Ilias: A Paranormal Shifter Romance (Stratham Dragons Book 2)

by Sarah J. Stone

  And with that, she turned on her heel and walked away.

  Her footsteps echoed down the cement hallway. When she reached the end, the guards pulled open the gate. Peter was standing on the other side of it, his eyes wide.

  “You heard that?” she asked, although she knew that he had.

  “Every bit,” he answered. “I um…”

  She put her hand in his.

  “I only have one request,” she said. “For the trial. Please bring Armand here.”

  “I can do that,” Peter said. “But why?”

  “I know that you and the others had questions about Armand's treatment of Thomas, how he tried to keep him balanced and sane. That was what the drugs were for. And for years, Thomas never lashed out, at least not like this. Armand is not the bad guy, and if anyone can set this right, it's him.”

  “Or he could be behind it all,” Peter said, but Yvette shook her head.

  “He isn't. I bet my heart on it.”

  “Fine,” Peter promised her. “Did he reveal where my father is?”

  “No,” she sighed. “I didn't think to answer. But I'm not sure he knows. He's fighting for a cause, Peter, that's all. He's not orchestrating everything. He's a soldier, not a leader.”

  “The trial will prove that,” Peter replied. “You look exhausted.”

  “Well, it has been quite the night,” she leaned against his chest, comforted by the beating of his heart. “I didn't mean to blurt all of that out to Thomas. I just realize what you were saying back there.”

  “And is it what you want, my love?” he asked her.

  “Yes, it is,” she turned to look at him. “We had a rocky start, but everything happens for a reason.”

  “And you know what marrying me could mean?” he asked.

  “That I will be queen?”

  He laughed.

  “Yes, my darling, it will mean that. But the consequences may be much more dire,” he brushed a strand a hair back from her face. “We don't know that dragons who have returned from Other are here to stay for good.”

  “Peter,” she stopped him. “All my life people told me I was going to die. Or they told me that I would never have a real chance at a real life. Either one of us could drop dead tomorrow and disappear. But we have today, so let's be grateful for that.”

  “Yes,” he said, looking down upon her with love in his eyes. “Let's focus on today.”

  He leaned down to kiss her, and she felt shivers go down her spine. Today might not be enough for her swelling heart, but she'd start with it and see where the future led.

  CHAPTER 13

  “I think it will be much like your human trials on Earth,” Alexander said to Yvette two days later. It was the morning of the trial, and she was nervous. They had gone to Armand, who agreed without a fight to attend. He was arriving momentarily, and she desperately wanted to see him. She hadn't been down to the jail at all to see Thomas, knowing that her heart couldn't take it.

  She hated herself for it, for she knew that he must be going through hell down there. Ariel had assured her that Alexander's diminished strength was due to eleven years of exposure to the most powerful carapace on Earth, and then several attacks from a group of them at once. The jail for a few days would do nothing to Thomas that his body wouldn't repair the second he stepped out of the cells.

  “His crimes will be presented, and he'll have a chance to defend himself. Peter will hear the evidence, and then decide on the verdict.”

  “Which might be death?” she asked, almost afraid to speak.

  “It might be,” he answered. “You do not want that? Even though he tried to kill you.”

  “I don't,” she said.

  “Have you told Peter this?”

  “No,” she looked up at him in surprise “I mean, not in so many words. He is king, and I don't want to sway his verdict with my emotion. I know he will be just.”

  Alexander smiled at her.

  “You sound like a queen already. And you will make a great one.”

  “So you heard,” Yvette replied. “I didn't know that he was telling people. I mean, I don't mind. I just thought we were going to wait until all of this was over.”

  “Announcing the marriage of a king is more than a casual conversation,” Alexander said. “He had to tell us, by law, and we had to approve.”

  “Oh,” she replied. “And?”

  “Of course we approve,” Alexander said. “Did you think otherwise?”

  “Thank you,” she blushed.

  “You will be my sister, Yvette, and I couldn't be prouder. Now,” he cocked his ear. “I believe Nicholas has returned with Armand. I hear the commotion. Shall we?”

  “Please,” she followed Alexander down the hall, her heart in her throat.

  As soon as she saw Armand, she threw herself at him.

  “I'm sorry,” she sobbed. “I'm sorry.”

  “Yvette,” Armand's calm, gentle smile overtook her. He bent down to her level, looking her in the eye. “None of this is your fault.”

  “But you know what might happen to him,” she said. “And it's all because of me.”

  “It is not because of you,” he answered. “Thomas has always had a difficult heart. And as a parent – well, at least a parent figure – we do the best we can. But ultimately, there is free will.”

  “Yes, and Thomas did not exercise his well,” she replied. He gave her a hug.

