21. Adrian

TWENTY-ONE

Why did I let her go?

He knew it was nonsensical, but he had a bad feeling. Adrian shouldn't have left Chloe's side, but sometimes, in life, you have to trust fate.

The meeting that morning was of vital importance. He couldn't shrug it off when dragonkind teetered on the edge of a global conflict.

I have a responsibility to my people.

Eldred, the most ancient dragon shifter in all of creation, would be flying in to meet with him. Eldred lived on an undisclosed continent, rumored to be inhabiting a cavern somewhere. He had always been loyal to Adrian's family, even if he had secluded himself to the point of obscurity. Often, he had given wise advice to Adrian's grandparents.

So Adrian had Eldred flown in at the first opportunity because he felt like he might offer good advice and he might even persuade some of the holdouts. He knew that more traditional dragons would have a hard time coming around to Chloe, and a vote of confidence from Eldred could go a long way.

Adrian shuffled and paced through the halls, lost in thought.

He was going to tell Eldred the complete truth with no omissions. Adrian had fallen harder than he thought possible for Chloe, and it was growing increasingly difficult to imagine parting ways … even if it meant disappointing large chunks of the dragon population.

But he's always been sensible, Adrian reassured himself, hoping that the rumors of Eldred's insanity weren't true.

Regardless of what Eldred said and how much Adrian craved his approval, he wasn't planning on ending his relationship with Chloe. His people had grown to trust the mating bond, believing that it held special properties in strengthening their kind. If Eldred couldn't see the importance of that, then he was listening to the wrong traditions.

The worst part was waiting. For a full hour, he anticipated Eldred's arrival with nothing but his looming anxieties to occupy his mind.

He needed to focus. He tore his eyes away from the empty queen's chamber and walked toward the main lounge.

Eldred would be arriving soon, and Tillie and Irons were instructed to set up everything in advance, making everything immaculate. For how old and wise he was, Eldred could be superficial at times. He often complained when things were even a little messy or out of place.

"Welcome, old friend," Adrian said, greeting Eldred in the main lobby. His human appearance had graying hair and walked with a limp, appearing in his eighties. Of course, Eldred was much older and had much more wisdom than any human elder.

"You need some better lights in here," Eldred joked. "I feel like I've gone back to the Middle Ages in this dark old castle."

Adrian smiled in spite of himself.

It had been nearly a decade since they'd last seen each other. Adrian gave the man a bow before leading him to the main lounge, making sure to keep pace with his slow stride.

"I am very happy to see you," Eldred said, taking a seat in one of the batwing chairs. "This climate is very soft and calming. Please, tell me how you've been."

His voice was sharp and crackling. The fireplace beside them roared, painting the tapestries across the stone walls of the room bright red. Irons brought in a tall glass of peach tea.

"I don't drink that fruity stuff anymore," Eldred said, waving it away. "A cup of coffee would be nice, though. I'm very jet-lagged."

"Of course, sir," Irons said. "Right away."

"I have been well, sir," Adrian said in the polite and humble manner that was expected of him. "I am thankful that you were able to make your way over here."

"That's good to hear, but please tell me what's on your mind," Eldred said, lying back in the chair. "I don't just get called in for nothing. It's got to be important."

Adrian hesitated. This was the moment of truth.

Adrian explained everything from meeting Chloe until now. He explained his hesitation and his concern, however understated, that Chloe might not be accepted by dragonkind. But he was guided only by the mating bond.

"Surely, that's got to be an indicator of traditions regardless of how unconventional the pairing might be," Adrian said.

Eldred said nothing the entire time, not nodding or blinking.

Once Adrian had finished talking, Eldred drank in the question, crossing his legs. He stroked his beard, breathing laboriously. Adrian began to worry when nearly two minutes passed.

Then the wise dragon opened his mouth, his voice quiet.

"I can understand your apprehension," Eldred said.

Adrian's heart dropped. There it was again, that bad feeling.

"I do agree that the response may not be ideal. So I'd advise you to take a dragon woman. If you want to take a human mate in your private time, that's entirely up to you."

Adrian felt like a sword had slashed through his heart.

"These are delicate times, Adrian. The talk of war grows more fierce, by the way. You know how important your role is as a public servant. If people saw you with a human mate, they wouldn't understand."

Adrian seethed. But he wasn't going to disrespect his elder. That would certainly make his people, and his own lineage, bristle emphatically.

Still, he had to try. "But if you could unite the dragons under Chloe, it might bring unity in this conflict."

Eldred shook his head.

