The (Not) Satisfied Dragon - Colette Rhodes Page 0,97

hurry to repeat my punishment.”

“No, she’s not, and you loved it,” Levi snorted. “So let’s get her back so I can talk her into repeating it.”

✽✽✽

The day of the trial was the most terrifying day of my life.

There had been a lot of moments when I’d felt fear since I’d met my little tornado of a mate, but this was the worst. Shira’s fate was truly in someone else’s hands, and despite our best efforts to prepare her case, we had no way of knowing if we’d succeed.

For all my magic, my Alpha gifts, my influence with the Council, I had no way of knowing whether I’d done enough to keep my mate safe.

None of us had slept since we’d seen Shira. We hadn’t even contemplated it. Why should we sleep when she was shut in a cave? I’d taken prisoners down to those accommodations before. There wasn’t anything comfortable about them. Not even with the thick blanket, pillows and sleep clothes we’d insisted Seff’s father, Corvus, take in for her.

No, there was no way we were getting in our bed without Shira. Besides, we’d had more productive things to do with our time.

“Quite the crowd you’ve assembled,” Nerio sneered, giving me a disdainful look as he crossed the floor towards the stands. He wasn’t wrong, almost everyone we knew was crowded around the floor, the edges of the stands, the upper ledges. The whole rock crawled with our friends and family members “The big audience won’t help, but don’t worry. I’ll make sure you have time to say goodbye to her.”

Nerio wandered off and Oren blasted Seff with water as flames engulfed his arms.

//We have to stay calm. He’s trying to bait us,// I chastised, giving Seff a sidelong glance.

//It’s working,// Seff replied, chagrined.

“Councilors. Enforcers. Guests,” Nerio sneered, calling the meeting to attention. “We are here for the trial of Shira of Flight Galon for the murder of Flight Milain, and for the confirmation of Flight Mentrus to the vacant Council seat—”

“Hold on, that is definitely a preliminary call,” Ilia interrupted, standing up and glaring at Nerio. “The outcome of the trial has not been determined, Nerio. Flight Galon are still in the running for the seat.”

“For now,” Nerio replied with a cold smile. “Bring out the accused.”

I felt the moment Shira passed through the wards. Her presence was like a beacon of light in my mind, her warmth drawing us towards her like moths to a flame.

//Shira,// the five of us projected as one.

//I’m okay. Are you okay?// she shot back, her tone heavy with concern. I watched as the Enforcers led her up the few steps to the edge of the floor. Shira was wearing her trousers and shirt she’d adjusted to fit her — clean ones we’d brought for her — and her hair was pulled back into a knot at the base of her head with strands escaping, framing her face. There were dark circles under her eyes and her complexion was pale, but Shira pulled her shoulders back and held her head high.

Shira didn’t let anyone see her sweat.

//We’re fine. Admit nothing, my love. We have a plan, but you need to trust us.//

I was asking a lot. I wasn’t sure Shira had trusted anyone since she was a child.

//I trust you.//

There was a sharp intake of breath to my right. Oren. I wondered if an overwhelming wave of honor was clogging his throat the way it was clogging mine.

The Enforcers led Shira to the center of the floor before releasing her arms and taking a step back, shooting us an apologetic look. Fortunately for them, they’d been gentle, or they’d have found themselves without hands.

“Can you confirm that you are Shira of Flight Galon?” Nerio drawled, flicking Shira a dismissive look. Seff started to smoke again, taking a deep calming breath when Hiram elbowed him in the ribs.

“I am.” There was no shake in her voice, no sign of nerves. Shira looked… confident. She was confident in us.

“Do you know why you’re here, Shira of Flight Galon?”

“You accused me of murder,” she replied drily, raising her eyebrows at Nerio like he was being deliberately obtuse. A vein throbbed in his head, and I couldn’t decide whether it was genius or suicidal to antagonize him at this moment. I liked to think there was a method to Shira’s madness, but I suspected she was winging it most of the time.

“So I did,” Nerio replied snidely. “Well, since we’re all on the same page, let