Chapter 47
Drystan laughed as his son squeaked. His mother had all but vaulted herself at him while his dad was busy giving Blodwen a much more sedate hug.
“Oh, he looks so much like you, Drystan,” his mother cooed.
Trystan gave his father a wild expression as he straightened his spectacles. Obviously, his kid had not been prepared for his enthusiastic grandparents.
“This is my sentinel, Gavrael,” Drystan heard Blodwen say before Helen yanked the man in question close. Conley bent in half and snorted in hilarity at the expression on Gavrael’s face. The only person Drystan had ever seen the sentinel touch was his own mate and usually, it was Gedeon doling out the affection. The look of sheer terror the man wore as Helen finally released him was something Drystan planned on ridiculing him over for many years to come.
When his mother had greeted and physically assaulted everyone in the room including the reigning Emperor, refreshments were handed out and everyone got comfortable in the living room. There were questions which needed to be asked and answers that would be demanded. And Drystan knew he was in for a reckoning as he’d been the one to keep his parents at bay for the last two centuries.
He couldn’t get too upset any longer at the prospect. It was so damn good to see them, and he hadn’t appreciated how much he missed them until they’d been standing in the doorway of Aleksander’s office. It had gripped him by the throat and he was not going to be satisfied until he was assured they would be staying close. He damn well needed them.
“Your Majesty,” his father said. “I want to thank you for always taking the time to speak with us personally. From the moment you took over our sons’ duties, you have been more than kind and we greatly appreciate it.”
“Please call me Chrysander or Chrys,” he said. “And it was my pleasure. I figured it was the least I could do.” He gave Drystan a semi-amused expression before he spoke again. “I did try to talk Drystan into meeting you both and then having his DNA tested when that was made available but he could not be persuaded.”
“The boy is hard-headed,” his mother informed the room.
Vann grinned in what could only be described as an unholy expression. “Yes, the boy is.”
“You poor dear, you’ve had to deal with him all these centuries,” his mother cooed at him. “We spoiled him. We lived to regret it.”
Drystan rolled his eyes. “I will admit I made a mistake. I should’ve been more flexible.”
Conley patted his arm, he was curled in Drystan’s lap. “We’re both glad we finally got our memories back and that you’re here today.”
“I’ll never forget the moment we found out you both were gone,” Helen said, her eyes growing misty. “That awful Imperial Duke Bernal—he sent a letter which said humans had killed you. I told Aeron it wasn’t possible. They’d already lit your funeral pyre, he told us so there was no need for us to travel all the way to Castle Draconis. I wrote back and told him I wanted your belongings.”
“It was Chrysander here who told us none of your things were left besides that old chess set we gave you as boys,” Aeron said.
“You have our chess set?” Conley asked.
“Of course, we didn’t bring it. We only had so much space and wished to get here before Drystan changed his mind about meeting with us, but we’ll return it to you,” Helen said with a bite in her tone when she’d spoken his name.
“But if I’m not mistaken, Helen, those are the rings you gave them when they mated the first time around,” Aeron pointed out.
“They are, the Arch Lich stole our bodies from the castle, and he took our rings and swords,” Drystan said.
“Well, we knew your bodies had been stolen. The rumor reached us several years after your deaths,” Helen said. “At first, we were angry someone would say such a thing. We’d been devastated for so long, and we did our best to move on, but I’m not sure we ever got close until the moment we were standing in a ballroom and we saw a ghost of one of our sons.”
“That’s what Aleksander called me too. A ghost,” Drystan said. “We met him the day we were killed.”
“We knew then the rumors were absolutely true, though Helen had been trying to convince me there must be some merit in them for centuries before that,” Aeron said.
“But we didn’t know what to think when you looked right at us and didn’t recognize us. You kept walking right past,” Helen said. “I didn’t know much about resurrection then, but I began poring over books and learned that fallen knights had no memories of their lives before.”
“Which made sense since how else could Drystan not realize Conley was nowhere around?” Aeron said. “Where were you, son?”
“Apparently stuck in some asshole wizard’s castle,” Conley informed them. “It took the Arch Lich centuries to get me back.”
“Were you awake the whole time, dear?” Helen asked.
“No, I was in stasis,” Conley said.
“Locked in a fucking box,” Drystan added.
“Drys is furious about the fact that the sorcerers who stole us and turned us into the Reverent Knights made the decision to keep us apart. They feared if they allowed us to reunite we might go after our murderers and not want to do our jobs. It was decided one hundred years should separate us,” Conley said. “But the asshole wizard had other ideas.”
“Drystan, you have always loved Conley, and he knows that but you owe those sorcerers a debt of gratitude. If not for them, you wouldn’t be sitting here today in this lovely home,” Helen said.
“I know Mom,” Drystan said. “But I was alone for a very long time and the Arch Lich has been one the people closest to me. It’s asking too much right now to expect me to just let it go. He lied to me for centuries. I wouldn’t have gone after the people that killed us. In any event, Chrys took care of it for me.”
“Thank you for seeing to it that the people who ended their lives paid for their crimes,” Aeron said to Chrysander.
