Page 29 of No Ordinary Drakeling
“You don’t think three people together can be happy?”
“Dame, fifty percent of the few examples we have on this planet are permanently separated with agreements through the fallen knights. Your parents aren’t part of the Council, so they can’t be separated that way, but you’re the one who told me they hadn’t even exchanged bites with Niko after how many centuries together? Doesn’t sound like they’re happy.”
“It just takes determination.”
“Then you’re already halfway there.”
“Exactly.”
“What’s up with the office? Is Chrys going to do something to change the setup?” Zane asked.
“He damn well better. I don’t like him and Ellery separated. It’d be easier for us to watch out for them both together. I’ll get on his case about it tomorrow afternoon when I get him alone. I think he’s internally freaking the fuck out about meeting Ellery but wants to look like he’s taking it all in stride.”
“Pretty much Chrys’smodus operandi. When has he ever said anything about not being able to handle something?”
“Shit, Zane, he’s been that way since the day he was born. He says he was shocked when Fate chose him to be king centuries ago. I wasn’t. Not for a second. He was perfect for it and even better suited to be emperor. I was only surprised because Drystan and Conley had ruled for just fifty years.”
“If Fate had picked someone besides Chrys, how many emperors do you think my father would’ve killed?”
Damian lifted a brow. “I don’t know. He wasn’t the only traitor in that castle. Who knows how many innocent men would’ve died so those dukes could continue to squander money? That’s a really random question, by the way.”
“I’ll be honest. Sometimes I wonder how different my life would’ve been without you, Costas, and Chrys. Would I have been molded into his image?”
“I don’t think so. You’re too good of a person.”
“That’s because I had you guys looking out for me.”
“Zane, you’ve always been too hard on yourself. You have integrity—you were born with it despite your heritage. I’m glad you didn’t have to grow up with Bernal as your father because the truth is, you would’ve learned of his perfidy. You would’ve seen it as your duty to punish him, and I wouldn’t have wanted you to have to live with taking his life because despite everything, you still would’ve beaten yourself up for killing your own father. That’s the kind of person you are.”
“You’re wrong. I wish I’d been the one to kill him. He allowed two incredible men to be murdered in their own bedroom. He paid humans to do it.”
“I know, but in the end it’s worked out for the best, I think. Drystan and Conley get to be together for eternity. Thanks to that crazy bunch of sorcerers over at D’Vaire, they’re dragons again too. Chrys is stuck being emperor, which he loves, and we get to have you as a brother.”
“I guess the good news is, when we get resurrected we’ll get to be dragons too,” Zane teased.
“Remind me to mark it on my calendar to speak with the Arch Lich about that.”
“You’ve got at least a thousand years before you have to worry about it.”
Damian let out a sigh. “Zane…it’s impossible for me not to be worried about Ellery.”
“I know. Not only do we have to worry about him surviving, but how’s Chrys going to react if he doesn’t?”
“If Fate takes away Ellery and I lose my twin to heartsickness, I’m going to hunt her down and slit her fucking throat.”
“It’s good that we have a plan.”
After shifting in his seat, Damian made a noise of agreement, and his eyes met Zane’s. “What if we made a net?”
“A net?”
“Yeah, a big dragon net to keep Ellery from flying.”
“What kind of net is going to stop a dragon emperor?”
Damian’s grin flashed. “One made of Chrys’s dragonskin.”
“You know what? You might have more going for you than that pretty face of yours after all.”
