Page 78 of No Ordinary Drakeling
“I’m not interfering, but I’m going to make sure Ellery’s happy.”
“Chrys is doing his best. I can assure you, he wants Ellery to be happy too.”
“I’m Ellery’s family now. Chrysander has all these dragons to watch out for him, and Ellery’s new to the Council. He needs people on his side. I’m his best friend. That is close to being a guard.”
Zane dropped another kiss on Tiri’s mouth. “The dragons are watching out for Ellery too.”
“At the same time, everyone is convinced he has only weeks to live.”
“No one has ever done it, Tiri. Not a single dragon hybrid has survived their first shift. I think it’s natural that we’re deeply worried.”
Tiri squeezed Zane’s waist. “You can have concern, but you should also have faith in Ellery. I know he’ll be fine.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I believe in him.”
“You’re amazing. Do you know that?”
“Zane, what are we going to do to help the sprites?”
“I wish I knew.”
“Fate has given my people a cruel leader. Why would she do that?”
“It happens. I can’t explain it. People get twisted after they are selected.”
Tiri nodded. He could barely stomach the thought of his fellow sprites being cut down cruelly in the middle of the night, but he had no choice in the matter. The dragons and the Council had no jurisdiction over his people, so they were helpless to assist. All he could do was hope that Chesvarin realized the evilness he was forcing on the Sprite Grove and change the way he ruled. For Tiri, he had to let go of his past and his worries over their futures. His life was now with his new family, and he’d do everything he could to help them find happiness.
He was overjoyed that Zane wished to cement their matebond with a second ceremony that included dragon rings. A hot rush of lust raced over his skin when Tiri thought about what would happen when they were alone, and he finally got his bite. He was ready to explore more than kissing and was so glad that it was Zane who would be guiding him through his first intimate journey.
* * *
As usual, Chrysander had a daunting schedule for his day but since birth, he’d been taught about priorities. Before he headed out for the morning, he intended to have a talk with the man Fate chose for him. As soon as Ellery walked into the kitchen where Chrysander was waiting, he poured him a cup of coffee.
“Can we talk for a few minutes in private?” Chrysander asked after handing Ellery a mug.
“I would be happy to.”
Chrysander grabbed his own beverage and led Ellery to the office Wesley had designed. It was ridiculously ornate, and Chrysander preferred to work in his private space upstairs.
“Have a seat,” he invited after shutting the door. Ellery lowered himself gracefully into a chair, and Chrysander wound around the enormous desk to do the same, though he was sure he didn’t manage to do it as elegantly.
“Is there a problem?”
“Yes, I owe you an apology. In fact, I probably owe you several,” Chrysander confessed. “It’s rather embarrassing for a man who has led the Council for two centuries to admit that I don’t fully understand elven traditions. I didn’t realize I was insulting you by putting you in a guest room. I thought it was best to keep you far away from my space, so I didn’t shame you for eternity because of the long wait until our ceremony.”
“I will be honest. I was upset when I first found out we had to wait so long,” Ellery revealed. Chrysander studied his face but it was impassive. He longed for the day when he could read his emotions with a simple look. “Not only was I taught by elven tradition that those things are done quickly, but my father abandoned my mother. I did not want history to repeat itself.”
“I can assure you, I will certainly not be deserting you in any way, shape, or form. It’s my hope that someday we’re able to build a strong bond where we can rely upon one another for everything.”
“I appreciate your candor. We have not had much time to get to know one another.”
“No, and I haven’t done a great job of being there for you. That’s going to change once we’re mated. We’ll start by taking two weeks off, and then we will decide how hectic we want to keep our schedule. Both our staff and our office space will be realigned, so we can spend our days together. I know there’s a lot of distance between us, but I am grateful to have you in my life. I hope you’ll continue to be patient with me. I’m not getting very high marks as a mate.”
Ellery’s smile bloomed, and it filled Chrysander with longing. He wished their ceremony was closer, though they were more than halfway through their wait.
“I am slowly learning the ways of dragons, and it soothes the sensibilities ingrained in me. I am glad to hear of your plans. I too would like us to be close.”
