Revealing the Dragons (Stonefire Dragons #2.5)
Page 3
There had to be at least a hundred people standing near the stage with the podium. Sure, the sunny July day was part of the reason, but the other had to be curiosity. She refused to believe it was to express their hatred or disdain, no matter how much Tristan seemed to think it would rear its ugly head sooner rather than later.
Bram stood to her left and Tristan to her right. Bram looked down at her. “Kai has his Protectors in position. So, are you ready, lass? Say the word, and we’ll send them packing.”
For a split second, Mel wanted nothing more than to hide away in her cottage with her mate and two children and forget all about the outside world. But what sort of life would that be? The thought of her children never embracing or getting to know their human halves helped chase away some of her nervousness. She was doing this partly for them, Murray, and all of the other dragon-shifter children in the world. They deserved a chance to live without daily fear of what could be done to their parents or even themselves when they reached maturity. Dragon-shifters should be admired for much more than the healing properties of their blood.
Not only that, but if things went well, she might finally have the chance to invite her family and friends to visit her. She loved her life on Stonefire and was grateful technology allowed her to communicate with her family, but sometimes she missed talking face-to-face with other humans about her old life.
None of that will happen unless you grow a spine and stand strong, Hall. Straightening her shoulders, Mel answered, “I’m ready. Let’s get this over with.”
Bram nodded. With Stonefire’s leader on one side and her mate on the other, Mel felt safe. The two dragonmen would never allow anything to happen to her.
As they moved past the gate and toward the stage, the crowd fell quiet. The silence caused her stomach to churn and her palms to sweat.
Once Mel stood behind the podium, she forced down the butterflies in her stomach and took a deep, fortifying breath. Careful to project her voice since there wasn’t a microphone, she addressed the crowd. “Thank you all for coming. My name is Melanie Hall-MacLeod and I’m the author of Revealing the Dragons. As much as I’d like to answer all of your questions, there simply isn’t enough time in the day, especially as a mother of young twins.” One or two women in the crowed smiled. That was better than nothing. She continued, “I’m going to give priority to those who have actually read the book. If you ask about my personal life, you lose the privilege of asking questions and I’ll move on to the next person. Now, who’s first?”
Twenty hands shot up as everyone asked questions at once. Picking one of the women who had smiled at her comment, Mel pointed. “Yes? What’s your question?”
The rest of the crowd fell silent. At least, they were well trained. The woman with glasses and brown hair asked, “Your exposé makes the dragons appear almost human, except for a few minor differences. How do you respond to those who say your book is fiction and shouldn’t be taken as truth?”
Mel was careful not to frown. “I have a degree in Social Anthropology. I’m trained to observe and record what I find, with the least amount of bias I can muster. While it’s impossible to completely ignore my love for Clan Stonefire, I didn’t write about my own family here. I wrote about the clan’s history and practices as a whole. Those who wish to believe it’s fiction will most likely never change their opinion, so it’s pointless for me to worry about them.”
The same woman asked a follow-up question. “I did talk to a former sacrifice, who recounted her time with Clan Skyhunter. Her account differs greatly, in that she was treated as a second-class citizen and pretty much shunned the entire year she was there. How do you respond to the other woman’s statement?”
Evie had prepared Melanie for this question, so she answered without hesitation. “Each clan is semi-autonomous, almost like a country within a country. The easiest reference to compare are the Native American tribes in the United States. How one runs their tribe is different from another. Not all dragon-shifter clans will have the same opinions, customs, or behaviors. According to a former Department of Dragon Affairs official, Skyhunter has the worst track record for abusing the sacrifice system in the UK. A simple information request to the DDA would back up that claim, so I would take the former Skyhunter sacrifice’s words with a grain of salt.”
Nodding, the woman scribbled in her notepad.
From the corner of her eye, Mel saw a man push his way toward the front of the crowd and Tristan tensed at her side. She placed a hand on his arm in warning. The man wasn’t a threat, yet. He might just want to move closer to have a better chance at having his questions answered.
She focused back on the crowd. Now that the first question was out of the way, her confidence was nearly back to normal. She could take whatever they threw her way.
Tapping the side of the podium with her right hand, Mel pushed on. “Next question?”
A bevy of hands shot up again. Melanie pointed to one of the men in the crowd. “You with the green tie, what’s your question?”
Almost as if they had rehearsed, the crowd dropped their hands and fell silent again. The man with the green tie spoke up. “Is your book just a stepping stone into forcing Westminster to try to change some of the strict laws surrounding dragon-shifters?”
The same man from earlier inched closer to the front of the crowd. His short, dark hair made his blue eyes stand out, but nothing else about him was striking. His suit and tie combo were similar to all the other men in the crowd, yet his face was hard. The expression wasn’t one she would expect to see on a journalist.
If his appearance wasn’t strange enough, he had yet to raise his hand to ask a question.
Then the man’s piercing blue eyes met hers for a split second and the hairs rose on the back of her neck. Even with the distance between them, she swore there was a burning hatred in his gaze.
A hatred she didn’t understand considering she’d never met the man in her life.
