Chapter 1
Lich Sentinel Alaric Daray rested his clipboard on his lap and glanced at his mate, Arch Lich Chander Daray, as he took a seat next to him on the sectional. Within moments, Chander leaned against a pile of throw pillows and tucked his socked feet under Alaric’s thigh. Around the pair, sentinels and a single fallen knight found their own chairs. They were joined by the only reaper and his resurrected dog, Hekate. A cat cleverly disguised as a man bustled in with a pitcher of sangria and cups that he passed around while Skeleton Lord Brynnius Daray brought over two plates of sweet goodies he’d no doubt baked for the singular purpose of their meeting.
It wasn’t usual for the Daray household to hold a weekly gathering, and Alaric certainly hadn’t expected snacks, but he found himself graciously accepting his drink. Setting it on a coaster next to him on the end table after a large gulp of what he found to be an odd beverage, he waited for his family to quiet down. Patiently, he sat there for five full minutes while they guffawed, chatted, and stuffed food into their bellies.
“This isn’t a party,” Alaric finally intoned. Silence swept the room, giving the ambiance a funeral-like atmosphere as they stared owlishly at him.
“Someone needs a little more sangria,” Victor Antonov, their live-in housekeeper, murmuredsotto voce, annoying Alaric; he certainly didn’t need any more of the strange wine mixed with fruit.
“Babe, what’s wrong?” Chander asked after chugging the contents of his cup, which Victor hopped up to refill.
“Nothing’s wrong,” Alaric nearly snapped.
“Really?” his other half questioned. “Because you sound like something crawled up your ass.”
“Speaking of asses, did I tell you guys—”
Baxter’s tale, which would likely interest no one, since the Daemon Lord often filled their ears with sexual comments that Alaric was sure he made only to annoy them, was cut off by his mate, Benton.
“Let Alaric talk,” Benton told Baxter with narrowed eyes.
“Kill a guy for wanting to liven things up,” Baxter muttered.
“We’re already dead,” Venerable Knight Arvandus Ruarc-Daray, the only man to ever be permanently resurrected twice, pointed out.
“Can we have a meeting?” Alaric inquired, quite proud of himself for not yelling, as he was sure the room was soon going to delve into chaos. He had no idea how High King Aleksander D’Vairedraconis managed to gather his family each week to discuss issues. After all, Alaric mainly had to oversee sentinels, and they were more disciplined than the average folk.
Pointed looks were exchanged, but Alaric ignored them. When the quiet stretched, he nodded. “Good. Let’s get started. As you know, we’ve volunteered to host a party for the entire extended D’Vaire family that we’re lucky to be a part of. It will be on All Hallow’s Eve, and I’ve put together a list of things we need to handle based on the solstice gatherings we’ve had at D’Vaire. My first item is decorations. I have selected Chand to be in charge of that.”
Chander’s dark brows drew together as he frowned. “What the fuck?”
“Um…no offense, Alaric, but he is clearly missing the entire chip in his brain that gives him any taste. Have you forgotten what our place looked like when you two first met?” Baxter asked.
“Please don’t get me started on his home decor,” Victor begged. “I still have nightmares.”
“I don’t need shit from the peanut gallery, but seriously, why me?” Chander asked.
“Because you’re the only one in the room with ample magic, and it’s vitally important that we go as grand as possible,” Alaric pointed out.
“They barely use magic at D’Vaire for decorations. I think they use it for outdoor lights and for hanging stockings.”
“It is not my fault they are underutilizing their resources. If we’re going to win this, then we need to pull out all the stops.”
“I’m pretty sure it’s not a competition.”
“I disagree,” Alaric stated and was pleased that his fellow sentinels were nodding their heads. “And we certainly do not want anyone leaving with the thought that we’ve not provided a festive atmosphere.”
“I didn’t say Iwouldn’tuse magic, but how the fuck do you expect me to put something together when I have no clue where to even start?”
“Honestly, I thought we were just going to buy or make decorations and put them up,” Arvandus threw in with a shrug.
“And we find another way in which sentinels are superior to fallen knights—you lack imagination,” Alaric told the Venerable Knight, who only grinned.
“I used to be a sentinel, and there’s no way I’m lacking anything, right, Apple?”
“My mate is not lacking,” Skeleton Lord Albrecht Ruarc-Daray said. “However, I do believe it would be best for us to go with Chand’s magic. It’s imperative we live up to and exceed the D’Vaire party standard.”
“I can’t believe I’m sitting here, planning a party,” Chander mused. “I’ve spent most of my life trying to keep people out of it, and look at us now. This is fantastic. But I still have no fucking idea where to begin.”
