Battle Bond: An Urban Fantasy Dragon Series (Death Before Dragons #2) - Lindsay Buroker Page 0,110

all. Judging by the uneasy way Dimitri shifted away from him, he was probably fine with that.

“If the Dragon Justice Court learns that you killed a dragon, they will send someone to collect you for punishment and rehabilitation.”

“Rehabilitation? Rehabilitation for what? All I did was defend myself. I don’t know if you noticed, but he was trying to put me in your way again. No, he was trying to get me to kill you.”

“I noticed.” Zav looked toward the stars and clouds above. “I must consider how I will answer questions on this matter. I will not implicate you.” He walked away and waved an arm to form a shimmering silver portal in the air.

That was it? He was leaving? Would he be back?

“I would prefer not to be the one sent to collect you and turn you over to the court,” he added.

A chill went through me at the idea of being dragged before this court of dragons. What kind of punishment and rehabilitation went on there, anyway? From what I’d heard, most of the magical beings who’d fled to Earth had considered it better to risk death here than to be brought in for that.

“Wait,” I called as he turned into his dragon form and started toward the portal. “Will you take Belohk?” I pointed to where the white-haired dwarf had been quietly watching, a gnarled hand pressed to his injured side. “He was kidnapped and brought here against his wishes. Will you take him back to his home?”

Zav looked at me, then at the dwarf, and several long moments passed as they seemed to communicate telepathically. The dwarf walked toward him and the portal, but paused to come to me first. He gripped my hand, and I quickly activated my translation charm.

“Thank you for helping me. If ever you come to my world, I shall assist you in researching your sword.”

I didn’t see how that would ever happen—it wasn’t as if Zav was inviting me through his portal—but I thanked him and patted him on the shoulder before he walked away. Zav leaped through the portal, and Belohk followed. A second later, the shimmering gateway disappeared, leaving me alone with Dimitri and Sindari and a huge mess.

You have put him in a difficult situation, Sindari observed.

Who? Zav?

They will ask him how Dob died. The death of a dragon is not a thing that can go unreported. He will either have to take the blame—and the punishment inherent in that—or tell the truth and risk being sent back to collect you for punishment. If not him, then it would be another. For a human—or even an elf—to kill a dragon is not a small thing, and it would not be forgiven by other dragons.

What would you have had me do, Sindari? Let Dob take control of me again? He was going to kill me if I didn’t kill him first.

I acknowledge that, and I do not know if there was a better solution.

Besides, he was trying to kill Zav. Don’t tell me he wasn’t. If he’d succeeded, wouldn’t he have been brought before their justice court?

Likely, but with a story rehearsed to tell. Since he loathed you, he might have put the blame on you.

Great.

I do not believe Zavryd is someone who likes to besmirch his honor by lying.

Which he was now going to have to do to protect me. Fantastic. Why’d I have to cross paths with an honorable dragon?

“Is anybody else completely tired of dragons and shifters and ready to get out of here?” I asked.

Dimitri raised his hand. “I thought you’d never ask.”

Police sirens wailed in the distance. If Zav had been casting some magic to keep anyone outside of the area from noticing the carnage going on… it was gone now. It was cowardly, but I didn’t want to deal with explaining any of this.

I’d leave a message at Willard’s office and explain everything. That would have to be enough. I was done. So very done.

Epilogue

I was cleaning my apartment when someone knocked on the door. Technically, I was lying on the floor, staring desolately at the ceiling and thinking about cleaning the apartment. Earlier, I’d picked up the books and clothes strewn around the living room, but I’d lost motivation.

Even though the last thing I wanted was to give Zav free rent in my mind, I kept playing the night before over in my mind and wondering if I had done the wrong thing or if he was an uptight over-reacting huge pain