Tristan squeezed her hand on his arm. Focusing back on the man with the green tie, she brushed aside the feeling for the time being. She needed to make a first good impression with the press. “I’m hoping to catch everyone’s notice with my book. It’s been thirteen months since I last hugged my mother and father because it’s illegal for them to visit me. It’s also been too risky for me to leave while I was pregnant and even more so now that I have young children who are half dragon-shifter. The journalists who came to Stonefire three months ago had special privilege; it’s my hope that the same right is granted to those without political connections in the near future.”
Mel scanned the crowd. Once she found the man with the dark hair and blue eyes, she kept her eyes trained on him. He was pressing even closer to the podium.
She said, “Next question,” even though she knew who she would pick, if given the opportunity.
The man she’d been watching finally raised his hand so she pointed at him. “Yes, you with the maroon tie and gray suit.”
Even though the man’s expression was neutral, with no trace of the hatred from earlier, her intuition steeled her for the worst.
The man asked, “The humans and dragon-shifters have enjoyed the greatest peace in decades. Why risk the status quo?”
Some of the tension eased from Mel’s body. His question was harmless enough. “Just because humans and dragon-shifters are killing each other less now than they have in decades doesn’t mean it’s peaceful. We should be working together for a better future, not hiding away in our own cultures, pretending the other doesn’t exist unless it’s convenient.”
A male voice in the crowd shouted, “You should have become a politician.”
Others in the crowd laughed. Mel smiled, but before she could reply, the man in the gray suit and maroon tie beat her to it. “Who wants a dragon’s whore to represent them in Parliament?”
Tristan growled and she put a hand on his chest. Glancing over at her dragonman, she gave a small shake of her head. Then she looked back at the man in
the crowd. “You’re clearly one of those people who don’t have an open mind and nothing I say will change it. I think you should leave.”
From the corner of her eye, Bram signaled two of the Protectors standing guard around the crowd. The Protectors moved toward the man. They’d barely moved a few feet when the man raised a fist. In the blink of an eye, three people, in addition to the insult-throwing man, pulled out guns and fired. As the sound of guns being fired, mixed with screams from the crowd, Mel barely blinked before Tristan pushed her to the ground and covered her body with his. Her mate ordered, “Stay down.”
Not wanting to be shot, Mel stayed put.
~~~
Tristan could smell blood.
It was too far away to be Melanie’s but it still set off his dragon. His inner beast roared. Kill the threats to our mate. Only because of me and my reflexes is she still alive.
Rather than argue with his dragon, Tristan focused on what was important. Killing them would put us in human jail. Do you want to leave Melanie and the twins on their own?
Never.
Good, then let me assess the situation. I rely on your intuition and attention to detail. I will ask for your help soon.
His inner beast paced inside his mind. Leaving him be, Tristan rubbed his mate’s arm with one of his hands as he whispered, “Are you hurt at all, love?”
Her voice wavered as she answered, “No, I’m fine. I had a feeling about that man, Tristan. I should’ve listened to my gut.”
“The second he insulted you, a Protector should’ve gone after him. I’m going to have a word with Kai later.”
Mel’s fingers brushed against his forearm. “Between extra patrols on our borders in case of dragon hunter attacks and now this press conference, Kai is stretched thin. I’m not sure he could’ve done much more to prevent the shooting.”
His dragon chimed in. You should have allowed me to protect her.
Don’t start. Our mate needs us. Do you really want me to argue with you instead of taking care of her?
Silence was his answer.
Mel’s fingers stroked his skin again. “Tristan? Is something wrong?”
“Sorry, love. My dragon isn’t happy right now.” Nuzzling her cheek, he added, “And I don’t smell any death in the air. Bram and the Protectors should have everything in hand by now.”
“Does that mean you’ll let me up?”
“No, not until the shouting dies down. I won’t risk you.”
Under normal circumstances, his mate would argue. Her silence spoke volumes on how the shooting had unnerved her.
Content to protect his mate in silence, her scent calming his dragon down enough to avoid taking control, it wasn’t long before Bram’s voice filled his ears. “Tristan, Melanie, it’s time to take you to safety.”
Tristan turned his head to meet his clan leader’s eyes but paused at the nick on his arm. The wound wasn’t serious, so he wouldn’t embarrass his clan leader by asking if he was okay. Instead, he demanded, “Are the threats contained? I won’t allow Mel up until they are.”
His mate huffed. “Tristan MacLeod, if Bram says it’s okay, then let me up.”
Bram nodded. “Aye, she’s right. The threat is contained. At least, for now. I can’t have my Protectors investigate the situation any further until you two are safe and out of the way.”
His mate’s voice was softer. “Tristan, please. I just want to go home and hug my babies, to reassure myself I’m still alive.”
Unable to resist her gentle tone, Tristan pushed himself up and then offered a hand to Mel. She took it, and he hauled her against his side. His mate looked over to Bram and gasped. “Bram, you’ve been hurt. Are you okay?”
As his leader calmed Mel’s fears, Tristan took the opportunity to survey the area.
The three human males and one female who had pulled out guns were currently pinned against a rock face about thirty feet away. Their hands were behind their backs. There was no way they were escaping in the near future.
