Page 17

P hillip bent and pressed his mouth to Victor’s. Their tongues met, and the lust rolled through him in a glorious wave. It helped push away the last of his anxiety, and his beast calmed considerably. That morning had been precarious without potions, but he and Jeremiah had worried that they would inhibit his ability to fully enjoy his first shift, and his dragon was doing so much better now that Phillip was spending considerable time with Victor and Keegan.

In fact, his dragon roared in triumph to have both of his mates close. As Victor pulled away and his hands fell from Phillip’s cheeks, he turned to kiss Keegan. It gave Phillip the enviable pleasure of watching the two men caressing, and he appreciated the pretty purple slacks Victor had paired with a loose polka-dotted shirt.

Absurdly glad that he wore a uniform so he didn’t have to navigate fashion, Phillip loved Victor’s favored bright colors and the way his make-up changed to complement his outfit. Today, his eyelids sparkled a dark plum and his eyeliner was thicker than usual. It made the slight upturn of his eyes appear more exotic, and Phillip was entranced.

As his gaze landed on Keegan with his flushed cheeks, Phillip wondered anew at how two people could create the same intense attraction and fondness inside him. Thankfully, it was a mystery he didn’t have to solve. Fate had been kind enough to give him and his beast two beautiful men.

Tugging an arm around Keegan, Phillip dragged him close and sealed their mouths together for a deep kiss. Keegan relaxed fully in his embrace, and Phillip devoured him slowly and thoroughly. His dragon kept up a steady stream of encouraging growls as Phillip allowed his mind to wander briefly and recall how lovely Victor and Keegan had looked the previous night as they lay naked and satisfied.

It was dangerous to allow his brain to go there since they were in a room full of Darays, but Phillip couldn’t help himself. And he was damn glad he’d get to repeat the experience later that night. However, Phillip didn’t want to spend his day painfully hard, so he gently pulled away from Keegan. The flush in his cheeks made his freckles more prominent, and his brown eyes were full of lust and wonder.

“He’s so pretty,” Victor said reverently.

“So are you,” Phillip replied.

Keegan blinked heavily and shook his head like a dog. “I can’t even think right now.”

“Of course you can’t,” Baxter remarked. “You guys were practically having s-e-x in the living room.”

“Stop spelling things immediately,” Vellerynd demanded, his cobalt gaze narrowed threateningly at the sentinel. He was the lone person in the house who wore the traditional elven attire of a long tunic, pants, and sandals. Phillip appreciated that he kept it unique to himself and honored the Darays by always donning a scarf with a skull pattern.

“Vel is an adult,” Teverild drawled, patting his brother on the back, presumably to soothe his ruffled feathers. “He knows what sex is, and he doesn’t need you treating him like a kid.”

“I was trying to be mindful of the fact that he’s an elf and doesn’t have sexuality,” Baxter defended.

“Duc doesn’t have sexuality; do you spell for him?” Keegan asked.

“Fallen knights, am I right?” Baxter scoffed.

“That sounds like a no to me,” Phillip said. To his delight, Victor grabbed his hand and gave his palm an affectionate squeeze. Eager to be close to both his mates, Phillip laced his fingers with Keegan’s. Phillip’s dragon grumbled approvingly.

“Anyway, when is Dra’Kaedan going to get here?” Chander asked.

“As soon as I text him,” Alaric responded.

“Well, what are you waiting for?” Arvandus asked. “Phillip has been waiting weeks to shift for the first time, and Victor probably needs to get back to scoop his litter at some point.”

Victor rolled his eyes. “You know, the jokes about me pooping in a box grew old years ago.”

“He is a fallen knight. Of course his sense of humor is horrible,” Alaric drawled.

“Yeah, because sentinels are suddenly comedians,” Chander muttered. “Text Dra’Kaedan so we can get to D’Vaire.”

Keegan rolled his shoulders awkwardly, and Phillip offered him a smile. “Use the sentinel tactic of gathering your fear and breathe it out slowly. It will help calm your nerves.”

“Why are you nervous?” Baxter asked.

“Because we’re about to go to D’Vaire and meet a bunch of titled strangers,” Chander responded.

“But they’re our family,” Baxter argued.

“To you,” Chander said. “Keegan doesn’t feel that way.”

“But he’s a Daray. Victor already had their suite fixed, and they’re getting a new bed both here and at D’Vaire,” Baxter replied.

“I’m sure they’ll feel like family to him and Phillip soon, but not yet,” Chander retorted.

“It’s no use explaining it to him,” Arvandus said. “He’s clueless.”

“No sentinel is clueless,” Alaric stated firmly.

“We live with Bax; that argument isn’t going to fly,” Arvandus commented, his blue eyes twinkling with humor.

