Page 48 of No Ordinary Drakeling
“Tiri, are you familiar with the outside world?” Ellery asked.
“I had no need to know of anything beyond my village. I didn’t expect I’d ever leave it. Though I suppose there will be things I must learn now.”
“I will help you however I can. Like you, I am new to the Council of Sorcery and Shifters, and I know how overwhelmed you must be feeling right now.”
“I have heard of your council. Chieftain Chesvarin has received many gifts of food and other necessities recently. You’re very gracious to share them with us.”
The men in the car exchanged glances Tiri couldn’t interpret, and silence fell over them; then the vehicle came to a stop.
“We are going to be teleported to a place called Las Vegas, which is where we live,” Ellery said. He turned to Emperor Chrysander. “Are we taking Tiri to the condo?”
Emperor Chrysander nodded. “We can work from home for the rest of the afternoon. What’s left of it, anyway.”
Tiri didn’t know what the condo was or why he was being taken there, so he simply followed the group out of the car. They walked into a huge structure with glass doors, and he was told to close his eyes. A feeling of weightlessness registered which made Tiri’s stomach twist further into knots as the spell was cast. He hoped he wasn’t expected to teleport often, because he did not enjoy it. Tiri was herded into another vehicle which drove for only a few minutes; then he was asked to exit it again.
“This is home,” Ellery said as Tiri walked into a gigantic tower of glass. The reality of his new life slammed into him, and he wondered how he was expected to act in the Council. Tiri would keep his mind open and soak up all the knowledge he could. The last thing Tiri wished to do was disgrace himself or Zane by making mistakes.
* * *
Zane followed Tiri into the condo and wondered what the sprite was thinking. He hadn’t asked many questions and from watching Ellery acclimate, Zane comprehended that Tiri’s mind had to be overloaded. His own brain was still stuck on stupid. Had he just bound his soul to a man whose face he’d yet to see?
“I think we can work comfortably in the living room. That way Tiri can ask us any questions he might have,” Chrysander said.
Glancing over at the sprite who was clutching his bag to his chest, Zane nodded. The ugly cloak he had on concealed everything but since his arms were lifted, Zane got a peek at the sleeves of his shirt which were a teal color. “What room should we put him in?” Zane asked.
“Is there a guest room close to mine?” Ellery inquired, which Zane found sad. There were so many damn unnecessary rooms that Ellery had no clue what was next to his own space.
“All the guest rooms are on our floor,” Costas revealed.
“Come on, Tiri. We’ll go upstairs,” Zane invited.
Tiri followed him up one staircase, then another. “Your home is very large.”
“Our home,” Zane corrected. He pointed down the hall. “Down there is Costas’s room with Ellery’s next to it, but the other doors lead to the rest of the guest rooms. You can have whichever one you want.”
Tiri gasped. “But we’re mates. You would dishonor me by not allowing me to share your space?”
“I thought you might want some time to get to know one another before we shared a room.”
Tiri’s head shook violently. “You shouldn’t have taken me from my village just to disgrace me. We’ve shared blood. You would let others think you regret your choice?”
Zane was completely ignorant of Tiri’s views, and the last thing he was going to do was shame him in any shape or form. He could use the couch in the living area inside his suite until they got to know one another, and Tiri could have his bed. “Okay, my room…I meanoursis downstairs. Come on.”
He led Tiri to his suite of rooms and once they were inside he said, “You can set your stuff wherever you want.” Zane crossed the room and opened a door. “This is your closet, and I’ll get another dresser in here for you.”
Tiri walked into the closet and carefully set his bag down on one of the shelves meant for shoes. “Thank you, Zane.”
“Let’s go back down with the rest of the family.”
“Will you tell me why everyone was amused in the car when they learned I was a sprite?”
Zane smiled as he motioned for Tiri to go down the stairs. “There’s a company which produces a drink called Sprite. It’s my favorite thing, and I drink them frequently.”
Tiri let out another gasp. “A drink made from sprites?”
“No, Tiri. It’s made of carbonated water and a bunch of other stuff. It’s just called Sprite. We didn’t even know your tribe existed until today.”
Zane led Tiri to the living room where Chrysander, Costas, and Damian were staring at laptop screens. Ellery was elegantly curled in the corner of the sofa reading a council book which he set down as soon as they walked in.