“Oh, it was my pleasure,” Chrysander said with a feral grin. “I have no use for traitors, and there is nothing more despicable than plotting the demise of the men you were sworn to protect. Bernal and his cronies were power-hungry monsters, and all dragons are better off without them around.”
“I’m so glad our sons were succeeded by someone as honorable as you are, Chrysander,” his mother said.
“Then perhaps you’d consider joining the Council of Sorcery and Shifters?” Drystan asked his parents.
“We decided not to because we couldn’t believe what a jerk you were being,” Helen said.
“And we couldn’t stay in Europe with Chrysander leaving. King Ethelin and his allies are nearly as bad as Bernal,” Aeron said.
“We’d be delighted if you would join us now that your son has decided to stop being a jerk,” Chrysander said and Drystan offered him a dry look.
“We accept,” Aeron said. “You need not worry about finding us a court to rule over, we are perfectly content to simply be close to our sons and now our grandchildren as well.”
“Don’t be absurd,” Chrysander said. “I don’t grant kingdoms; Fate does and those are clearly silver rings in your eyes. We will find a court for you. Have you many dragons with you in Australia?”
“We took none of our court with us; we encouraged them all to follow the dragons and join the Council,” Aeron said.
“We’ll find you land, and then you can start accepting applications from dragons wanting to join. I imagine your connection to our Reverent Knights and the revelation of who they used to be, once it’s made public, will make you very popular,” Chrysander said.
“If you’d like, you’re more than welcome to stay here with us at Court D’Vaire while the arrangements are being made for your court and your new home is built,” Aleksander offered.
“Say yes,” Blodwen insisted. “Then you can stay here with us.”
“Yeah, Dad and Conley are going to be here all the time begging for handouts anyway,” Trystan said.
“It would afford all of us at D’Vaire the opportunity to get to know you and I would also, if you don’t mind, love to pick your brains over the lives of the former emperors.”
“A history buff, are you?” Aeron asked.
“He’s writing his first book,” Drystan said.
“Well then,” Aeron said. “I think we could be persuaded to help with history matters.” Drystan didn’t know why it hadn’t occurred to him until just now it might be his father who had passed down Trystan’s love of dusty books. It had been Aeron who had always given him, and Conley after he moved in, a list of things to read.
“More importantly,” Helen began with an elbow into King Aeron’s side. “We welcome the opportunity to get to know everyone here and, of course, spend time with our sons.”
“Great, we’ll let you pick out a room in the house and you can get settled in immediately,” Aleksander said. “I’m afraid we won’t be able to offer Dra’Kaedan’s services to take you back to Australia to gather your belongings, but if we can help in any other way don’t hesitate to ask.”
“Thank you, you’re all so kind,” Helen said. “We’ll head home in a few days to pack up everything in Australia. It shouldn’t take us long before we return.”
“Good, you’ll need to be back here within two weeks,” Chrysander said. “We are throwing our Reverent Knights a ball to celebrate their matebond and welcoming Conley officially as a Council leader.”
“We wouldn’t miss it,” Helen said. “We can leave the day after tomorrow. We have an errand we must take care of before then.”
“What errand, Mom?” Conley asked. “Can we help?”
“As a matter of fact dear, you can,” Helen said. “We need to speak with the Arch Lich. Where would we find him?”
“At Council Headquarters in Las Vegas,” Chrysander said. “I’ll call him and make an appointment for you. It will have to be in the afternoon; he’ll be attending a Council session in the morning.”
“Thank you, Chrysander, that would be perfect,” Aeron said. “Whatever time he can squeeze in is fine. We need to thank him for what he’s done for us. Stop making that face, Drystan, he deserves our respect and praise.”
Drystan didn’t know he’d been making a face but the truth was, he was upset with Chander. However, he wasn’t surprised his parents would wish to speak with him. “I’m not making a face.”
“Oh, there he goes, Aeron.”
“Boy has always been a champion pouter.”
Trystan chuckled. “That’s what I’ve been saying my whole life.”
“You’d think at over a thousand years old, he would have outgrown it by now,” Helen said.
“I’m sitting right here and Trystan—I’m still your dad, so I can kick your ass,” Drystan said.
“Don’t talk to your son that way,” Helen admonished. “Oh, I can see Conley and I have plenty to straighten up around here.”
“Queen Helen, you’re my new favorite person,” Vann informed her.
“Aren’t you the sweetest? We’re going to be good friends,” she replied. Drystan knew she would swoop in and take all the people in his world under her wing. She’d always been open with her affection and as much as it exasperated him when he was the subject of her ire, there was nothing he would change about her. Nor would he want his father to be anything but the sober and loving man he’d been throughout his life as a dragon. For the first time since he’d been resurrected, his heart was whole and all the missing pieces of his life were back where they belonged. It made him feel strong enough to take on the world, and he doubted he’d ever be capable of feeling lonely again.
Chapter 48
“Chand, did you forget to turn your phone on again?” Chrysander asked from the doorway of Chander’s office. Damian was leaning against the jamb next to him.
