Page 119 of No Ordinary Drakeling
Chapter 38
The draft of the resurrection spell was completed, and Ellery had carefully reviewed each line of it. Chrysander kept waiting for him to object, but Ellery was resilient. He wasn’t sure if his other half was convinced it was necessary, but Chrysander wasn’t going to argue with him. Every dragon who’d ever witnessed another man fail knew all too well the dangers, and though Chrysander could have been cruel enough to find some court with drakelings ready to take the plunge, he wouldn’t do that to Ellery.
One thing he didn’t need going into the following day was fear. It comforted him to think of the eternity they would share together, but Ellery still had to die. He didn’t know where he’d find the strength to remain calm during the event. Ellery desired to keep his modesty, and Chrysander would have his back turned with the rest when Fate took him. It would do no good to rail at her; she’d made him a hybrid.
Perhaps that was why it took her so long to bring them together—Chrysander needed to have the right people on hand to fulfill Ellery’s destiny. Had he met Ellery hundreds of years ago, there wouldn’t be a necromancer anywhere to help him. On hand would be the Darkfallen Court and the Coven of Warlocks to keep Ellery calm and ensure he experienced no pain as he passed from the threshold of the living to the dead.
“You seem lost in thought,” Ellery said from behind him.
Chrysander was standing at the window, though he didn’t see any of the beauty of the desert mountains or the glittery city of Vegas beyond his guest room window. “Tomorrow is a big day,” he responded as he turned to face the most exquisite man on the planet.
“Yes, it is.”
“Are you excited about meeting Jeremiah?”
“I am. He has been a great help to me. He believes the resurrection spell will not be necessary.”
Taking Ellery in his arms, Chrysander laid a kiss on his nose. “All bases covered, right?”
“Yes.”
“I have to tell you, no matter how tomorrow turns out, I’m going to miss your green eyes.”
Ellery’s forehead crinkled. “My eyes?”
“Either way, they’ll be the color of your dragon.”
“I suppose they will. If I do get resurrected, am I going to have to wait another six weeks to be mated to you?”
Chrysander laughed. “No. We’ll do it as soon as you can stand up without puking.”
“It would be nice to have a ceremony here at D’Vaire.”
“Did you want new rings and stuff to display your undeadness?”
“I am not sure I like the word undeadness but no, these are ours.”
“Can I ask you a favor?”
“Anything.”
“I know they’re made of the metal that allows you to shift with them but if things don’t go well, I’m not sure what’ll happen to your rings. Will you give them to me before you crawl under your big net?”
“I can do that, though I hate to take them off.”
“Gotten used to being an emperor?”
Ellery gave him an incredulous look. “Not hardly, but I do like being your mate.”
“I’m glad. I like being yours.”
“Glad enough to take me to bed?”
“I suppose it’s been a long time since you groped me as soon as I opened my eyes this morning.”
“I had no idea you would complain so much about having sex,” Ellery teased.
Chrysander kissed the corner of his mouth. “I’m an old man, and I had no idea you would have such a voracious appetite for it.”
