Gavrael nodded. “It is unanimous. Wesley Draconis will pay with his life for coming between two mates.”
Mitchell got to his feet. “In the end, that’s all that really matters. Mates.”
Juris Knight Pierson rose and stared hard at Mitchell, then headed for the door. “Let me know if I can be of any further assistance, gentlemen.”
“Thank you both for being here today,” Gavrael said as he stood. Gedeon was on his feet as well. The two fallen knights left the room, and Gedeon snaked his arms around Gavrael’s waist.
Gedeon’s voice whispered across his mind.“What’s up with those two anyway?”
“I do not know. I am glad we all agreed on Wesley.”
“I’m just mad I don’t get to be the one to jab my dagger into his heart.”
“There is a line forming, as I understand. The Arch Lich would like to pull it out while it still beats.”
“That asshat is evil.”
“And the hard work still continues to reverse his crime.”
“Let’s get back to D’Vaire and see what we can do to help.”
“It is almost dinnertime anyway.”
“I don’t even need a watch with you around, Gav.”
Gavrael took his other half’s teasing in stride as they teleported home. There was a sad-looking dragon disguised as a man smiling up at an elf trapped inside a beast. For them, he held no pity for the man who’d put his own ambitions or whatever it was that caused him to hurt the pair above their matebond. Gavrael was using his energy more wisely, and that included remaining steadfast that the sorcerers he knew and loved so well would fix this mess.
Chapter 23
For an entire month, Ellery had lived in Aleksander’s backyard. It was a lovely view with the mountains and Duke Dravyn’s enormous garden that somehow defied the desert landscape, but he wanted to go home. He was sick to death of only getting to curl up with Chrysander when they were both shifted. His mate slept in a tent, and Ellery yearned for the day they could both be comfortable again. More importantly, he wanted to be able to enjoy his relationship instead of seeing the worry in Chrysander’s eyes as the sorcerers continued to struggle to reverse the potion Wesley put in his mug.
There was no real surprise for Ellery when he was told who had hurt him. The snippy office manager had never liked Ellery. He wouldn’t have guessed Wesley would go to such lengths to get him out of the way, but apparently having Ellery around was simply too much for the dragon to handle. Since Wesley was still not talking to anyone about his crime, they might never know what pushed him to that edge. Ellery wasn’t going to allow that to bother him; Wesley was in jail and he would have to be punished.
As for Ellery and his dragon, Sorcery D’Vaire was working hard and had tested many concoctions on him but so far, there was little to no progress. His cells were slowly being converted, and no one understood yet what that would mean when he was an elf again. Time would tell, and personally Ellery just wanted to get to that point. He’d take a few quirks or whatever else popped up as long as he got to be with Chrysander again.
The back door opened, and Ellery raced over to the edge of the deck. Chrysander had returned from his Council session, and he greeted Ellery with a bright smile. All Ellery could do was wait for Chrysander to come closer, so he could wrap a wing around him. As Chrysander petted his scales, Ellery studied his brothers. Zane was standing taller now that the culprit was imprisoned, which pleased Ellery immensely. Costas and Damian had been wearing the same expression of gritty determination they’d displayed since Ellery was poisoned.
Each time Ellery saw Damian, he thought back to the conversation they’d had a few weeks ago. It had changed Ellery’s mindset. The name Elf would no longer annoy him; he was going to do just as Damian suggested and wear it as a badge of honor. He’d made history and he had yearned for dragonflight, but he was more than just a single race. It was a distinction he should always celebrate, and he was resolved to do so.
“Ell, we need to talk,” Chrysander said as he pulled away from their embrace.
While Ellery never liked it when Chrysander wasn’t touching him, he backed up slightly, then lowered his body to the ground to signal to his mate that he was ready to listen. Chrysander stroked a hand over his snout.
“I was given the official sentence from the Sentinel Brotherhood and the Order of the Fallen Knights today. The men met yesterday to decide Wesley’s punishment. They determined that for his crimes he will pay with his life.”
Ellery closed his eyes for a moment. He didn’t like Wesley, and he certainly didn’t approve of what he did, but ending a life should never be something taken lightly.
“They asked me if I wished to speak with him. I have nothing to say to him. Nothing can excuse his actions, and I’m not willing to waste any time with him. But we thought you might want the opportunity to talk to him. Do you want to delay his execution until the potion is reversed?”
It took Ellery only a second to decide; he did want to have an opportunity to tell Wesley his thoughts on what had been done to him. He wasn’t exactly sure yet what words he’d use or how much of his emotions he would allow to show, but being stuck in his dragon gave him a lot of time to think. He bobbed his head up and down to answer Chrysander’s question.
“Okay, I’ll let Alaric know.”
Ellery hoped he hadn’t displeased Chrysander with his choice. Searching his face carefully, Ellery couldn’t find any irritation, so he guessed Chrysander was okay with it. It was those kinds of simple things that really maddened Ellery. He wanted to be able to ask Chrysander how he felt about a subject instead of having to guess. But he’d learned to carefully study Chrysander’s expressions, which he supposed brought them closer in a way. Still, Ellery wanted to be held and discuss whatever came to mind with his best friend.
The one thing that Ellery always reminded himself when he grew exasperated was that Chrysander hadn’t run away. It would be easy for him to stay in Las Vegas and allow the job of Emperor to fill his days and nights. Instead, he only left for a few hours before he returned to Ellery’s side where he always found a way to keep him close.
He stroked his scales, wrapped his arms around Ellery the best he could, and talked for hours. Ellery’s heart only grew fonder of him with each passing hour. Someday he was going to find a way to tell him again, which was why he spent as much time as he could struggling against the dragon who wanted control. Ellery wouldn’t give in to his beast, not even for a moment. It was a war—one Ellery intended to win.