  “Show me,” he said. “Show me where you have been living, for it has been a long time since I've been here.”

  It was a moment of normalcy, a moment of happiness in the dark day. She showed Armand where she had taught Peter, where they had sat on the windowsill, and where her rooms were. He noted that they were conjoined with Peter's, but he said nothing, waiting for her to tell him.

  “We thought, when this is all over,” she said. “I don't know how long after. I guess it depends how it goes.”

  “I am happy for you,” he replied. “And I'm sure Evelyn will be as well.”

  “Oh, you have to come,” she spoke before she thought. “That is, if you will still want to.”

  “We would be honored,” he said, and she gave him one last hug. They only had an hour before the trial, and she wanted to savior this moment. But eventually, she let him go.

  “You'll want to see Thomas,” she said. “I can show you the way.”

  “I can see it troubles you,” he answered. “And I remember the way. But you'll be there?”

  “Yes,” she whispered. “I owe him at least that.”

  “Then I will see you soon,” he gave her a fatherly kiss on the head and then left the room, leaving Yvette alone. She took a deep, shuddering breath, looking in the mirror.

  The girl that looked back at her surprised her. She seemed strong, fierce. She had put on some weight, and there was color in her cheeks. Her eyes were sharp, and her hair was adorned with jewels. The dragon dresses didn't quite fit her – they always underestimated how small she was – but she felt like they would soon.

  She looked healthy and ready for whatever the day would bring. And more than looking it; she felt strong, and healthy, too. It was something that she had never experienced before. For once, she wasn't grasping for a chair, aching for a nap, hoping for some alone time. She wanted to be with people doing things. She wanted to be inspiring change whatever way she could.

  And this was the world she could do it in.

  She left to find Peter and to speak to him. She had a voice; she was going to be queen, and she needed to use it. Everyone deserved to be redeemed; everyone deserved a second chance.

  By the time the trial commenced, the throne room was packed. Yvette stood off to the side, not wanting to get in the way of the order of the day. She also didn't want to look Thomas in the eye. She knew if she did, her heart might break.

  The crowd parted when he was brought in. She heard the clink of the chains and looked at her feet. She knew it was necessary; she knew how strong he was. But still, she wished
that there was a better way.

  She looked up at Peter instead, and Ariel sitting on the throne beside him. Yvette could make a better way when that chair was hers.

  “Thomas Donizetti,” Peter's voice boomed across the throne room, sounding more kingly now than he ever had. “Do you understand the crimes in which you are being tried for?”

  “Of course, I understand them,” Thomas smirked. “I did them, didn't I?”

  “Curb your tongue,” Ariel snapped at him. “Or I will make that prison permanent for you.”

  Thomas was smart enough to say nothing to that, mostly because Armand gave him a little swat. Standing beside him, Armand looked like an embarrassed parent at the school principal's office.

  “For my first witness, I call,” Peter looked up. “My brother, Cole, prince of the realm.”

  Yvette's eyes lit up. He was taking her suggestion after all. He had listened when she had frantically whispered to him not half an hour ago.

  “Cole,” Peter said, as Cole stepped forward. “You and Thomas are of the same breed, are you not?”

  “We are,” Cole said. “Half dragon, half magic, an identity that was mostly hidden from us until late in our lives.”

  “And you both fought in the old king's army?”

  “We did,” Cole said, glaring out at the confused crowd. They were trying to figure out what Cole's story had to do with Thomas' crimes. As supporters of King Peter, they just wanted Thomas to pay for what he did.

  “And Dr. Donizetti,” Peter said. “You have treated my brother Cole in the past.”

  “I have,” Dr. Donizetti answered.

  “And in your medical opinion, what difficulty has these events and this state done to him?”

  Dr. Donizetti cleared his throat. “Descendants of two races often have trouble finding a place to fit in. They are sometimes abused for their abilities, and that can leave them with lasting damage, physically and emotionally.”

  “But as you see, Cole has fit in just fine here, despite the crimes he had committed,” Peter said.

  “I am reformed!” Cole grinned. “Thanks to my beautiful wife.”

  On the other side of the throne, Enya blushed.

  “Yes, of course,” Dr. Donizetti replied. “There is little damage that is done that cannot be undone, with love, kindness, and the right treatments.”

  “So, you believe,” Peter stated, “that one who has committed such crimes can in fact not re-offend?”

  “Of course,” Dr. Donizetti said.

  “Thomas must pay for his crimes!” came a cry for the audience, but Peter waived his hands.

  “Of course, he must pay,” he said. “An eye for an eye.”

  Yvette felt her heart dip. Was Peter going to give him a death sentence, after all that?