Before anyone could respond to Arvandus, a diminutive blond sorcerer and a tall dragon shifter popped into view. They wore jeans and T-shirts, and if Phillip’s spell had not immediately supplied him with their identity, he still would have recognized that they were men of some note. The Grand Warlock’s power was no small thing, and the Grand Duke held himself with the noble air of a strong dragon shifter.

“Hey, guys,” Dra’Kaedan said, then flashed a grin.

“Grand Warlock Dra’Kaedan D’Vaire and Grand Duke Brogan D’Vairedraconis, may I present the two most handsome men on the planet,” Victor said. “Next to me is the first dragon sentinel, Phillip Osdraconis, and on Phillip’s other side is a fallen knight set to graduate at the top of his class, Fallen Knight Rank One Keegan Hayes.”

“The top of most graduating classes,” Samson boasted proudly. “And Phillip has conquered his beast training without a single unforced shift—which shows his resilience and determination as it’s no small feat to start life with a fully fledged dragon.”

“We’re all in awe of you, Phillip,” Brogan remarked. “You too, Keegan. And, of course, we’ve wanted Victor to find his mate forever. We’re super excited that he has two, and from all the bragging the Darays are doing, things are going great.”

“They are, Your Grace,” Phillip replied. “Thank you for your kind words.”

“First thing we have to teach you, Phillip, is that we’re family,” Dra’Kaedan said. “So, don’t worry about any D’Vaire titles. We don’t use them at home. I’m sure Alaric forces you to call him Lich Sentinel constantly, but we’re more chill than he is.”

Alaric frowned. “None of my men call me Lich Sentinel. Neither does my family.”

“He probably makes Chand call him that when they’re alone,” Arvandus snickered.

“Please, in their bedroom it’s probably all Yes, Arch Lich in between moans,” Dra’Kaedan teased.

“I would prefer if we did not spend the day speculating upon the things that happen behind the closed door of my bedroom,” Alaric stated.

“Which probably means you’re right, Dra’Kaedan,” Baxter said. He dissolved into laughter and leaned against Benton, who shoved him aside.

“Let’s get out of here before I have to punch someone,” Chander commented with a threatening glare for Baxter.

“Okay, close your eyes, people,” Dra’Kaedan instructed.

Phillip did as he was told and rubbed his thumb across Keegan’s hand. He hoped it added some comfort and eased the fallen knight’s nerves. The ground disappeared beneath Phillip’s feet for a heartbeat, then he was standing outside an enormous mansion with wooden double doors. Brogan pushed one open and waved the large group of Darays into the house.

With his mates at his sides, Phillip walked through a short hallway and into a magnificent space even larger than the one he’d just left. There were abundant seating options, and the couches and chairs were cream and boasted throw pillows in a wide array of colors. They were arranged around the centerpiece of the room, which was a two-story stone fireplace with an impressive wooden mantle littered with picture frames, thick candlesticks, and other artful objects.

But Phillip’s attention strayed immediately to two men standing between a pair of sentinel wolves. A man with straight black-and-blue hair stood several inches taller than Phillip, while his mate had similar dark tresses but in curly form. Their eyes had the distinctive silver circle near their irises that marked them as dragon Kings, but right alongside it was a gold one Fate usually only gave to Emperors.

The D’Vaire High Kings were the lone two dragons on the planet with both. It suited them, to Phillip’s mind, since High King Aleksander D’Vairedraconis was the world’s first bi-color dragon. Victor made quick work of the introductions, and Keegan reached out to shake hands with Aleksander and his other half, Rafe. The wolves—Nox and Mortis—watched with their tails wagging against the colorful area rug.

“Congratulations on your matebond,” High King Rafe said. “We’re looking forward to celebrating it with a D’Vaire weekend once Keegan has graduated and you guys can spend a few days with us relaxing.”

“Plus, their big-ass bed won’t be delivered until this week,” Dra’Kaedan added. “And yes, Mortis, they need that to hump.”

“Don’t encourage him to use that word,” Rafe muttered.

“It’s an honor that you wanted to have your first shift here at our home, Phillip,” Aleksander commented.

“We didn’t give him much choice,” Samson replied.

Phillip’s mouth quirked. “That does not make it any less of an honor for me, Your Highnesses.”

“Titles, man,” Dra’Kaedan said. “So unnecessary.”

“Before we force you to learn an exhaustive number of names and their titles, why don’t you head outside so you can relax and shift,” Aleksander advised. “Jeremiah is already out there waiting for you.”

“Thank you,” Phillip replied, careful not to annoy anyone by using another title in the D’Vaire household.

