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“If those elves belong to your council and you rule it, is it not your responsibility to make sure your people are welcoming to those that are different?”

“We do our best to include everyone,” Chrysander stated, not about to explain that he was going to do it but that it would take time to arrange.

Chieftain Fen-Lynthi swiped his arm through the air. “I am not interested in arguing the subject. When those tribes join, perhaps I will consider it. Right now, I wish to discuss Ellery.”

“Give me a list of everything you want, and I’ll see that you get it,” Chrysander promised.

The elf reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. “I might have already prepared one.”

Chrysander took it from his hand and didn’t find anything he wanted to haggle over. The tribe did not have much, and Chrysander was determined to give them everything he could to help them survive. He handed the paper to Zane. “Duke Zane will see that you have everything by morning.”

Chieftain Fen-Lynthi smiled and stood. “Wonderful. If you take the path just behind me, it will lead you to a small creek. Ellery waits for you there.”

“He can’t come here?” Damian asked.

“I am afraid the other elves do not like him. He appears different from us and like your council, it is sometimes difficult to change attitudes.”

Chrysander got to his feet, deciding to ignore the man’s hypocrisy. He’d taken Chrysander to task over allowing anyone to be ostracized but allowed it within his own tribe. “How does he differ?”

“He is slightly taller than us, broader through the shoulders, and his ears not as long.”

Those anomalies told Chrysander the elf likely was a hybrid. It was both exciting and terrifying. He said good-bye to the irksome chieftain, and they stalked toward the creek while dragons flew in circles above their heads. They walked around a large tree, and Chrysander’s dick hardened in his trousers. His brow creased at the inopportune erection; then he lifted his gaze to a tall elf standing close to the water.

His hair was simply pulled back from his face with a few wisps floating near his jade-colored eyes. Feet bare, he wore coarse cotton clothing that not only lacked beading but had been mended and patched on more than one occasion. Over his shoulder was a small bag, and on his stunning face was an expression of pure shock. It was likely because he’d just learned Chrysander was his mate.

“Chrys, why did you stop?” Damian demanded.

Chrysander could not say a word; he just continued to stare at the man Fate picked out for him. He was broad for an elf but still quite lanky compared to a dragon, and Chrysander wanted to trace a finger over his high cheekbones. His ears might not have been as long as the rest of the Fen-Lynthi tribe, but they were pointed and Chrysander wondered what he’d look like when there were two hoops in the left one after they were mated.

“He’s got to be six feet,” Zane observed. “But I don’t understand why we’re just standing here.”

Realizing he was being rude, Chrysander gathered his scattered wits and walked toward him so they could speak. Ellery, for his part, was still gazing at him, but his face lost any expression Chrysander could read. When he got within two feet of Ellery, the hybrid bowed his head slightly in greeting.

“Good afternoon, Your Majesty.”

“Please call me Chrys. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Out of the corner of his eye, his brothers exchanged bewildered looks. “I’m Duke Zane Draconis, and this is Imperial Duke Damian Draconis.”

Ellery nodded at them both, then returned his attention to Chrysander. “My mother’s mate was a dragon. He left her alone with empty promises. I do not know if I am really a dragon, but Chieftain Fen-Lynthi wishes for me to go, so I will leave the village with you.”

It was not the warm welcome of Chrysander’s dreams, but he could understand Ellery’s point of view. “I have no intention of following in your father’s footsteps. We can have you tested to see if you have a dragon or not. Can you feel a beast inside you?”

“Sometimes I think so, but I do not know whether my mind can be trusted.”

“We’ll call the Prism Wizard and find out for sure. Are you ready to leave?” Chrysander asked, wishing he could spend all day staring at the handsome man in front of him.

“Yes.”

“Did you want to get your things?” Zane asked.

“This is all I am allowed to bring with me,” Ellery revealed. “I did not own much more anyway.”

“It’s okay. Zane is going to take you shopping tomorrow,” Chrysander said, his mind already jumping to all the things that they would need to do to prepare Ellery for his new life.

Zane’s brows drew together. “I am?”

“Yes, Ellery needs clothes.”