no way he could figure out which part of himself to trust. Somerly decided the best thing he could do was not worry about the future and take it one day at a time. If Fate knew what she was about, she’d lead him down the correct path. For now, he’d get to know his mate and still plan on marrying Lucretia. Setting that disturbing thought aside, Somerly grinned as he thought about getting to know the handsome Dre’Kariston better. He hoped the sorcerer—who just might be the Grand Summoner—felt the same way.

  Chapter 9

  Somerly’s stomach growled. He hated being forced to skip dinner, but he was determined to take his punishment like an adult. The good part about being sent to bed early was that he had plenty of time to call the man he’d met earlier in the day. Flopping down onto the mattress on his tummy, Somerly stared at his phone and wondered what the hell was going to happen in his life. With a mental shrug, he decided he wasn’t going to worry one bit about it. He tapped the screen a few times and within a couple of seconds, he had the device to his ear. A voice picked up after the second ring.

  “Hello?”

  “Hi, it’s Somerly. We met today. I said I’d call. I’m…well, I’m your mate, I guess.” Somerly wanted to slap himself in the forehead for babbling, but he soon forgot his humiliation when a husky chuckle whispered across the line.

  “You certainly are. I’m glad you called.”

  “So, you said your name was Dre’Kariston. I was talking to my best friend, Lex, and he told me that you might be a warlock.”