“Thank you, Victor.”
“Anytime. Albie, did we get all the dried spices on the list?”
“Yes.”
“Moving on,” Cassius announced, so loud that the woman manning the cart in front of them jumped in surprise. “I apologize, madam, I didn’t mean to scare you.”
She glanced at them as did her small son at her side, and he let out a gasp. “Swentnels!” the little boy squealed as he raced over and stopped less than an inch from Brynnius’s boots. He glanced up at Brynnius with a grin that displayed small white teeth. “Hi.”
“Hello,” Brynnius replied.
“Sorry, he loves you guys,” his mother explained as she tried to grab his hand, but the boy tucked his limbs in front of him to avoid her grasp. “Come on, Robbie, let’s leave the nice gentlemen to do their shopping in peace.”
“I really am sorry I shouted and scared you,” Cassius told her.
“No worries. Robbie, let’s go.”
It was Victor who got down on one knee and pointed up at the men around him. He introduced each Skeleton Lord and the Venerable Knight to Robbie, who was still smiling brightly.
“Skeleton Lords, Venerable Knight, I wasn’t even paying attention. I should’ve realized you’re the only sentinels with the dual-poisons, and I’ve seen you on television a million times, Venerable Knight. I hope you can forgive me for not using your titles.”
“We certainly weren’t offended,” Arvandus assured her.
“Maybe Robbie would like a picture with the Skeleton Lords,” Victor suggested. The woman got out her phone as Robbie nodded enthusiastically. Victor snapped two images for the lady and her adorable son, then chatted with Robbie as they got him back to his mother’s cart. Taking no chances, she placed him in the seat at the front and went on her merry way.
“I seem to recall someone complaining that they didn’t want to be corralling anyone today,” Arvandus teased Victor.
“Kids I can deal with—it’s a bunch of pigheaded sentinels who think they can do no wrong that drives me right up the wall when they’re misbehaving. Besides Robbie was just curious, and his mama was scared he was going to embarrass her.”
Albrecht took no insult from Victor’s words. Although he might jest, the shifter took very good care of them and their home.
As they made their way through the store, Cassius kept a steady pace, and Victor never did remember what he forgot, so Albrecht could not help him add it to the cart. Once they got home, Albrecht leaned up and kissed Arvandus on his always welcoming mouth.
“I must find Chand.”
“I know why. Go. You know if he’s not on the couch with his face in a book, he’s in the office.”
With one last smooch, Albrecht found Chander and Alaric talking in the office that was lined with shelves that contained only a portion of the vast library of books the Arch Lich owned.
“You must resurrect Victor,” Albrecht stated without preamble as soon as they noticed him standing in the doorway of the office.
“What the fuck do you mean? How the fuck did he die? Why didn’t you call anyone? We could’ve had Sorcery D’Vaire gathered in seconds if necessary,” Chander rushed out, stalking over to stand in front of Albrecht, his body vibrating with emotion. Albrecht opened his mouth to thoroughly apologize for his choice of words, when Alaric’s hand landed on Chander’s shoulder.
“Victor is in the condo, very much alive. If my senses are correct, he’s likely in the kitchen,” Alaric commented.
“Albie, what the fuck is going on?” Chander demanded.
“I apologize. It was not my intention to alarm you. Victor will die,” Albrecht said, and when Chander’s eyes widened, he realized he’d once again chosen his words poorly. “Not soon. But someday when Fate decides. Perhaps in two thousand years. He will need to be resurrected then. He is part of our family.”
“Okay, I’m not going to kill you, because you’ve had a hard life, and it’s not your fault sentinels suck at peopling sometimes,” Chander muttered.
“You will resurrect him?” Albrecht asked.
Chander cocked his head and glanced up at his mate, who smirked. “I might have a better idea.”
“Explain,” Albrecht said.
“Give me a couple of days to talk to some people. I’ll let you know if my plan is going to work,” Chander responded in mysterious terms Albrecht had no choice but to agree to, so he nodded.
