Page 34 of No Ordinary Drakeling
Chapter 12
A week after Costas returned home, Ellery was still learning the ropes of his new title. He’d been unsettled the entire day as the evening was going to bring him to his first formal event. It was being held in their home, which was odd to Ellery. He would’ve preferred a private residence, but no one had asked his opinion. Being new to this world, he certainly wasn’t going to volunteer it either. Because of his nerves, he hadn’t slept well the night before, which was why he’d just pissed off Zane by insisting he could get his own cup of coffee to perk himself up.
The Draconis dukes who made up the royal family were overprotective to Ellery, but he wasn’t going to argue with them. He strode down the hall to the break room and poured his mug full of the rich brew. The smell of fresh fruit hit his nose, and he turned the corner to find a tray of the stuff. Setting his cup down, he found a plate and piled it high. He popped a piece of strawberry into his mouth just as voices hit his ears.
“He seems nice enough,” a voice said. It was male, and Ellery didn’t know any of the staff well enough to put voices to names unless they belonged to his new family. This one did not.
“He’s good-looking too,” a female voice agreed.
“For an elf,” a third person drawled out.
Ellery wished the ground would open and swallow him. He was the only elf on the floor, and the last thing he wanted to do was eavesdrop on their conversation. Frozen in place, he didn’t know whether to hop out from behind the corner or wait until they’d grabbed whatever they needed from the room and went back to their desks.
“It’s a damn shame if you ask me,” the first man commented.
“I know,” another one responded. “I don’t think elves are that attractive, and we certainly would do better with another dragon at the helm, but His Majesty has waited so long to meet his other half. Now we have to watch this guy die.”
“Right? I mean I don’t even want to talk to him. The less I know him, the better. I mean I’m already going to be sad, but having a friendly relationship with him will only make things worse.”
“I still don’t understand why Fate would be so cruel. Ellery could’ve stayed in his little village and had his dragon rip him apart without Chrysander ever knowing the guy,” the man remarked.
“Oh hello, Your Grace,” one of the two women said.
“Emperor Ellery was supposed to be getting a cup of coffee, have any of you seen him?” Zane asked.
Ellery closed his eyes and wondered how the hell to extricate himself from the mess he’d found himself in, but there would be no salvation. There was a chorus of negative responses but he still heard Zane’s footsteps and knew the duke wasn’t going to leave the break room until he scoured every inch of it. Turning, he nearly knocked into Zane, who put a hand out to keep Ellery from dropping his fruit onto the floor.
Zane whipped his head back to the three employees who were slinking toward the door. “I thought you said His Majesty wasn’t in here.”
“Didn’t see you there, Your Majesty. I believe my phone’s ringing,” the guy Ellery believed was named Gary said, then took off like a rocket. The women with him didn’t say anything as they scurried out.
“Why were you hiding over here?” Zane demanded as he grabbed Ellery’s full mug from the counter and started for the door.
Following him, Ellery let out a sigh. “I went around the corner to grab some fruit, and Gary and his coworkers came into the room. They did not see me, and they were talking…”
“About you, I assume?” Zane asked as he stalked into their office.
“They do not want to befriend me because they think I am going to die.”
“But you don’t believe you’re going to die, do you?”
After sitting behind his desk, Ellery met Zane’s eyes. He didn’t find pity or fear in Zane’s gaze, and there was none in his own. “I have no intention of dying. In fact, each time I hear someone ready to plan my funeral, it only furthers my resolve. I will be a dragon and someday when Jeremiah thinks it is safe, I plan to fly.”
“You okay with the idea of this net?”
Nodding, Ellery took a quick sip of his drink. “I am.”
“Good, because Larissa D’Vairedraconis is already working on it.”
“I am happy Damian came up with the idea.”
“Don’t thank him too much—his head’s big enough already,” Zane joked. “You hear back from the Prism Wizard yet regarding his protein supplements?”
“I received an email from him. He is going to have some things for me to taste soon.” Before Zane could respond, Ellery’s phone rang. It wasn’t his cell but the one on his desk. He dutifully picked up the receiver. “Hello?”
“Your Majesty, you should really be answering your phone by saying something like ‘Emperor Ellery’s office,’ not just ‘hello,’ ” Wesley scolded.
“I apologize.”
