NEW RELEASE
Book Title: The Missing Sentinel (D’Vaire, Book 45)
Author and Publisher: Jessamyn Kingley
Cover Artist: LJ Anderson of Mayhem Cover Creations
Release Date: November 6, 2025
Genre: MM Fantasy/Paranormal Romance
Trope: Fated mates
Themes: Love
Heat Rating: 3 flames
Length: 86 500 words
It is a standalone story. It does not end on a cliffhanger.
Buy Links – Available in Kindle Unlimited
Ducarius is determined to find the missing sentinel.
When he succeeds, both men are stunned to discover they are mates.
Blurb
Skeleton Lord Ducarius Daray lives in a beautiful home with his loving family. Formerly a sentinel who had been stripped of his humanity, Ducarius does not dwell on his past. He finds fulfillment in his job, training with his daggers, and spending time with the Darays. But a mystery plagues his people, and Ducarius often searches for the lone missing sentinel.
In a realm far removed from the Council, Drexley dwells in a peaceful castle alongside the necromancer who was once tied to his soul. His days are spent ensconced in a library, refining his mind with a myriad of books. But his life is no longer idyllic, and Drexley fears the future. The land is crumbling. And his only family member is dying.
On yet another hunt for Drexley, Ducarius notices a magical anomaly and promptly falls into a decaying realm where he discovers his prey—who happens to be his mate. The attraction is strong, but they have little in common. Drexley is unlike other sentinels, and proud of his differences. However, his memory is poor, and there are things he cannot explain. Like why neither man can leave.
Together, they traverse a perilous path—one with secrets waiting to be revealed. Love is a noble goal, but it will take more than determination for these men to embrace Fate’s promise of a happy mate-bond.
Excerpt
“Did I mention that I love you?” Ducarius asked.
“Yes, in the kitchen. It was not the charming scene I imagined I would have when you first declared your heart.”
“An expert on love could argue that it did not matter where it happened so long as it did.”
Drexley shifted and lifted his chin, so his eyes met Ducarius’s satisfied gaze. “Tell me about modern matebonds. In my romances, it is a small, quick ceremony celebrated with family.”
“I cannot speak for everyone, but the ones in my extended family are long affairs that include many traditions from different communities. While I applaud any couple eager to combine their lives, they take forever. Everyone is dressed up, and we must sit through floral wreaths, rings, at least one gift, speeches with explanations of why things are happening as if we have not gone to every damn previous one, necklaces, and mating marks as a usual minimum. Each part has people assigned to assist, and if you exclude someone, they could feel slighted. It must be stressful for the couple involved. Someday, you and I will slap smiles on our faces and likely be forced to endure it. I love you, but I am not excited about the ceremony.”
Drexley bit his lip to hold in his laughter at the consternation on Ducarius’s handsome face. The Skeleton Lord clearly had not enjoyed the ceremonies he had attended.
“What if we chose something different for ourselves?”
“What do you mean, love?”
Scooting up to kiss Ducarius, Drexley took a gamble. “I want to know that I can speak to you no matter where you are. When we are in a room together, I want to feel your emotions. I am not against following the traditions of your family, but must we wait to bind our souls? I welcome the chance to belong to you now.”
“Drexley, if you are asking me if I want to bind myself to you now, the answer is yes.”
Drexley grinned as relief and love filled him. “I want to be your fully bonded mate.” Tugging on the covers, Drexley scrambled up so he was seated. “Grab your daggers; do you have to remove the green poison to ensure we can be cut?”
To his delight, Ducarius mirrored his position. But instead of getting his weapons, he rubbed Ducarius’s thigh through the covers.
“I know your feelings about weapons, but I have a suggestion. If we use your daggers, it would turn them from weapons into athames. Many in my family display their athames as a reminder of that important moment in their lives. We could do the same with your daggers.”
It made Drexley sad that he could not honor the request, because Ducarius’s idea was lovely. “I wish we could, but I do not have my weapons any longer.”
“Where are they?”
“I do not know. My memory does not stretch that far back. I cannot recall the last time I trained or what happened to them. But my belongings are not so numerous that I could lose two curved daggers among them. They are not in my trunks, and Adney would not allow weapons to be stored anywhere else in the house. I must assume that I rid myself of them somehow. Perhaps Adney aided me.”
“I see.”
“Do you think it was wrong of me to destroy them?”
Ducarius caressed Drexley’s cheek. “That is not up to me to decide. They were your property, not mine. I already know you have no interest in training, so it makes sense that you would not want to keep blades lying around.”
“I wish I had kept them; having them as athames would have been nice.”
“We could wait and have an athame made if you want.”
Drexley shook his head. “No, I think it will please me to use your weapons, knowing they are always with you. It will be almost like a piece of us goes with you too.”
“You are right. I hope it does not make it harder to attack others knowing that my blades have bound us together for eternity. That would be horrible.”
Given how diligent Ducarius was about his training, Drexley had no fear that his other half would hesitate in battle no matter what important events including his daggers. “Get your weapons, Ducarius, and let us be about our business.”
About the Author
Jessamyn Kingley has published over forty titles and refuses to pick a favorite among them. With an extraordinary passion for her characters, Jessamyn eagerly crafts new tales and avidly re-reads them whenever her schedule allows. Jessamyn shares a home in Nevada with her husband and their three spoiled cats. When she is not writing or adding new ideas to her thick stack of beloved notebooks, she is gaming with family and friends.
Join her Facebook group, Jessamyn's Ruffian's
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