The (Not) Satisfied Dragon - Colette Rhodes Page 0,29
hidden away. She didn’t want to sit in the den and wait for us to return home with tales of the adventures we experienced with the Council. She wanted to be in the thick of it.
Who were we to deny her a chance to be part of the world she’d been hidden from for so long? Who were we to deny the dragon world Shira? She was fierce and passionate, stubborn and reckless. The mostly ancient Councilors could do with that kind of energy.
I sat with my fathers’ flight in their section of the amphitheatre, leafing carefully through the yellowing documents that had been handed down to them by a previous generation of Councilors. The thin pages of the book felt like home to me. They were delicate, yet heavy with sacred tradition from the flights that had come before us.
I could not fucking wait to join that list.
The surrounding crowd was growing increasingly agitated. Where were Flight Milain? Had they forgotten the meeting? Were they so arrogant as to skip it without telling anyone? They had been growing bolder in their disrespect recently…
I bent my head further over the book to hide the smile that was threatening to break free. How fortunate for us that Flight Milain had always been insufferable assholes.
‘A flight must run for a Council position as one. Flights must be bonded prior to putting themselves forward for the Council.’
Perfect. Almost.
//Only bonded flight members can run for Council.//
Ezra’s sharp gaze landed on me from the other side of the floor. He didn’t look angry — for once — just thoughtful. I didn’t envy his position. It was a fine line to walk, easing Shira into this world without scaring her off, yet embracing her need to do more, be more.
//So we bond,// Hiram replied callously.
//I doubt she’d even consider bonding with you right now,// Levi shot back, giving Hiram a filthy look. Hiram’s head dropped, hiding his expression. I’d take that as progress. Shame was more beneficial than anger if he was going to convince Shira to even look at him again.
“Councilors,” Uri called from the center of the floor, commanding everyone’s attention with one word. “As you know, we cannot hold a meeting without all ten flights in attendance. As Flight Milain are not present—”
A chorus of boos cut off his speech, and this time I really had to fight not to smile.
“—we will cancel today’s session. Flight Fiáin, please check in with Flight Milain and remind them that there is a meeting next week that they are, in fact, required to attend,” Uri finished drolly, addressing one of the other flights of Enforcers.
Shit. It was go-time. It would take an hour for the Enforcers to get to Glasdon Mountain. In roughly one hour and five minutes, news would spread that Flight Milain were lying in their bed, throats slit, as dead as every other flight on Glasdon Mountain had been on that fateful night twelve years ago.
//Let's go. I want to keep close to Shira,// Ezra projected, his mouth set in a grim line as he watched the Councilors and Enforcers taking off. I was confident Shira was safe from suspicion, but I didn't want to be too far from her either. Especially because I wasn't confident she'd be at home waiting for us.
//Can we make a stop on the way? I want to pick up something for her,// Levi asked as we climbed up to the flat ledge at the top of the rock face where we could safely shift and take off.
//Where?// Ezra snapped impatiently.
//Leodis. To get paints.//
Ezra let out a long-suffering sigh that made me chuckle. Levi had him by the balls just as much as the rest of us. Like we could say no to a request like that when we'd done so little to make Shira comfortable before.
//Let’s make it quick. I need to see her with my own eyes.//
✽✽✽
We shaved ten minutes off our usual flight time to Leodis, landing on the outskirts of town with tired wings and short of breath. The five of us shifted back, dressing before rushing after Levi, who was striding confidently down the street to where the market was held.
Levi led us down a familiar side street, his steps faltered as we passed the apothecary owned by The Alchemist. Before I could ask what he was doing, The Alchemist appeared through a crack in the door, giving us a pointed look before vanishing again.