As I watched the mud sluice off my skin and down the drain, I thought about Megan and all she’d said. Alwyn had always been like a father to me, guiding me when my own parents had died. In many ways, he’d raised me, and I valued his praise and thoughts above all others. When he’d given me the option to remain silent and follow the rules as laid down by the dragon elders or leave, his words had hit me like a blow to the chest. He turned his back on me and I walked away.
Was I Alwyn’s favourite? Had he given me everything I wanted? I thought to all the times as a youngster I’d stood by his side, thought of how he’d trained me to fight, how to think.
I blew out a deep breath and shook my head. It seemed I hadn’t been thinking at all for the last eighty years.
I stepped from the shower and dressed before returning to Summer and Thomas in the kitchen. Thomas poured a brew, and we sat, once again, at the kitchen table where Summer asked how I’d figured out Megan wanted to frame me.
“Nothing seemed right from the start. At first, I’d assumed the dragons were still shut off from technology. That was the only reason they’d need my help.”
“But,” Thomas prompted, laying a full cup and a plate of Welsh cakes on the table in front of me.
“But the mansion has security cameras. Megan had gathered evidence on a flash drive, and she had a mobile phone. They might be small things, but I guess they made me suspicious from the start. That and Megan asking for help in the first place.” I scoffed and left out Megan’s past betrayals. “Trust me, Megan doesn’t ask for anything. She takes. Plus, there was magical involvement with the theft, why leave that out? Any dragon would have sensed the residual trace of Marc’s magic.”
I didn’t mention her motive for wanting to frame me. Thomas and Summer had heard what she said at the Jones house, and I didn’t want them shouldering any blame for being my friends.
“What will they do to her?” Thomas asked.
“Not a lot. Her actions were deplorable, but she didn’t hurt anyone.”
I winced as Summer touched the bruise on my face. “I beg to differ,” she said.
“You know what I mean. She lied, gave away not only the fact that dragons exist but also the location of their base. My guess? She’ll be stripped of command and rank within the tribal guardians.”
“That’s it?”
“It will be a great stain on her honour. One she may never shake.”
Summer nodded and sipped her tea. “Where does this leave you?”
The answer came not five minutes later when the house shook as though a great weight had landed outside. I placed my hand on Summer’s arm to stop her from running to look. She laughed and waited not so patiently for a knock at the door.
I wanted nothing more than a hot bath and a good night’s sleep, but a summons to a chamber meeting of the dragon court could not be ignored.
I descended into the elder chamber, and stood in the centre of the circle, flanked by Alwyn and the other rulers of the clan I once called family. A shiver ran up my back as I stepped forwards to hear their judgement.
“I am sorry,” I said again. “For the problems I—”
Alwyn held his hand up to silence me. “No,” he said. “It is we who are sorry. Although we stand by our decision to stay out of human wars, it may be time to find those we can work with for the better of humans and dragon alike. Especially, as our existence is now known to others.” He eyes narrowed. “You told the Rune Witch and her companion of your true nature?”
Summer had seen through my glamour, but there was no point arguing semantics. “I did,” I said.
“The giant, Joe, too?”
“He’s the leader of the Supernatural Council. It was prudent he should know.”
Alwyn nodded. “There is much of Bran within him, both in physical appearance and in character. You chose wisely in sending him to seek out my presence.”
I held back a smile. My only hope in evading Megan’s trap had been in her father witnessing the truth for himself. Just as I’d been eager to fall at Joe’s feet and pledge my loyalty, so would any other dragon who knew Bran the Blessed. Our tribal leader, King of all the Silure clans, including the dragons.
My heart raced when Alwyn rose from the chair and walked towards me. He placed his hand on my shoulder. “You have spent too long away from home,” he said, and looked around the room.
Each of the seven elders nodded their heads.
“Our doors are open should you wish to return. We are, and always have been your family.”
I let out a deep breath, studied his eyes, and saw the truth in Megan’s words. When he’d told me to leave, I’d been too distracted and focused on fighting the war to see the truth then, and too distraught in the years since. But looking at him now, I knew in my heart he’d done it for me as much as the clan. I couldn’t sit by and do nothing. I had to fight. He had to protect dragon-kind. His only choice was to free me of my obligation to stay, knowing it would destroy me to do so.
I wanted more than anything to return to my family, but I’d changed over the years. Yes, at times, I felt loneliness, but I’d become accustomed to my way of life.
I stood there for a moment, and Alwyn saw my answer before I spoke the words.
He patted me on the shoulder. “Although,” he said. “I have a feeling we will need a liaison between the Supernatural Council and dragon-kind, someone who can bridge the gap between both worlds. Yes. I think if you are up to the challenge, you should aid Joe and the council in their endeavours, just as you once aided Bran.”
I nodded and smiled, grateful for his understanding. I was no longer in exile. I had a clan to call home. I also had work to do.
About Victoria DeLuis
You are amazing for reading this book. I live in South Wales, the area in which these stories are set, and can tell you that I am truly proud of my Welsh heritage. With such a rich history and a huge wealth of mythology to delve in to, I know I’ve always got plenty of source material for my stories.
I hope you enjoyed the story. This is a short story I original wrote for the Secrets in the Shadows Anthology. If you would like to read more about Summer, Thomas and Trystan, then check out the Rune Witch Mysteries.
Please leave a review. Reviews are very important for authors as they provide us with honest feedback from our readers and help others decide if my book is worth reading. You would therefore do me a great service if you decide to do so.
You can connect with me, on my website: victoriadeluis.com, Facebook or Twitter. And if you Sign-up to my Newsletter you can and get Devious Magic, the first book in the Relic Guardians series for FREE!
Other Books by Victoria DeLuis
Rune Witch Mysteries
Taken
Hidden
Forgotten
Unbroken
The Silure Dragon
Exile
Relic Guardians
Devious Magic (Short story)
Ancient Magic
Hidden Magic
Rogue Magic and Stolen Magic (Two short stories)
Cursed Magic
Gathered Magic
Books 1-3 Boxset
Independent Necromancers’ Bureau
Till Death (Short introductory story)
A Matter of Death (Short story)
Plus look out for these full length books in the series, starting soon
A Grave Death
Death Toll
Death Becomes Him
Exile Page 6
