Love u 2.
He stared at the message for almost thirty seconds before shoving his phone into his pocket and climbing out of the vehicle. He met Kaida at the bottom of the porch steps. He wasn’t sure how it was possible, but she looked worse than he felt. Her eyes were red and puffy, and she looked on the verge of throwing up.
“You okay?” he asked.
She shook her head. “I have never been less okay in my life, Bren.”
“I’ll convince them,” he said with a confidence he didn’t feel.
“No, you won’t,” she sighed.
He’d always admired her bluntness in the past, but now it was like a hard punch to the gut. “Then I guess this is my dead man walking moment.”
Her body stiffened and her eyes glowed bright. Smoke drifted from her nostrils as she cupped his face. Her touch was tender, but the voice that rumbled out of her throat was thick and inhuman and so disconcerting sounding that goosebumps erupted across his flesh and his balls drew up tight against his body.
“I will not allow them to hurt you.”
That thick, gargled voice was even more unnerving because he could hear traces of Kaida in it.
Her hand tightened on his jaw and then she released him. She waved away the smoke that was almost obscuring her face and grimaced. “I’m sorry.”
“That was your dragon, wasn’t it,” he said.
She hesitated and then nodded.
“Dragons can speak the human language?”
She nodded again and even though he was most likely about to die, he couldn’t help his fascination with the new information. “Can any other shifters do that?”
“No,” she said. “It is unique to dragons. Come, they are waiting for us.”
He followed her past the other cabins to the largest cabin in the clearing. Light glowed from the windows and as they climbed the steps, he said. “Whose cabin is this?”
“It’s the community cabin,” she said. “We eat our meals here together, hold the mating ceremonies here, and the council has their monthly meetings here.”
They stopped at the door and she smiled weakly at him. “Do not speak unless spoken to. Keep your answers short and try not to anger any of the clan council. All right?”
“No problem,” he muttered.
His heart was threatening to beat its way right out of his chest and his breath had turned short and shallow. He could feel the pulse throbbing in his temple and his legs were rubbery. Kaida reached up and cupped the back of his neck, pulling his head down a little so she could rest her forehead against his.
He closed his eyes, breathing in her scent as she kneaded the back of his neck. “Kaida, I…”
“Be brave, my human… my mate,” she whispered. Her mouth pressed against his, her lips cold and tasting like fear.
Chapter Sixteen
The cabin was warm and brightly lit and - Bren swallowed hard - filled with dragon shifters. He supposed filled was a bit of an exaggeration. Including the shifters sitting behind the long table at the front of the cabin, there were only about twenty shifters in the spacious main room.
Only? All twenty of them can burn you to a crisp with a single breath.
The main room had chairs set up in neat rows with a narrow aisle in the middle. Very aware of the dragons staring at him, he followed Kaida down the aisle toward the table at the front. Bones was sitting in an end chair near the back. A dark-haired woman with dark red streaks woven throughout her hair, sat next to Bones, her hand clasped in his. Bones nodded to him and Bren returned his nod as the woman stared sympathetically at him.
Drago sat in the front row on the right. He gave Bren a barely concealed look of contempt before staring stiffly ahead. Sika and Jarvis sat in the front row on the left. Sika held the baby in her arms and Bren glanced at him. He was still covered in shimmering green scales and his tiny fist was curled up against his face.
“Good evening, council.” Kaida’s voice was strong without a hint of anxiety as she made a short bow.
Bren studied the six dragon shifters sitting behind the table. Cadmus sat at one end, an empty chair between him and the female dragon shifter next to him. Cadmus smiled serenely at him as an ancient looking shifter with white hair streaked with light purple said, “Good evening, Kaida.”
There was a moment of silence and then a council member with greying hair and orange streaks, said, “You have been brought to the council for the crime of revealing our true nature to a human.” His gaze flickered to Bren and then back to Kaida. “You will be given the opportunity to explain your actions before the council votes on banishment.”
“Wait, what?” Bren took a step forward, his stomach flip flopping like a fish in the sand. Kaida’s hand curled around his arm and held him still as Drago immediately stood.
“Do not go near the council, human, or I will save us all the trouble and set you aflame right here and now.”
“Enough, Drago,” the ancient shifter said sharply.
“It is my duty to protect the council, Walter,” Drago protested. He glanced around at the others. “It is all of our duty.”
“We can protect ourselves,” the dragoness sitting next to Walter said. “Return to your seat, Drago.”
Smoke drifting from his nostrils, Drago sat down. Ignoring Kaida’s keep your mouth shut look, Bren said, “You’re banishing Kaida?”
The dragon named Walter said, “We will vote on banishment, human.”
“She didn’t do anything wrong,” Bren said. “She saved Sika and the baby. You’re going to banish her for that?”
“Hold your tongue, human!” the grey-haired shifter said. “You are not allowed to speak.”
“Ryul,” the blonde-haired shifter sitting at the far end of the table frowned at him, “the human will be given the opportunity to speak just as Kaida will be.”
“There is no need for the human to speak, Leia,” Ryul said hotly. “We do not -”
“Enough, Ryul,” Cadmus said. “He will be allowed to speak.”
Ryul grunted out an agreement, although Bren could see smoke drifting from his nostrils, and sat back in his chair as Bren said, “You can’t banish her.”
