The (Not) Satisfied Dragon - Colette Rhodes Page 0,26

cheeks heated as I looked down at my plate, not wanting to incriminate Xander by talking about the Edans. He’d been clear about wanting to avoid my mates for this exact reason.

“They’re not going to just let the death of a whole flight of councilors slide,” Hiram said bitterly, voicing my concerns.

“Of course not. That is why we will lead the initiative to have Flight Milain’s den set aside as a memorial, the same as the other dens on Glasdon Mountain. Since clearly the mysterious flight who attacked the dens came back to finish the job,” Ezra said lightly, giving me a conspiratorial look from across the table while I held my sandwich in the air, halfway to my gaping mouth.

That wasn’t just turning the other cheek to my crimes, it was an active cover-up.

“That could work,” Levi mused, his voice growing in excitement. “Let their own story bury them.”

“I really don’t think you should get any more involved in this,” I hedged, looking between them. They all seemed infuriatingly calm about wading into my mess. Even Hiram, who I was doing my best to pretend didn’t exist.

“Perhaps we could petition the Council to mandate that challenges and duels have to be witnessed by an independent party in Flight Milain’s memory,” Seff mused. “It isn’t a law they would have abided by, but everyone already knows that and doesn’t talk about it. Unfortunately, you can’t testify against their crimes on Glasdon Mountain twelve years ago without potentially implicating you in their deaths.” He glanced uncertainly at me.

“Which is why we talk through our revenge plans as a flight before we slit throats,” Ezra added wryly.

“As if you ever let me talk about anything,” I spluttered, shooting Ezra an outraged look across the table.

“We’ve all learned lessons from the past few weeks, myself included.” He stated it so calmly, somehow smirking at me with his eyes alone. I'd get Ezra to smile if it was the last thing I did.

“I don’t regret killing them, but I wish I could destroy their legacy in some way. I hate that they’ll be mourned as prestigious members of the Council. I don’t know if more rules around challenges would prevent massacres like the one that took my family, but I guess it’s better than doing nothing.” I picked at the bread of my sandwich, tearing it into little chunks. I didn’t know enough about how the Council worked to tell if their rulings would make a difference.

“You need not worry about Flight Milain leaving behind a shining legacy, Shira,” Levi reassured me. “They’re notorious for being vindictive assholes. Everyone knows their own children hate them.”

That made me feel marginally better.

“Anyway, all of this is theoretical, right? We can’t lead an initiative,” Seff said, frowning at Ezra. “We’re just Enforcers.”

“And conveniently, a new seat has just opened up on the Council.”

Silence met Ezra’s declaration.

“You’re saying we should run for the Council seat?” Seff confirmed, looking at Ezra like he’d never seen him before. “We’d be the youngest to do so… ever.”

“The Council needs young blood. They need change. We can provide it,” Ezra replied simply.

Hearing them talk about their plans, the things they could do to effect change, make improvements… I wanted that.

I wanted to fight for flights like my family’s. Or all the other flights murdered on Glasdon Mountain. I’d gotten my revenge, but that wouldn’t stop greedy dragons like Flight Milain’s from destroying someone else’s future.

“But only if we all agree to do this, it’s a decision that affects all of us,” Ezra continued, looking around the table.

“Show of hands, then?” Seff asked, visibly struggling to contain his excitement. I bit the insides of my cheeks to stop myself smiling at his enthusiasm. He was kind of adorable when he got all excited about Council things.

All five of them raised their hands, and my heart stuttered. I struggled to identify the emotion I was feeling; it wasn’t one I was used to. It may have been pride. I was proud of them for taking such a significant risk. For putting themselves out there and being willing to take on the old dragons at the Council because they knew they could make a difference.

I raised my hand confidently, looking imperiously around the table.

“You support us running for the Council seat?” Levi asked with a warm smile that softened his worried dark brown eyes.

“I want to run with you,” I clarified, lowering my hand and folding them in my lap. I squared my shoulders, bracing