“I didn’t forget,” Chander said. He’d purposely left it off; he didn’t particularly want to talk to anyone. After returning home where he’d been greeted by Conley’s box, Benton had hounded him for hours about how he was doing after the scene in Aleksander’s living room. Chander had grown so annoyed, he’d locked himself in his bedroom and as he did most days buried his nose in a spellbook so he didn’t have to think or feel.
“I have a request,” Chrysander eventually replied after Chander didn’t offer any further information.
“Yes?”
“King Aeron and Queen Helen Beradraconis would like a few minutes of your time; can you meet with them this afternoon?” Chrysander asked.
“It already is afternoon, and I’m afraid I am too busy,” Chander said. “Perhaps another time.”
“Evergreen said you didn’t have any appointments.”
Chander made a mental note to kill his assistant. “I don’t want to speak to them. I’m sorry. I really don’t want to spend any more time being yelled at by the Reverent Knights or their relatives. I know that’s not fair since I am the one who made the mistake in the first place, but I’m just not up to it.”
“Chand, they are here to thank you, not to yell at you.”
“Thank me?” he asked in astonishment; it hadn’t been what he was expecting at all.
“Great, I’ll tell them to come on in.” Chrysander said which made little sense to Chander.
“What?”
“Oh, didn’t I tell you? They’re waiting outside. Thanks, Chand,” Chrysander said as he left.
Chander looked over at Benton but since he didn’t do anything except shrug, he was apparently on his own to deal with Drystan’s parents. A man who resembled Drystan and a lovely woman were soon in the space Chrysander had just occupied.
“Your Highnesses, thank you for coming to see me,” Chander said as he got to his feet and extended his hand. “This is my sentinel, Benton. Please have a seat.”
“Arch Lich, we appreciate you taking the time to speak with us,” King Aeron said after the pair sat down.
“It’s my pleasure; what can I do for you?” Chander asked.
“Arch Lich, we wanted to come and offer you our gratitude for resurrecting our sons. As a parent, there is no greater tragedy than having to bury your children and thanks to you, we have them hearty and whole,” Queen Helen said.
“Your Highness, I’m afraid I was only thinking of what they could do for the Council when I made the decisions that I did. I never thought about two grieving parents and what it would be like to see two men who had no memory of them. I must offer my most sincere apology knowing it can never be enough,” Chander said.
“Arch Lich, it’s true we were devastated to lose our boys but without you, there would be no life for them at all. Honestly, I couldn’t care less about why you did it, although I must say you gave them a noble cause to pursue, and they were ever duty bound to make the world around them better,” King Aeron said.
“Reverent Knight Drystan and now Reverent Knight Conley have dedicated all of their time and energy to looking out for all the people of this Council. I do not exaggerate when I tell you we would not be what we are today without them,” Chander said.
“Arch Lich, that’s a fine thing to hear about boys you’ve raised into manhood, and I’m glad they’ve served the Council well,” King Aeron said.
“And don’t you worry Arch Lich,” Queen Helen said. “Drystan won’t take too long to get over his mad. He’s hurt because you’ve been a good friend to him, and he sees it as a betrayal that you had to be untruthful. And of course, he is angry about the time he spent away from Conley, but I think you did the right thing in separating them.”
Now that was something Chander had never expected to hear, especially from the man’s parents. “You do?”
“Arch Lich, he loves Conley more than he loves himself, which—when you consider how fond he is of his own importance—is saying a great deal,” Queen Helen said with a grin. “I know my son. He would not have rested until every person who was involved in the plot to kill them was dead. Who knows what kind of havoc he would have wreaked by the time he w
as satisfied Conley’s death had been avenged? I think we all wish it had not stretched out for over six hundred years, but I know you did your best to try and get Conley back before then. There’s no guilt that should rest on your shoulders.”
Chander didn’t agree, but he wouldn’t argue with her. He was guilty and he did not deserve anyone’s forgiveness for his actions. “Thank you, Your Highness.”
“I’m an old woman, Arch Lich. I can see in your eyes you aren’t ready to believe me, but I hope someday you can find some solace.”
Giving her a half smile, he said, “You’re very kind, Your Highness. Thank you for taking the time to visit me.”
They stood to leave. “Arch Lich, you’ll always have our gratitude and don’t think you won’t see us again. Perhaps we can help convince you,” King Aeron said and then they departed. Chander looked over at Benton.
“Stuck with the whole strong and silent thing the entire time, didn’t you?”
His sentinel smirked. “You were doing all right. I like them.”
“Hey Chand, you got a minute?” Vann said as he stuck his head into the door.
“Is anyone going to let me work today?” Chander asked.
“No,” Vann said as he came in and plopped down into a chair. “I have some questions.”
“I think I can take a pretty good guess as to what they might be,” Chander said as he too sat. “I’m surprised you expect me to be honest about the answers.”
“I think you’ll be as honest as you can be,” Vann said. “Let’s face it, Drystan wouldn’t have believed you, even if you had told him the truth about Conley.”
Chander just shrugged.
“Okay, you don’t want to talk about it. I get it,” Vann said. “So, you know I’m sort of like Drystan. Except he had a little bit of a sex drive and I’ll be honest—I’ve never even had an erection. I don’t know if I’m attracted to men, women, or apples.”
Resurrection Of The Fallen Page 33
