“No. We’re D’Vaires, and Rorie has assumed I’m going to his realm, but we haven’t discussed the logistics of that or if it’s something that will ever work,” Renny answered after locking eyes with Rorie.
“I am the Protector of the Fae. I must return,” Rorie insisted.
“You’re still getting to know one another. A solution might present itself without you guys needing to argue,” Rafe stated.
“We both have responsibilities, Rorie. I want to get to know you, but I think you need to be open-minded and not assume I’m willing to leave D’Vaire,” Renny added in a quiet voice.
All Rorie could do was nod. How in the world was he supposed to fix this? The Fae had many issues as did Rorie. Even if he wanted to abdicate his title, it was impossible to convince Drekkoril to defy Bétea’s choice of Noble Protector. Drekkoril didn’t like him, and he had no reason to walk away from everything he knew so Rorie could be with Renny. Rorie did not want him to denounce his claim to the throne either. Lifting a finger to free Orlami, he studied the beautiful creature, who went straight to Renny, and was content that at least one of them was happy.
Chapter 6
Renny walked out onto the deck and discovered the furniture was missing from the wide planks. “What the fuck?” he muttered, stomping to the staircase.
For nearly a week, Orlami had enjoyed his new outdoor lagoon and blue tent to sleep in. A single issue had cropped up though—the Faedrekan was a prankster. The chairs and tables were scattered over the sandy dirt, and he didn’t have to ask who the culprit was. Food had gone missing from the garden Drindyr Duke Dravyn and his mate, Killian the Dwyer, worked in, and no one dared leave a plate unattended either.
They’d tried to entice him to play with a tablet or enjoy television like the wizard dragon familiars, but the Faedrekan had no interest in modern technology. With an amused shake of his head about Orlami’s silliness, Renny was about to bring everything back to rights when the door behind him whooshed open.
“Where has the furniture gone?” Rorie asked.
Renny didn’t hide his smile at the sight of his mate. From the moment Larissa had presented the boisterous fairy with her famous sleep bottoms, he’d fallen in love. Within a day, they’d put their heads together, and now Rorie was only seen in onesie pajamas in bright fabrics. As cute as it was, Renny hoped he wore his kickass Fae clothing again at some point.
“My guess is Orlami thought it would be funny to drag it out into the yard,” Renny responded.
Behind Rorie, Drekkoril appeared, and he rolled his eyes as he took in the fairy’s attire. “Why is the furniture gone?”
The boom of his voice caused Rorie to jump slightly, and he glared at his familiar. “It is none of your affair.”
“If Zurenzi helped Orlami spread it out over the ground, then I must help make amends.”
“I did not realize you had summoned Zurenzi,” Rorie supplied. Seconds later, the chairs and tables returned to the deck courtesy of Rorie’s now ample magic.
“Rafe explained to me the duty I have to make him happy, so I freed him. The High King has some experience with an unhappy beast,” Drekkoril said, his spine stiffening.
Renny could do nothing to help with the tension that was always bubbling up between the pair, so he went about pushing the furniture into the correct spots on the deck while the two glared at each other. It was up to them to iron out whatever differences plagued them, and Renny was not familiar enough with either to assist.
Minutes later, Rorie gasped and his head popped up.
“What’s wrong?” Renny asked.
Rorie said nothing, so Renny gave his attention to Drekkoril and swore that his swirling eyes were damp. Unsure of what to do, Renny tried to discern what had happened, and he saw two dragons walking in their direction with bare inches separating them. Orlami’s face had a few cream streaks, and Zurenzi had the same pattern on his scales, only in navy.
Rorie moved like a flash and lifted his two hands, blasting Drekkoril with a wave of magic. It flowed through him without harming him, and Rorie swore caustically in a language Renny was trying desperately to learn. Visibly enraged, he slapped Drekkoril’s arm. “Iot’r mam omila dod o’fak io’to frin io Zurenzi?”
“You asked me many times to summon him,” Drekkoril answered in a whisper. “I could not know they were v’airsell niolls. Use English for Renny.”
“You kept them apart,” Rorie roared, rage burning in his eyes. “Each moment Orlami was around you, he would not give you peace. Locked inside you was the other half of his soul.”
“I could not know,” Drekkoril repeated.
“The important thing is that they’re together now,” Renny interjected softly. There was a personal mission developing in him with each interaction to help the pair somehow find common ground. For Renny, to have such antagonism between him and Dra’Kaedan was something he hated to contemplate. Fresh in his memory was Dre’Kariston’s experience with his first familiar, who’d died trying to prove he didn’t need his warlock.
Rorie’s expression was pure hostility but the second his gaze cut to Renny, the storm clouds cleared somewhat. “I wanted so bad for Orlami to have another Faedrekan around. My love for him is deep, and I hated to think of him missing his kind. He was always so attached to Drekkoril after he bound with Zurenzi. I wondered if Orlami was family to Zurenzi. I did not know they were v’airsell niolls.”
“I will readily agree to only bind Zurenzi when you do the same with Orlami.”
Renny offered him a smile, grateful for Drekkoril’s words and that although Rorie was quick to anger, he did not hold on to it long. “Thanks, Drekkoril. I’m sure Rorie and the Faedrekan will appreciate that. I know you’re upset that they weren’t able to be together sooner, but as you stated, you couldn’t have known about their bond.”
“I thank you for your kindness, Renny,” Drekkoril said. His attention turned to the Faedrekan standing next to each other at the base of the stairs. “Many congratulations on the tying of your souls. May Bétea bless you with happiness.”
