Page 6 of No Ordinary Drakeling
Chrysander mentally rolled his eyes. His twin was convinced the threesome simply needed to care for each other equally and fully to make their relationship work. Damian was confident that like their parents, he had two mates. He vowed to do whatever it took to have them all bound. As for Chrysander, he hoped to have one man he could lavish his attention upon and thought his brother overly ambitious for his desires.
“Niko, what would you like to do?” Chrysander asked.
The dragon shrugged his shoulders and lifted his unique greenish-gray gaze up to Chrysander. “We must do as Fate commands.”
His eyes were full of resignation, and Chrysander found himself pitying the man who was stuck between his histrionic parents. They were all taught to do as Fate directed, and she made poor choices for Niko. “The decision is yours, Niko.”
“The hell it is,” Gelon thundered out. “Niko, go wait in the hallway.”
Without a word, Niko rose and did as he was told.
“Do you beat him?” Damian demanded once the door was shut behind Niko.
“What a question to ask of your own father,” Gelon roared as he got to his feet and clenched his fists.
“Answer it.”
“Damianos, quit causing trouble and sit down. You should not speak to your father that way,” Andriana shrieked as she rose and swatted Damian with her reticule.
“Everyone, calm down,” Chrysander shouted. Once he got his parents back into their chairs, he faced them and leaned against the front of his desk, already exhausted of their presence. “I cannot force you to come with us and join the Council of Sorcery and Shifters, but I will not have you starve. I shall provide a monthly allowance to you both. However, I have concerns about Niko. You have not mated with him, and he is most reserved.”
“It is not the right time for talk of mating,” Andriana argued. “If you find fault with Niko, you should take it up with Gelon. I find the boy only worthy of cleaning.”
“He’s a grown man,” Damian growled.
“Neither of you should concern yourself with Niko,” Gelon shouted back.
Chrysander could do nothing. He did not know Niko, and he had not been around his parents for any great length of time for over seven hundred years—a situation which pleased everyone. “There are rumors that the wizards who have decided to withdraw from the Council will make their own government. The situation may become volatile.”
“We will be of no concern to anyone,” Andriana assured him. “We’ll take our leave now.”
The pair sauntered out and Chrysander was glad he no longer had to deal with them. “How are we related to them?”
“I have no clue and now I shall be worried over Niko.”
“Why would you not seal a bond after so much time?”
“I know not. How does one’s dragon abide such a thing? When I meet my mates, I shall be sure to bite them both.”
Chrysander smiled. “Wherever they might be, perhaps they could hurry mine along, hmm?”
“Come, brother. There is much work to be done to move our people to North America.”
“I wish to write another letter to Ethelin, Kestle, and Varius. I hate that they’ve chosen to stay behind. I cannot see to their welfare.”
“Stubborn fools,” Damian complained. “We’ll find them in North America after a fashion.”
“I hope you’re right.”
Damian’s grin flashed. “I have never led you astray.”
“You, my dear brother, have taken leave of your senses.”
Chrysander’s twin did not say a word. More than once in their youth, it was the adventurous Damian who got the pair in trouble. Shoving aside his childhood and the parents who somehow managed to raise them, he picked up a quill and set down to write yet another letter to each of the three kings who could find no reason to join the Council. The future loomed bright for not only dragons but for the dozens of shifter communities who found merit in the Arch Lich’s invitation.
He couldn’t imagine why these men were holding out, but he could not stay for them. There were too many others who were willing to go—even the social pariah, D’Vaire—and Chrysander was not going to allow three men to hold down the masses. The Council was warm and welcoming, though there was a spot of trouble when King and Queen Beradraconis met the man who led the Order of the Fallen Knights.
The couple told Chrysander that he was their dead son, and though Reverent Knight Drystan Kempe had the same name as the former emperor, it was difficult for him to see how he could be the man. After all, where was Conley? And how would the Arch Lich have known to resurrect the dead dragon?
The Beras were upset that the Reverent Knight wouldn’t meet with them, but Chrysander could understand Drystan’s reluctance. Still, he hoped it did not mean he’d be adding the Beras to the list of dragons not packing for North America. He wanted the best for his people and firmly believed joining the Council would be wonderful for them all.
