“Okay, we’ll let them know tomorrow when we do the next dosage. Are we still going to keep it at once a day?”
“I think it’s the only way to keep the side effects from being more problematic. The goal is to give him what he needs in that day to stay in elf form for let’s say, twenty-three hours. Shifting daily will help calm his beast,” T’Eirick suggested.
“One down. Twenty-two to go,” Mac lamented.
“I have something to say,” Dra’Kaedan said. He wanted to make sure he had everyone’s full attention, so he rose and laid a hand on Brogan’s shoulder. “This situation is terrible. For over six months, we’ve tried to fix a matebond torn apart by an asshat. In the beginning, we were sure it would take no time with all the brain and magical power in this room. We were wrong. Elf is different and it has complicated things immensely, but we’ve jumped past two giant hurdles. There aren’t any cells converting anymore, and we have a potion to give Elf some time with Chrysander. It’s not as much as we want and in a perfect scenario, we’d have a cure. That may come someday, but for it to happen we must remain focused. If we allow ourselves to give in to our own fragile egos, we do everyone a disservice. We aren’t at this stage because we’re not intelligent or because we lack the capabilities to figure out this puzzle.
“We’re here because Wesley and an asshat wizard poisoned Elf. They used something we could never in the darkest recesses of our mind have imagined. We aren’t evil. We don’t sit up at night trying to rid the world of people or tear apart matebonds. It’s imperative that we forgive ourselves for not being perfect. For not being diabolical enough to have thought out such a potion. Chrys and Elf are counting on us. We aren’t going to let them down. Not in any way, shape, or form—nor have we. So, take a moment to let all that shit go and focus on the future. We have progress. We’ll have more. Let’s allow that to fuel us as we move forward.”
“Well said, honey. You’re right. We need to stop being pissed off and think about the love between Chrys and Elf,” Saura said. “We can make it flourish again. We have all the tools right here in this room.”
Renny snickered. “Saura just called us tools.”
Dra’Kaedan rolled his eyes at his annoying familiar. “I think she just meant it in a detrimental way when she thought of you.”
“I certainly did not. I adore Renny.”
“As much as it pains me to say it, Squirt is right. We need to shed whatever guilt we have and stop flogging ourselves mentally for some perceived delay,” Aleksander said. “Wewillget this. No matter how hard we need to work, or the time it takes.”
“Well, I don’t think you need to ask if any of us are still in,” Chander replied with a grin. “I’m going to take two minutes to let Alaric kiss the guilt out of me, then I think we should get back to work.”
“I hope you all remember the things I’m being asked to do in the service of Their Majesties,” Alaric snarked.
“One last thing before Mister President adjourns this meeting,” Dra’Kaedan said. “It has been my privilege to work alongside all of you since the inception of Sorcery D’Vaire. We’re family and I love you guys.”
“Oh come on, we were ready to focus on some hot man-on-man loving between Chand and Alaric…now you’re making this all emotional and shit,” Scheredin complained.
“That’s because I’m going to let Brogan kiss the guilt out of me too.”
“And on that note, meeting adjourned,” Aleksander stated.
Dra’Kaedan chuckled as Brogan pulled him into his lap. He looped his arms around his mate’s neck and pressed his mouth to the man he loved more than life itself. It was a good reminder of their goal—reuniting two people who felt the same—and Dra’Kaedan was determined to keep that in mind each time the stress of the weight on their shoulders caught up with him.
Chapter 30
Tiri was sitting on a comfortable chair on the deck, embroidering his latest creation, as Zane sat with the Emperors in the backyard. A few weeks had passed since they first laid eyes on their elf ruler, and Sorcery D’Vaire was working hard to give him more time each day. He was up to three or four hours a day, and it was a relief to everyone that his side effects were still manageable. Ellery was keeping up with his Council responsibilities, but Tiri knew he would be happy when he had time to be alone in private with Chrysander.
Luckily for all of them, that goal was achievable. It was going to take more time, but at least it was no longer a question for anyone that his life would resume some sense of normalcy in the future. Tiri had never doubted that Sorcery D’Vaire was going to be able to fix Ellery, and it was rewarding to know his friend would soon have his mate in truth.
“Hey, this seat taken?” Costas asked from Tiri’s side.
“Of course not.”
The Royal Duke stretched his long body onto the chaise and smiled at Tiri. “That’s beautiful, Elf is going to love it.”
In his hands, Tiri was working on a black-and-white tunic lavishly embellished with gold thread and beads. His time at D’Vaire had allowed him to learn the craft of beading, and he was finally feeling confident enough in his abilities to add it to his designs. “Thank you. I wanted to make him something wonderful.”
“You’ve made him all kinds of things in the last seven months.”
“I find my inspiration often drawn to him.”
“I still can’t get used to the changes in his appearance. I can’t imagine there’s anyone on this planet as striking as our Elf.”
“I find him quite beautiful as well,” Tiri replied, though in his mind Zane would always take the prize for most attractive.
“I’d like to ask you a question, but I don’t want to offend you.”
Tiri lifted his head from his task to glance at Costas. “You couldn’t offend me.”
