“You gave me the title ‘Ducblanc.’ You trusted me to protect you from harm. Even if you set aside that I didn’t know what was in the cup, I still put you in danger because I was too stupid to realize it was poisoned.”
“Who are the men and woman in that building over there?” Ellery asked as he pointed at the office building.
“Sorcery D’Vaire.”
“What makes them different from others?”
“A lot of things I guess,” Zane answered, not sure what was expected of him.
“By the strength of their magic and their knowledge, they are some of the most powerful people on the planet. Not one of them could have detected the poison in the cup together or alone. If they cannot, how could you have been expected to?”
Zane pursed his lips because he could not refute Ellery’s logic.
“Do not call yourself stupid in my presence again.”
“I’m still sorry, damn it.”
“You owe Tiri a dollar, and I will not accept your apology. It is unwarranted and frankly, it angers me that you would give it.”
“I don’t want to talk about Tiri’s swearing fund,” Zane grumbled.
“What else is on your mind?”
“All my life I have lived in the royal family. Long before I shifted into a black dragon, I dedicated myself to protecting the Emperor and my brothers. I believed Fate put me around them for that sacred purpose. It’s important to me that you, along with them, are always safe. I can’t stomach the idea of anything evil in your midst again. I think the only way to ensure that doesn’t happen is if there was someone else in the role of Ducblanc.”
“I cannot and will not accept your resignation.”
The regal elf in front of him was pissing Zane off. His newfound confidence was as annoying as it was heartwarming. It would serve him well in his role as Emperor but as a member of his trusted guard, it was making Zane nuts. “I’m free to give it.”
“And what would you do with your life were you not the Ducblanc?”
“It’s not like I’m giving up being a duke. I just think someone else would better serve you as your personal guardsman. Costas has been with the family longer than I have, he’d do a wonderful job.”
“You might be right that he could handle it well, but it is not a role that suits him. He likes being the Royal Duke and overseeing financial matters along with whatever other duties are assigned to him. Not once has he ever complained about not being asked to take up the position of Ducblanc. It would be my guess that if he were asked, he would decline it. So, tell me who Chrysander would allow in our inner circle if Costas said no and you resigned?”
“You can’t guilt me into staying the Ducblanc.”
“Tell me what tactic would work to get through your thick skull that you have done nothing but fulfill what is expected of you and more.”
“I’m getting tired of being accused of having a hard head.”
“Then perhaps you should work on being more flexible in your thoughts.”
“Elf, come on. You feel bad for me, which is why you don’t want me to resign.”
Ellery’s eyebrows came together as he frowned. “I want you to remain as Ducblanc because I feel bad for you? That statement is not fair to either one of us.”
“Fate sure did a good job of selecting you as Emperor,” Zane said though it was not in a complimentary tone.
“As she did with you as Ducblanc.”
“You gave me the title, not Fate.”
“Dragons believe Fate chooses all those in leadership. I am Fate-chosen to lead the dragons. Do you not trust my decisions as Emperor?”
“For fuck’s sake, Elf. Now who isn’t being fair?”
Ellery leaned forward so only inches separated their faces. The divine beauty of Ellery’s face was momentarily forgotten as Zane grew angrier at the direction of this entire conversation that had somehow bloomed into an argument. “Listen to me, Ducblanc Zane Draconis. I do not nor will I ever accept anyone in the role of my trusted guard except you. Tiridythas has made your life eternal. It is you and me forever. Do you understand? I will accept nothing less than the best as Ducblanc. You are incredibly brave, honorable, and intelligent. It would never occur to you to shirk your duties or give anything less than your all. That is why you were chosen by Fate to do this. It is why you have such a strong dragon. I believe it is part of your life’s purpose, and I will not take that away from you.”