His dragon snarled. We should teach them a lesson so they will never again threaten our mate’s life.
The Protectors will do their jobs. We need to take Mel home.
His inner beast huffed. Killing them is still the best option. What if they escape?
That is highly unlikely. Now, shut it so I can take care of our mate. She needs us right now.
After his dragon grumbled his agreement, Tristan scanned the rest of the area to ensure there weren’t any more threats. The human journalists were cordoned off to one side, with two Protectors talking with each in turn.
Despite the wide-eyed looks and fidgeting of the humans, any one of them could be carrying a weapon. All it would take was a good actor to fool the Protectors.
However, with the distance and two of the most senior Protectors watching them, Tristan was satisfied he could move Mel in safety. If any of them tried to pull a gun, Tristan would have time enough to shift. A stray bullet didn’t stand a chance against a dragon’s hide.
Tristan hugged his mate close and looked back to his leader just as Bram was ordering, “Don’t tell Evie about the scratch or she’ll find a way out here, Mel.”
Melanie sighed. “Fine. But she’ll find out sooner or later.”
Bram gave a wry smile. “Aye, and I’ll have hell to pay. I can handle it.” Bram looked to Tristan. “We really should go now. I can escort you to the gate, but not all the way to your cottage. I’m needed here.”
Tristan nodded. “Right, then let’s go.”
As they made their way to the front gates, Tristan’s dragon spoke up. I have memorized the faces of the threats. We can hunt them later.
No. I’m a teacher, not a soldier.
I don’t care. If another threat appears, I will fight you and take control.
From his inner beast’s tone, Tristan knew his dragon wasn’t making idle threats. There will be no more threats. I will take our family to safety.
His dragon grunted. She will never agree to that.
That doesn’t mean I won’t try.
Tristan tightened his grip on Mel’s shoulder. When she looked up at him in question, he shook his head. He would fight the battle with his mate in private.
Chapter Four
Mel leaned against her mate the entire way home. His body was nearly as tense as hers, not that she could blame him.
Tristan would care nothing for his own safety. The tension was for her.
While a part of her loved him for his protectiveness, the rest of her wanted to sigh. A big fight was coming. Both man and beast didn’t like threats to her life. Knowing her mate as she did, he would want to lock her away until everything was safe again.
Melanie didn’t have that kind of time. There was a small window between the attack at the press conference and the various media outlets putting their own spin on both her book and the shooters. She needed to find a way to sway stronger support to her side.
An idea popped into her head, but she pushed it aside. She may want to change the world, but she wasn’t about to exploit any of her friends to do it.
Try as she might, Mel still hadn’t thought of a different idea by the time they reached the door to their house. At the sight of the two-story stone cottage, the attack and ideas of change faded and all Mel could think of was seeing her babies.
Rushing through the door past Evie and Samira, she raced into the living room and picked up her son. As she hugged the light, warm bundle to her chest and breathed in his baby-powder scent, Evie moved next to her. “Bram sent me a text, something about a shooting at the press conference. I pressed him for details, but haven’t received a reply. What the hell happened?”
Since Tristan would embellish the danger, Mel recounted what happened minus Bram’s wound, just like she’d promised.
Frowning, Evie crossed her arms over her chest. “I knew something like this would happen. I tried to persuade Bram to reach out and obtain permission to hold the press conference on Stonefire.”
Evie was just as fierce with her reply. “I’m not daft, Tristan. They would’ve been subject to searches and pat downs.”
Sensing a powder keg about to explode, Mel moved between them. “Stop it, you two. Not only will your shouting wake the babies, it’s pointless. The press conference is over and done with. Now, we need to think of the future.”
Tristan’s gaze swung to meet hers. Shit. His pupils were slits. “Right, such as moving to Skye until Stonefire is safe again.”
Only because of the baby in her arms did Mel keep her voice low. “No.” He opened his mouth but she beat him to it. “I’m the one who put the clan in possible danger. I’m staying. I’m also doing my one-on-one interviews.”
Tristan took a step toward her, his pupils at least round again. “Doing more interviews is mental and just inviting someone else to attack you. Unlike today, they’ll be within arm’s length. You won’t have time to dodge a bullet then. Would you really risk making your children motherless?”
Narrowing her eyes, she somehow managed to keep from shouting. “Don’t try and lay it on thick, Tristan MacLeod. I’m doing this for our children. You grew up on Stonefire’s land and are used to rarely venturing off it. But our children are half human, and they deserve the chance to get to know both sides of their heritage. I will fight to give them that chance, whether you like it or not.”
Tristan took another step closer. “I want them to know their human sides as well, but not at the cost of your life.”
She softened a fraction. “I’m not about to die, Tristan. I’m clever and have common sense. Let me try it my way, and if something comes up again, we’ll revisit this discussion.” He stood taller and she pushed on. “I didn’t say I’d leave, but I’ll at least consider sending Jack and Annabel away.”
Tristan stared at her and her heart beat double-time. He was a protective male dragon-shifter; she knew that, but if she had to give him a time out to cool down, she would do it.