Page 44 of No Ordinary Drakeling
Reining in his mirth, Damian grinned. “Oh, I’m just remembering the last time we were told we had a tribe with an issue, and their chieftain would only answer to the emperor.”
“When did that happen?” Ellery asked as he stood.
“Chieftain Fen-Lynthi,” Zane replied.
Ellery closed his eyes for a moment and nodded. “I guess I was so overwhelmed by meeting my mate, I did not stop to wonder why the emperor of the Council was in our tiny village.”
“I wasn’t going to allow a hybrid to die without knowing how to handle being a dragon,” Chrysander told him.
“I am glad you have such a kind heart. It is nice to know you would have saved me even if I was not your mate.”
“Before I got there, I had D’Vaire in mind for you. There are elves and dragons, so I thought it’d be a good match for a hybrid.”
Ellery offered him a bright smile. “I liked it there. It would have been a great life, and I still would have had Jeremiah to train me.”
“Too bad Fate made you an emperor, huh?” Chrysander teased, charmed by his beautiful expression.
The elf-drakeling’s grin only grew wider as he lifted one shoulder in a negligent shrug. “I suppose it could be worse.”
“Oh yeah, how?”
After taking a few steps toward the door, Ellery turned back. “I said Isupposeit could be worse. I am still trying to pinpoint exactly how.”
Chrysander laughed. “Well, thank you very much.”
After chuckling, Ellery’s expression changed to the placid, unreadable expression Chrysander normally saw; then his brow furrowed slightly. “I think it might be best to meet with Chieftain Chesvarin in elven attire. I believe the only reason he would have used my name instead of yours is because of our apparent common ancestry.”
“I’ll have a car waiting downstairs for you in five minutes and alert the guard at the door of the condo,” Damian said. He barked several commands into the communication device which allowed him and the other dukes to have eyes on him and Ellery at all times.
“Thank you. It will not take me long to change clothes,” Ellery responded. He turned to Chrysander. “Should I join you in your office when it is time to meet with the fallen knights and sentinels?”
“Yes, and it’s only my office for the interim. Harley Griffinis and his team are already working on plans to expand it without sacrificing too much space for the cramped staff.”
“Rather obvious to just add the space from the office Ellery’s in now,” Costas muttered. “Wesley’s just trying to be a control freak and making excuses for not changing things around. He’s gotten a little too used to calling the shots around here.”
“If anyone wants my opinion, the staff’s too damn big,” Zane added.
“After Ellery’s shift, he and I will sit down and re-evaluate the staff. We can determine necessary roles as well as who needs to be on this floor and who can be moved to Draconis Enterprises next door,” Chrysander decided.
“Then it might be best to wait for your office to be expanded,” Ellery commented. “I have heard several staff members complain there are not any conference rooms up here besides this one. It leaves everyone scrambling to get on the schedule, and they get kicked out when you need it.”
“I was kind of attached to the idea of sharing an office with you,” Chrysander confessed. He was rather desperate to have more time of Ellery’s day, but he didn’t add that.
Ellery gave him a small smile. “That would be nice, but it is only for a few weeks.”
“Okay. If you want to wait, we will. Damian, make sure the first day Ellery and I return to the office after his shift, we have the entire afternoon cleared to evaluate the staff.”
“Done. Now can we please get back to what happened the last time we were called to a small village?” Damian asked.
Zane scowled. “No one’s going to meet their mate like Chrys did when we went to get Ellery. We aren’t picking up a hybrid. We’re trying to stop robberies and see if we can help these people.”
“I’ve got five bucks that says it’s Zane who meets his mate,” Damian said.
“Can I put five on Costas?” Ellery asked.
“You’re the Emperor. You can do any damn thing you want,” Costas responded. “Can I put five on myself too?”
“Sure, who do you have, Chrys?” Damian inquired.
Chrysander lifted a brow at his brother. “I’m going to say you.”
The Imperial Duke shook his head at his twin and turned to the frowning man standing next to Ellery. “Zane?”
“I’m putting five on no one. Come on, Ellery. We’ve got to head home so you can get changed.”
“This is going to be fun,” Damian predicted. Chrysander rolled his eyes and headed to tell Wesley that as usual, his schedule was fucked.