"I'm afraid that's not my place," he said. "Even if they'd listen to me, this world is changing far too much for an old dragon like me to keep up."

Adrian nodded, unable to hide his disappointment but not publicly protesting. They talked about global politics and celebrity trivia before Eldred asked to be put up for a nap.

"We have accommodations in the guest wing for you," Adrian said.

"Oh, how kind of you."

"Thank you so much for your advice," he said, shaking Eldred's hand and bowing. "Please enjoy your stay. Irons will help you with anything you need."

Eldred left without a word, leaving Adrian to ruminate on his thoughts.

Was he being irrational in all of this? He didn't think so, but maybe Eldred was right somehow.

He decided that it would be sensible to speak to Zakary, who had a more modern take on the dragon world and community. He was thrown off by Eldred's advice, frankly, because it scared him to no end.

Rather than wander the castle searching, he sent a text message asking Zakary to meet him.

"You called?" Zakary announced as he entered the room a few moments later.

Adrian explained everything about what Eldred had said. Zakary seemed hesitant to answer but took far less time to think than Eldred had.

"I don't know why you're asking me to question the Great Eldred. He's right that you're going to ruffle some scales. That's obvious. But I also think it's stupid to avoid doing anything that would piss people off if it really matters to you. People might be more accepting than you think. And if it gets them a queen, what are they complaining about?"

While his mind was already made up, it was nice to hear somebody who agreed with him.

Adrian walked outside to the drawbridge and gazed out at the open city. He could see workers toiling away in factories and children frolicking. They were all oblivious to the burden that sat on his shoulders.

He became increasingly aware of Irons standing beside him.

"Really something, isn't it?" he asked.

Adrian nodded. He could see the afternoon sunlight cascading over every droplet in the moat. He could see the distant vista below the mountains.

It was humbling.

"Sir," Irons said. "You have a guest. I went ahead and let her in."

"Who?"

Irons walked him down to his office, where he saw the tall, looming figure of Gayle. She wore a black cloak and had seated herself in his office chair as though she owned the place.

"About time you got here," Gayle said. "Good afternoon, My King," she said, full of condescension. "It's been a funny day."

She rose, pulling aside the curtains to his office to look out at the courtyard below.

"Aren't you going to ask me why?" Gayle asked.

"I kind of figured you'd tell me regardless."

"It's been a funny day because, on the way up to your office, I ran into a very revered member of our kind. A guest of yours, I assume?"

"Can you get on with it, Gayle?"

Gayle chuckled, shaking her head as she looked down toward the ground.

"He told me all about your little issue and how I can help."

Gayle leaned down, removing a black ring box from the inside of her robe. She knelt in front of him.

Adrian slapped the box out of her hands. It fell open on the floor, a silver onyx ring revealing itself.

"Is this some kind of joke?"

She smirked, her eyes brightening.

"No joke. I thought I could assist you. If I take your hand in marriage, you'll have the proper queen. Then I don't care how you choose to spend time with that human."

"Out!" Adrian spat at her, towering over her hunched form.

She brought herself to her feet, standing in mock offense.

"Not a fan of that idea? I think you might want to listen to your elders. You don't want blood on your hands."

He should have known her seeming niceness at the party was all part of some ploy. Centuries ago, his family had overthrown hers, leaving many dead in their wake.

Should he show her compassion?

"I don't think that is a great idea," he mumbled. "I understand Eldred's thinking, but in the long term …"

That's when Adrian heard a knock on the office door, and Gayle cracked a sinister smile.

"That'll be Bethea with the bad news," Gayle said, nearly cackling. "Come in!"

Adrian felt like a guest in his own castle.

In walked a short dragon shifter. Conspicuously, she held a manilla envelope. As if it had been rehearsed, she set the envelope on the table carelessly, letting it fall open. Adrian puffed up his chest at the intrusion, then gasped as he beheld a simple black and white photograph.

"Is it a flattering photo? I've been taking photography classes in my spare time."

Bethea walked out as Adrian beheld his beloved, gagged in a dark room. Her eyes conveyed pure terror and uncertainty.

"What do you want?" Adrian asked, ready to pay almost any price for Chloe's safety.

"It's pretty self-explanatory," Gayle said, moving to the photograph and lifting it to reveal a plain form. "Sign this and you'll get your mate back, no more harmed than she is in that photo. And my family will get back what you took from us."

Gayle moved over to him unnaturally, taking her finger and lifting Adrian's chin to her eyes.

"It's a win-win, don't you think?"

Adrian felt a rage burn through him, unlike anything he'd ever experienced.