“Where is Dasan?” Gramlithyn asked.
“That’s it?” Drystan barked. “It’s been six fucking years, and your first question is where is your partner in crime?”
“Sorry.”
“For what?” Conley demanded. “For trying to break the fucking law or ignoring your parents for six years?”
Gramlithyn huffed out a breath and hunched his shoulders. “I haven’t ignored them. We talk on the phone.”
“Once a fucking month,” Drystan countered. “And you haven’t told them shit. What are they going to think when they find out that you’ve been arrested?”
“I’m surprised you haven’t called them yet,” Gramlithyn muttered.
“If it wasn’t three in the morning I would have already, but the last thing I want to do is wake them up to tell them the shit their kid is up to,” Conley retorted, his gold gaze boring into Gramlithyn’s soul. “What were you thinking?”
“I don’t know,” Gramlithyn replied weakly. “I should’ve known Killian wouldn’t have any employees willing to get arrested just so people could go to Europe.”
“Yeah, you should have,” Drystan stated firmly. “Why would they? Killian works hard to provide them with everything they need. But the real question is, why are you trying to go to Europe in the first place? You’re a green elf. It’s not like you could blend in, Gramlithyn. The wizards in the Consilium Veneficus hate anything not like them. Fate only knows what they’d do to you. Think about all the fucking sprites they murdered.”
“Gram,” Gramlithyn corrected, actively avoiding any thoughts about what could’ve happened if he’d been discovered by the Council’s rival government.
“What?”
“I go by Gram now.”
“We can discuss nicknames later,” Conley said. “Tell us what was going through your mind.”
“I don’t know,” Gramlithyn responded, wondering what part of his brain had thought for even a second that anyone he’d known in his youth would casually start calling him something else.
In hindsight, he wasn’t sure what the hell had been going through his mind other than escape. For six years he’d tried to run away from memories and his mate. But he refused to explain it or admit to two men with a legendary love affair that he was hiding from his other half. It didn’t matter that Pyxlevir didn’t want him; they’d trot him over to the Centaurus-Valzadari household and expect him to do his duty.
“You can do better than that,” Drystan ordered.
Gramlithyn raised his gaze to the ceiling of the small room that was nearly suffocating thanks to the two angry fallen knight-dragons staring at him with a mixture of fury and concern.
“I like traveling,” Gramlithyn said. “When the topic of Europe came up in the bar, I didn’t think. I’ve never been there. There was no way to go, and I was curious. So was Dasan. Unlike me, he’s not a member of the Council, but we’ve gone everywhere together for six years, and thankfully he was on board with this too. It’s not illegal for him. I don’t know why you’ve arrested him, and he can’t really sit still. He and his bird are going to go nuts if you keep him locked up.”
“Relax, he’s eating,” Conley replied. “Arvandus is with him, and we’ll reunite the two of you soon.”
Venerable Knight Arvandus Ruarc-Daray had likely been roused from bed and the side of his mate thanks to Gramlithyn. If Arvandus was pissed, Gramlithyn would deal with it, but at least the amiable fallen knight was keeping Dasan company.
“And you can explain to Albrecht why his other half was woken up in the middle of the night to entertain a hummingbird,” Drystan remarked. “Because that sentinel never appreciates losing even a single minute with Arvandus.”
Another pair with a formerly tragic story, Albrecht and Arvandus were devoted to one another. If Gramlithyn wasn’t paired with someone who found him wanting, he’d yearn for a happily-ever-after.
Oh, who was he kidding? Pyxlevir hated him now, but he still wanted to share an eternity with the beautiful elf.
“I guess I’ll have the chance to apologize to him as I serve my time for breaking the law,” Gramlithyn said, wondering how long he’d be behind bars and how he’d ever be able to face his father and mother.
Drystan sighed heavily and laid his hands on Conley’s shoulders.
“We aren’t going to press charges,” Conley said, reaching up to toy with his mate’s fingers.
“You aren’t?” Gramlithyn asked, shocked.
“No, but there is a condition,” Drystan stated, his black gaze narrowing again. “You are marching your ass into your parents’ house in a few hours. They’ll want an explanation for where the hell you have been for years. Although we can’t force you to tell them shit, I want you to seriously consider it. They deserve it. Youwillpromise us I won’t have any of our men or women arresting you again. You’re free to live how you want, but laws exist for a fucking reason, and in this case, it’s for your fucking safety.”
“We’d prefer you to join the family again, but we can’t make your choices for you,” Conley added. “Please think about it or at least give your parents a better idea of where you are in the future so they’ll worry less. They love you, and all they’ve ever wanted is the best for you.”