“Come on, Phillip,” Samson encouraged. “Except for Victor, Keegan, and B, the rest of you stay in here so Phillip doesn’t have to deal with a massive audience. You can come out once he’s in dragon form.”

Phillip followed Samson through a large kitchen complete with round tables, where he assumed the D’Vaire family ate their meals.

“We’re going to watch everything through the windows,” Baxter complained. “I don’t know what difference it makes to keep us inside.”

“Shut up and let Phillip do this shit without your nonsense,” Chander retorted.

Outside, a dragon shifter with blond hair highlighted with pink streaks, and eyes nearly as sparkly as Victor’s crown, awaited them with a smile. Phillip returned his grin. It was nice to have a familiar face waiting for him.

“Phillip, are you ready to make history as the first dragon sentinel to shift?” Jeremiah asked.

“The only person readier than I am is my dragon,” Phillip replied.

“Of course he is; we’ve made him wait forever,” Jeremiah said. “Do we need to rush this? How are you doing without any potions today?”

“You didn’t tell me you haven’t had any potions today,” Keegan exclaimed.

“Do not worry,” Phillip assured both his mates, who were staring at him with a mixture of concern and shock in their pretty eyes. “Jeremiah and I decided it would make it easier for me to shift, and my dragon has calmed considerably in the past few days now that I spend more time with you two.”

“Now I understand why you wanted to do this in the morning,” Victor remarked. “It’s been many hours since we were together.”

“Yes, and I was anxious until Keegan arrived at my dorm, and I calmed completely the moment I teleported to your home,” Phillip said.

“That’s such good news,” Keegan enthused. He smiled, and Phillip enjoyed the way it lit up his brown gaze.

Phillip had no choice but to kiss him softly. He added to his pleasure by brushing his lips with Victor’s.

“I am ready to shift,” Phillip announced.

“Okay, come with me,” Jeremiah encouraged.

Phillip reluctantly released his hold on his mates, then followed the dragon toward a door on the back of the grand mansion.

“This is the changing room. Once you’re ready, come on out and take your time connecting with your dragon. Take a few deep breaths, center yourself, and let your beast take control. He knows what to do. Any questions or issues before I give you some privacy?”

“No, I appreciate your help.”

“My pleasure, holler if you need me.”

With a nod, Phillip closed himself in the changing room and pulled his daggers from where they floated at his hips. He placed the weapons on an empty shelf, methodically undressed, and piled his folded clothes on top of his blades. Naked, Phillip opened the door and tried not to notice how odd it was to be nude outside.

His dragon roared with impatience, and Phillip closed his eyes. There was no point in delaying what both sentinel and beast wanted. A strange but not unpleasant sensation coursed through him as his bones, muscles, and tendons stretched. It wasn’t painful. Far from it. Phillip felt free as he allowed his dragon to assume control.

For weeks, he’d struggled to contain this part of himself, but now he understood why the fight was so intense. His dragon wanted freedom. Like Phillip, he adored the two men Fate had granted them. But they’d shared little else in common besides frustration. That had to change. Phillip had to fully honor his dragon if he wanted any peace in his life, and he desperately did.

Fully committed to being more considerate of his dragon, Phillip realized his shift was complete. His irises had lacked scales, so Phillip had known he would too. To his delight, his bones were the same charcoal as his uniform. His dragon belched out fire, and it was the same mixture of gray and green as the poisons on his daggers.

Desperate to show Keegan and Phillip the beauty of his skeletal dragon, Phillip gave himself permission to deny his beast one last time. His dragon wanted to fly. They couldn’t do that yet, and Phillip refused to scare Jeremiah, Samson, Brynnius, or anyone else who’d helped him by giving in to the temptation.

His dragon roared in disgust but allowed Phillip to keep control. Phillip vowed to reward them both by taking flight as soon as Jeremiah deemed it safe. Content, his dragon rushed on heavy feet to where they’d left their mates.

“Look how beautiful you are,” Victor yelled as Phillip raced toward him and Keegan.

“I knew your bones would be sentinel gray; you’re so fucking awesome, Spicy,” Keegan added.

They petted him, and Phillip swore his dragon purred just like Victor in response. It was another wonderful milestone as they all shared a profound moment together. Phillip thanked Fate for the enormous bounty in his life and vowed to honor every gift she’d given him fully and without reservation. His dragon roared with triumph, and Phillip planned to avoid the potions that dimmed their connection.

But that was contingent upon his dragon behaving himself. To help with that, Phillip had to ensure he spent as few hours away from Victor and Keegan as possible. That was something Phillip yearned for anyway, but he also couldn’t impose on their lives. It was a balance Phillip hoped to master in the coming days and weeks.