  “Unless…” Peter said. “There is a cause, Thomas, that you are crucial to? A cause where you must save lives, rather than take them? Cole is forgiven for his crimes in lieu of giving his life to care for his wife, who needs his magic.”

  “Thomas has been instrumental in my household, and in my surgery,” Armand blurted out, realizing what was happening. “More than once, patients have arrived half dead, beyond my skill. He has managed to save them with his magic.”

  “Ah,” Peter said. “So a good heart beats beneath those crimes. That is interesting.”

  The crowd roared, and Yvette closed her eyes, hoping, praying.

  “So long as Thomas is saving lives, he may be pardoned,” Peter said, at long last. “But the moment his behavior is different, the sentence will come forth.” He stood up, coming down the steps to look Thomas in the eye. The younger dragon seemed too shocked to speak. He had expected death; he had prepared for death. But instead, he was being shown mercy. “If I find ever again any acts of heresy, any acts of defiance against my rule, I will not hesitate. Is that clear?”

  “Yes, my king,” Thomas said, meeting Peter's gaze. Peter held Thomas' eye another moment, speaking words into his very heart. He lowered his voice, so it was barely audible beyond the two of them.

  “If you had been standing here during my father's rule, he would not have saved you,” Peter said. “Think on that next time you consider who to serve.”

  And with that, he ascended the steps, going to sit on the throne. Before he did though, he caught Yvette's eye, smiling slightly.

  She met his gaze with tears.

  “Thank you,” she mouthed, and he dipped his head. Thomas was led out to the roaring crowd, and Yvette bowed her head.

  A second chance. Everyone deserved a second chance. Thomas had his, and now she could move forward with hers; her heart light.

  CHAPTER 14

  She was surprised when he said yes to an Earth wedding. She had thought that she would expected to be on Umora for the marriage, but it turns out the coronation would be enough for the people. She knew she should be excited to be queen, and she was. But she was far more excited to marry Peter and be his wife. Without him, there would be nothing. Marrying Peter meant so much more than just being his lovely wife. She would be healthier, she would have a new life, and she would never have to struggle or think of money again. Like Enya, she would visit Earth on occasion, and her parents would be none the wiser. She would have to pretend that she had a normal life, but it was a small price to pay for the life she was receiving.

  She had chosen a vintage lace dress with long sleeves that covered her to her finger tips and a form-fitting skirt that ended out in a long train. She felt like a princess as Enya finished buttoning her gown.

  “Was your wedding dress lace?” Yvette asked.

  “Yes,” she replied. “A bit simpler than this. But then, I knew I was going to be married to a prince, not a king.”

  “It's not about that,” Yvette said, with a wide grin on her face. “It's about being his wife.”

  “Sure,” Enya teased her. “Whatever you say. I'd say you're all buttoned up, and you look gorgeous. Should I get Armand?”

  “Yes, I think I'm ready,” Yvette said.

  Her father had never been a strong presence in her life, and she had asked Armand to walk her down the aisle. Although things had been tense, Armand had been much closer to a father to her than her actual father.

  Enya headed out the door and Yvette took one last look at herself in the mirror. She had never expected that she'd be walking down the aisle so soon, but she wouldn't trade it for the world.

  “You look beautiful,” said Armand, as he entered the room. He was dressed in a tuxedo, and he looked handsome and put together as always. His eyes were tinted yellow, and it was a stark reminder that she was marrying into dragons. “And Peter is waiting for me.”

  “I wasn't going to ask,” she said. “Although I didn't know what I would do if you said that he wasn't there.”

  “Come on,” Armand put his arm out. “Let's not keep everyone waiting.”

  They had chosen to get married in a church in her hometown. It wasn't the grandest, but it looked like everyone she invited had shown up. She was worried that some of her old friends wouldn't turn up because she had been bouncing around so much. But everyone was in the church, beaming at her as the music began to play.

  Peter was at the end of the aisle, his brothers standing behind him in identical suits. They all had their hands clasped together, looking like triplets at the right angle.

  She knew she should be smiling at her guests, but she couldn't take her eyes off of him. He was her rock, her stronghold, as she was his.

  Once she was at the front of the aisle, Armand handed her over. She placed her hands in Peter's, and he lifted her veil, giving her a kiss on the cheek. The congregation sat down, and she smiled at him.

  They both turned to the priest to indicate that they were ready. The priest cleared his throat, and looked down at the book and read the vows. They had heard the words in rehearsal, but now it seemed different. This was real.

  She squeezed his hands, and he smiled at her. His eyes looked slightly yellow,
eager to transform. There had been so many wedding preparations that he hadn't gotten the chance. As soon as the wedding was over, they were leaving Earth to head to the coronation at Umora, where he could have the relief of Dragon form for a while.