Page 79 of No Ordinary Drakeling
“No one expects you not to be an elf.”
“It is as I told Tiri last night—being an elf as Fen-Lynthi was not easy. I am grateful to be away from my tribe and my village. I long to be a dragon, and though I am still adjusting to the idea of being an emperor, I am doing everything I can to learn the ropes.”
“I know it’s intimidating,” Chrysander said. He still had moments where he was overwhelmed by the weight of his responsibilities, so he could understand Ellery’s wariness. As far as Ellery being a dragon, Chrysander’s mind simply refused to go there. He wanted to have faith in Ellery, but the only thing he could see was the gorgeous man in front of him being ripped to shreds by a beast who needed to get out. “I hope you know you can come to me at any time—I was going to say day or night, but we’re going to leave off the night part until after our matebond—with questions or concerns you have. I think you’re coping remarkably well with everything that has been essentially dumped on you by Fate.”
Ellery opened his mouth to speak, then shut it again. He shifted on his seat so the dragonskin of his dark cloak rippled. His face grew pained. “I…I do not know what is expected of me. I am not sure I can be an emperor like you. I fear saying something incorrect or doing the wrong thing. I do not feel worthy of the other leaders. I am new to the Council. How can my opinion be trusted?”
His words trembled, and Chrysander wished he could take Ellery into his arms. He’d like to embrace him tight to help soothe his fears, but they’d never gone past holding hands. “You don’t have to know everything, and you can take all the time you need to figure out how you want to rule. Look at me. I’ve been doing the Council part of it for two hundred years and I’ve done nothing but insult and shame my mate because I don’t fully understand elven culture.”
“I do not feel insulted or shamed. Not anymore.”
“I should never have made you feel that way.”
Ellery’s gaze dropped to the floor. “How is a hybrid dragon going to lead them?”
“A dragon is a dragon, Ellery. I don’t care if they have one half, a quarter, or even a single drop of dragon blood. Everyone is equal. But that doesn’t mean you forget that you’re also an elf.”
“How do the dragons feel with an elf at the helm?”
“I can tell you how my brothers feel about it. Do you know we have security names?”
“No, what do you mean?”
Chrysander grinned. “They use code words for us as we move from home to work to whatever engagement we might have. Damian gave me the name Drago when he took over as Imperial Duke.”
“Did he name me too?”
“Yes, he did. They call you Elf.”
“Elf?”
“As intheElf.”
One corner of Ellery’s mouth lifted, and amusement danced in his jade eyes. “I guess they do not mind my pointy ears.”
“Whether you like it or not, they’re a part of you,” Chrysander said as he rose. “And I happen to think they suit you.”
“When I found out I was a dragon, I stood in the mirror after I cut my hair off. I tried to imagine myself with normal ears,” Ellery confessed as he got to his feet. “I could not quite picture it.”
“If you find someone willing to hack them off, I won’t ever speak to you again.”
Ellery’s laughter filled the room. “That is not a very mature attitude for a man of over a thousand years.”
Chrysander held out his hand, and Ellery didn’t hesitate to take it. “You’re lucky I found forgiveness in my heart for the hair you ruthlessly chopped off.”
“Your Majesty, let it go.”
