Page 46 of No Ordinary Drakeling
Chieftain Chesvarin didn’t respond to Ellery’s words. He raised his head and glanced up at Zane. “Duke Zane, you have a choice to make. I thought to have speech with Emperor Ellery, though I had to lower myself to do so, but I’ve changed my mind. I wish for all of you to leave my village and never return.” He barked out a few sharp words, and one of the guards went racing back into the hut. Fear clutched his heart as he wondered if his mate was being murdered while he stood here in judgment of this repulsive chieftain. So it was a great relief to feel that same euphoria return as his cloaked other half was dragged out until he was at Zane’s side.
“Chieftain, you will explain your words,” Ellery stated, his voice vibrating with anger.
The chieftain ignored him. “Duke Zane, Tiridythas claims that you’re his mate.”
Zane was relieved he was paired with a male; then he made the mistake of glancing at Damian, who smirked.I am probably going to have to kill him later. “Chieftain, the man standing next to me is my mate. I assume that is Tiridythas.”
Chesvarin let out a smattering of sharp words, and he was handed a dagger.
Alaric took exception to that and thrust out his own, clanging it against the weapon in Chieftain Chesvarin’s hand. “Your Majesty, I humbly request that you put some distance between yourself and the chieftain.”
Ellery peered up at Zane, who gave him a short nod. The elf-drakeling got to his feet and seemed not to know what to do, but he didn’t have to worry. Chrysander held out his hand and Ellery walked over to his side, where he lay his palm in the dragon’s. It was the first time the pair had touched in Zane’s presence.
“Get your weapon away from our chieftain,” one of the guards shouted at Alaric as Gavrael and Gedeon took up positions in front of Chrysander and Ellery.
Alaric lifted a brow. “Would you care to try and stop me? He was brandishing a weapon near my emperor.”
“Emperor Ellery, I hold this dagger only to unite Duke Zane and Tiridythas. Will you ask your guard to remove his weapon?” Chesvarin asked with fear trembling in his voice.
“Chieftain, he is no guard. Lich Sentinel Alaric Daray is the leader of the Sentinel Brotherhood, a race of elite assassins with no match,” Ellery stated calmly. “His Grace and Tiridythas should be allowed to have their mating at their choosing.”
Chesvarin whipped the dagger around and handed it, hilt-first, to Alaric. The Lich Sentinel took it and handed it off to Costas, then removed his own weapon from Chesvarin’s face.
“Emperor Ellery, you’re wrong. I wish for all of you to leave my land, but I won’t have Tiridythas disgraced. Duke Zane, you will mate Tiridythas now, or you’ll never see him again.”
Zane had no doubt Chesvarin meant it. Some inner instinct told him if he left Tiridythas here, he would be dead before nightfall. “Chieftain, I would be honored to bind blood with Tiridythas if he is also willing.”
“Tiridythas is a servant. He has no say. You’ll have the bloodbinding now, and you will leave immediately.”
Resolved not to use the dagger belonging to the chieftain, Zane turned to the closest sentinel. “Gavrael, may I borrow your dagger?”
The sentinel removed the poison from his blade and handed it to Zane.
Zane opened his mouth to ask Tiridythas if this was what he wanted, but Chesvarin made a hurry-up motion with his hand. “I grow weary of your presence, Duke Zane. Cut your palms and be done with it.”
Chesvarin was apparently ignorant of the fact that the bond would not be complete until Zane bit Tiridythas. In the future, Zane planned on having a real ceremony where they spoke the traditional words of dragons. However, he would take what he could get for now. Zane raised his arm to cut himself, but Damian stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. He took the weapon and sliced open a wound on Zane himself.
“Tiridythas, will you hold out your hand?” Damian asked softly.
The cloaked man nodded with his head still bowed as it had been the entire time, then thrust out his arm. Damian wasted no time wounding him, and Zane pressed their palms together. A feeling of joy bubbled over him despite only just meeting Tiridythas, and he made a promise he would get to know him. A burn registered over both sides of his lower jaw, and a sharp pain bit into his ear. Like elves, Fate marked this tribe when they were bound. Once they had a solid relationship, they’d finish their bond with his dragon bite.
“It’s done, now go,” Chesvarin demanded.
A small bag was thrust toward Chesvarin, who threw it at Alaric. “That belongs to Tiridythas,” Chesvarin said as he dashed into his hut.
His guards formed a line in front of it. “You heard our chieftain.Go now,” one of them shouted.
Knowing they hadn’t settled any of the issues that brought them to this village, their group was aware they would get no answers anyway. Chrysander nodded and they strode away from the huts. Tiridythas marched alongside Zane, and he had no idea what to think or how to react. He’d just met his other half and bound their blood for eternity without even seeing his face.
Zane didn’t even know who his people were, but there was no way he’d give up his gift from Fate, even if Damian was going to never let him hear the end of it. Somehow the idiot had been right about their errand, and Zane believed he could be forgiven for being scared out of his mind. What the hell did he know about being a partner to anyone?
