Page 55 of No Ordinary Drakeling
Chapter 19
Chrysander sailed through Council session, but it wasn’t the same without Ellery at his side. Even if they lacked the time to speak much, he at least got to enjoy his presence. Though he had to admit it was easier to stay focused on his job without his blood rushing to his groin whenever Ellery smiled. Sometimes the hybrid didn’t have to do anything to get him going. It was an adjustment as sex had not been a part of Chrysander’s life for centuries.
Before he became emperor, he’d had plenty of time to have liaisons with men. Moving to a castle where danger lurked around every corner, Chrysander found himself never alone. It was impossible for him to bring a man to his bed when his brother was sleeping on the floor of Chrysander’s room. He’d also had a seven-year-old to care for, and there wasn’t a damn person to trust anyway.
By the time a century had passed, and they’d breathed a sigh of relief that Zane survived his shift, and their home was finally free of traitors, Chrysander had grown used to squelching his desires. He grew busier too and was content to take matters into his own hand. Then Ellery showed up, and now Chrysander’s dick jerked to attention nearly every time he walked into the room.
His cock didn’t seem to understand that they had to wait several more weeks until he could take Ellery to bed. The rest of him wasn’t any happier about the delay in getting closer to Ellery or cementing their bond, but Fate made him royalty. Long ago he’d resigned himself to giving up his own wants and needs to focus on his duty. It wasn’t a decision he regretted, though he had not understood then how it would affect his relationship with his other half.
The previous day as he watched Zane’s palm bleed before he pressed it against Tiri’s, Chrysander had been consumed with jealousy. That was what he wanted to do with Ellery, and since they were standing hand-in-hand during the ceremony, Chrysander had nearly asked the elf-drakeling to forget about waiting. Lucky for him, his brain had set him straight. He would not ruin Zane and Tiri’s moment. Chrysander was too pleased that Fate had finally matched Zane for that to ever happen.
Instead he focused on how proud he was of the way Ellery had conducted himself with the repugnant Chesvarin. Elegance oozed from Ellery’s pores, and Chrysander was unworthy of such a special man. Once again, he found himself begging Fate to make sure Ellery survived the impossible. The Council needed an emperor like him and on a personal level, Chrysander didn’t want to lose him.
The phone rang on Chrysander’s desk, and he gathered his thoughts. Instead of working, he’d been lost in the meanderings of his mind. He picked up the receiver. “Emperor Chrysander.”
“Chrys, your mother’s on line one.”
He wanted to sigh but he reined it in. “Thanks, Wesley.”
Wesley connected them, and suddenly his mother’s voice was in his ear. “Hello, Chrysander.”
“Hello, Mother.”
Damian’s head popped up on the other side of the room where he was going over schedules with Costas. His brother made a gesture toward the phone and got up to stride over to Chrysander’s desk. Knowing what his twin wanted, Chrysander hit the speaker button.
“Your father and I were just watching the news. Is it true that you’ve met your mate? When did this happen?”
Chrysander debated whether to lie, but she could easily do an Internet search and see the date for the original press release, so he went with the truth. “About two weeks ago.”
“You didn’t think we’d want to know that?” his father demanded.
“It’s been at least a decade since we’ve heard from you,” Damian spat out.
“Damianos, this is none of your business,” Andriana snapped.
“Of course not, he’s only my twin brother.”
“Damian’s right, we haven’t spoken in quite some time. I apologize if I offended you by not notifying you personally,” Chrysander said.
His mother’s teary voice filtered through the line. “I know you boys don’t believe me, but you mean the world to me. You’re my children, and I can’t help but love you.”
Damian rolled his eyes but refrained from commenting.
“I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings,” Chrysander offered.
“It’s too bad he’s a hybrid,” Gelon remarked. “I was surprised you were going to bother with the mating ceremony. He’s not likely to survive his shift.”
Chrysander’s fury choked off any words he might have said. He was deeply worried about Ellery, but he certainly wasn’t going to act as if he was anything less than a gift from Fate. From the moment he met him, Chrysander became enchanted and he relished the idea of being with him.
Damian’s brows drew together in anger. “You don’t even know Ellery. If there’s anyone that can make history by surviving their first shift, it’s him.”
“Fate doesn’t mean for them to survive. I don’t even know why she does things like matching two people of different races. We have no need for hybrids,” Gelon griped.
“That’s enough. I’m not going to sit here and force Chrys to listen to your shit, because he’s too fucking polite to hang up on you,” Damian snapped.
It was too bad Gelon wasn’t finished. “Maybe Fate will get it right the second time around and match you with a woman.”
“You have a male mate,” Damian shouted. “How can you get on our cases about being gay? You’re such a fucking hypocrite.”
