The (Not) Satisfied Dragon - Colette Rhodes Page 0,58

“The by-laws account for such a scenario. If the position cannot be awarded by duel, the nominated flights are to be assigned tasks by the sitting Councilors to determine who is most suitable. Section 7, please feel free to verify that. I would argue that assigning Council seats by merit rather than brute strength should be the first option, rather than the backup, however that is a conversation for another time.”

A couple of his fathers chuckled at the silence and gaping expressions that met Seff's speech. I was getting those flutterings again, and all he'd done was talk.

“Section 7. He's right,” one of the old, curmudgeonly dragons grumbled, staring at the page as if he could set it alight with his eyeballs. “We can set up to three tasks, each to be monitored by one representative from each flight on the Council. This is a lot of extra work for us.”

“Nonsense,” Ilia boomed cheerfully. “It is no work at all to ensure we are doing the best by the dragons and securing the most suitable flight for the Council. I would argue it is an honor.”

“That's what I meant,” the old dragon snapped, cheeks coloring. “Fine. We will decide your three tasks and be in touch. Flight Galon, Flight Mentrus, this is now a closed session, you are dismissed.”

Ezra tipped his head respectfully at the Councilors as he led us off the circular platform and up over the rocks to the uppermost platform where we could shift and take off. Fortunately, the Councilors were too distracted now to notice me scrambling clumsily up the rock face.

Unfortunately, Flight Mentrus was following behind us and witnessed every faltering step as well as the earth magic Levi used to shift the last rock up, boosting me onto the ledge.

“This is how it will always be, your mates having to swoop in and save you because you think you’re big and tough enough to run with the males,” Flight Mentrus’ Alpha mocked. “What do you have to say about that, Ezra?”

“Seems like you were speaking to Shira, Jason. My mate doesn’t need me to answer for her,” Ezra replied coolly, looking wholly unruffled.

“Your flight is making a fucking mockery of our most sacred institution,” Jason growled, his eyes flashing wildly.

“Careful now. That temper doesn’t seem befitting of a Councilor. Would be a pity if you ruled yourself out before the contest begins,” I said, crossing my arms and smirking at him in what I hoped was a display of confident indifference.

Act like Ezra. Act like Ezra.

“Know your place, gold,” Jason spat, backing up to join his flight who were all ditching their clothes to shift. I turned my back on them, partly to show I wasn’t afraid, but mostly because I didn’t want to see them naked.

“Give me a ride home, Alpha?” I asked, giving Ezra a too-sweet smile, hoping to calm him down.

“It would be my pleasure, my lo-, Shi—”

“Love,” I corrected him. He’d been so careful not to say it, probably because of how strongly I’d shot him down the first few times he tried to force the L-word on me. Things were different now, though. When he’d told me he loved me as he’d taken my maidenhood, I believed him.

“It would be my pleasure, my love.”

Chapter 13

I didn’t even know why I’d bothered getting the paints out. I’d had a vague idea that I wanted to outline my mural in the parlor while the light was so good, but I couldn’t concentrate on anything except the day’s events.

My brain had been whirring frantically from the minute we’d left the Council meeting, playing back the entire thing in my head. I’d been so wrapped up in my nerves and not showing them that the substance of their words had gotten lost in the shuffle.

Tasks. Best of three. I was going to need a lot more information than that to go on. I needed to at least understand what the Council did on a daily basis to get an idea as to what tasks they might set for us.

There was the thud of a dragon landing outside and all of my mates paused what they were doing while Ezra immediately strode to the front door. The Council had said they would send for us when the first task was ready, but that had only been two hours ago.

//It’s your brother, Shira.// I narrow my eyes at the disapproval I heard in Ezra’s tone.

//Why do you sound like that? Are we going to fight