The (Not) Satisfied Dragon - Colette Rhodes Page 0,94
Galon,” Nerio sighed, with a triumphant gleam in his eye and an overly somber look on his face, the treacherous snake. “As none of you have a historical connection to Flight Milain to put you under suspicion, and since you are unlikely to go far while your mate is being detained, you are free to go. We will be in touch if we have any further questions. That is all.”
“That’s all?” I roared, black scales rippling over my skin the second the Enforcer behind me removed the cuffs.
“He’s right,” Ilia interjected, giving me a warning look that clearly said cool it. “He is entitled to know the day of his mate’s full hearing.”
“Two day’s time as is standard,” Nerio said impatiently. “Though it seems foolish not to just proceed today, given her obvious guilt.”
“Enough,” Ilia barked. “You are attempting to sway the Councilors before the hearing has taken place.”
Nerio gave him a filthy look. “In the meantime, we need to decide what to do with our other criminals,” he announced, not even attempting to disguise the fact that he was lumping Shira in with Flight Fiata, who were kneeling on the edge of the floor, looking baffled by the turn of events.
“Flight Galon, do you support your mate’s suggested punishment?”
“Yes,” I snapped, giving Nerio an icy glare.
“Fine. Let us vote,” he muttered, turning his back on us to face the rows of Councilors around him. “All in favor of Flight Mentrus' course of action?”
Loyally, Nerio’s flight voted in favor of their son's weak proposal, though none of them looked thrilled to be doing so.
“All in favor of Flight Galon's suggestion?” Nerio sighed. The remaining Councilors raised their hands as one. Whether they hated us or not — whether or not they hated Shira — none of them could in good faith endorse Flight Mentrus’ lenient course of punishment. An eye for an eye.
“Flight Fiata, you have been sentenced to death by order of the Council of Dragons,” Nerio announced in an irritated tone. “Escort them to the holding cell,” he added, gesturing to a flight of young enforcers who stood backed up against the cliff, awaiting instructions.
There was an uncomfortable silence as the prisoners were dragged away, the sound of their chains scraping on the stone was obnoxiously loud without the inane chatter of the Councilors that usually filled the air.
“Session dismissed. Meet back here in two days’ time for the trial,” Nerio snapped.
Ilia and his flight rushed forward before Nerio had even finished speaking.
“Can we see her?” I asked, uninterested in anything else. I needed to know she was okay. Shira wasn’t just the toughest gold I knew, she was the toughest dragon I knew. She’d survived horrors I couldn’t even imagine. Seen her loved ones die right in front of her eyes. After everything she’d been through, she had never stopped fighting, never let that fire in her go out.
Did the gods hate her? Give my girl a fucking break, already.
“No,” Ilia said with an apologetic grimace. “You know she can’t have any visitors before the hearing. You’re emotional and I understand that, but you have to think clearly. Shira is depending on you.”
He was right. I knew that. She knew that. It was probably driving her crazy.
“Nerio is out for blood. You’d better come up with something fast,” Corvus said, looking worriedly at us. “We’ll take it in turns to stay here and guard her.”
“I swear to you, no harm will come to her under our watch,” Ilia added, putting his hand on my shoulder. “The outcome of the trial depends on you. Don’t let her down.”
I nodded, throat tight with emotion as Ilia led his flight towards the holding cells built under the rock.
Would she be frightened? Shira was careful not to show fear, but we knew she had nightmares. The holding cells were dark and sparse. She’d spent most of her life in confinement. It was cruel, and we were helpless to get to her.
Being with Shira, loving Shira, felt like an exercise in helplessness sometimes. We’d been helpless to free her from the fae. We were helpless to keep her coddled and safe from harm. Helpless to find her when she’d left.
For a while, it had felt like convincing her to love us was a helpless endeavor too. But it wasn’t. Shira loved us. She loved us, and we loved her. If we could overcome all the obstacles that led us here, we could overcome this too.