“Bren, enough.” Kaida’s hand squeezed painfully around his arm.
He turned toward her. “Why didn’t you tell me you were in trouble as well?”
She didn’t reply and some of his anger deflated. How could he have been so stupid? Of course, Kaida would be in trouble. Dragons were all sorts of fucked up. The fact that they had no trouble banishing one of their own even when they knew it meant certain death… maybe it was better that they were going extinct.
She released his arm as Walter said, “Kaida, you may speak.”
“Thank you,” Kaida replied. “Council, my decision to reveal our true nature to the human was not made lightly. Sika’s labour was sudden and fast. There was no time to return to our clan and I knew we couldn’t go to the humans’ hospital. We were close to Bren’s home and my choices were to take Sika to his home to give birth or have her give birth on the side of the road in the car. I believe I chose wisely.”
She glanced at Bren. “I have faith that he will keep our secret. He is an honourable human who understands that for our kind to live in peace with the humans, our existence must remain a secret. I am confident he will never expose our secret.”
“We will take your words into consideration when voting,” Walter said. He glanced at the other shifters sitting in the chairs. “Is there any other who wishes to speak on Kaida’s behalf?”
Bren could see Sika starting to stand. Before she could, Drago rose to his feet and said, “I would like to speak, council.”
Beside Bren, Kaida stiffened and smoke curled out from her nose.
“Speak your piece, Drago,” Walter said.
“Elders, I know in the past Kaida has proven difficult with the choices she has made. As a yearling, she brought a grizzly shifter into our clan and now she has exposed us to a fox shifter and a human.
While I realize her actions are inexcusable, I do believe with time and discipline, she can be taught proper behaviour.”
“Discipline?” Bren said. “Are you kidding me? She’s not a dog, Drago.”
Drago glared at him. “Speak again, human, and I will cut out your tongue.”
A growl rose out of Kaida’s throat and she said, “Take a single step toward the human, and you will regret it.”
Drago stared at her, his unease obvious. She met his gaze unflinchingly and, after a moment, he looked away.
“Is that all you wish to say, Drago?” Walter asked.
“No,” Drago said. “I wish to propose that I take Kaida as my mate. I will ensure that she behaves and is not a threat to our clan.”
Sika burst out laughing and Drago’s face reddened. Ignoring Sika’s giggling, he said, “Kaida needs a firm hand, council, and I am happy to provide it. As my mate, she will learn to put the clan above,” he glanced at Bren, “everything and everyone else.”
Jealousy was shooting through Bren’s body like hot lava. The idea of Kaida being mated to the pompous and arrogant dragon made his blood boil. He was pretty sure if he could shoot flame from his mouth, he’d be attempting to set Drago on fire in front of everyone.
Hey, Bren? You’re about to die, remember? Maybe let go of the jealousy. Even if you could date Kaida, you’re gonna be dead.
Sika was still giggling and Ryul scowled at her. “Hush, Sika.”
“Council, will you agree to my proposal?” Drago said.
“We will consider it when making our decision,” Walter said.
“We will not,” Cadmus said. “It is Kaida’s and only Kaida’s choice who she takes as a mate.” A small smile playing on his lips, Cadmus said, “Kaida? Will you accept Drago’s mating proposal?”
“It will increase the odds in your favour,” Ryul said.
Kaida fixed her gaze on Ryul. “I would rather be banished and go mad than mate with Drago.”
There were a few gasps and some muted laughter from the shifters sitting behind them. Drago growled and blew out a small blast of fire. “You’ll wish you weren’t so stubborn when the council votes to banish you.”
Kaida stared icily at him. “I’ll take my chances.”
“Is there any other who wishes to speak on Kaida’s behalf?”
Sika stood immediately, the baby still cradled in her arms. “I do, council. If it weren’t for Kaida, my hatchling would have been born in a car on the side of the road. We would have been exposed to many humans and who knows what might have happened. They could have taken our boy from me or simply killed him on sight when they saw him. Her decision to take us to the human’s home was the right one, and to banish her for doing what she believed best for me and the hatchling is ridiculous. If it wasn’t for her, our hatchling – the first one born to the clan in over a decade – could have died. I ask the council to show mercy upon her.”
She sat down, staring up at Jarvis who kissed her forehead and put his arm around her.
“Thank you for your input, Sika,” Walter said. “Is there any other who wishes to speak?”
Bren listened as one by one, over a dozen more clan members stood and spoke on Kaida’s behalf. Some told personal stories of Kaida helping them, others shared more general examples of why Kaida was an integral part of their clan, but all of them spoke with sincerity and respect for her. It was more than obvious that Kaida’s clan loved and supported her.
When the last dragon had finished speaking, thick silence filled the small space. Walter turned his golden-eyed gaze to Bren. “We will now speak of the human’s fate. You may speak on your own behalf now, human.”
Bren glanced at Kaida. She smiled encouragingly, although she still looked about three seconds from vomiting, and made a ‘go on’ gesture.
His hands were trembling and for a moment, he wasn’t sure he could even get any words out. He cleared his throat and glanced again at Kaida, taking courage in the calm way she returned his look.
He looked at each of the council members before saying, “I want to assure you that I understand how important it is to keep your existence a secret. I realize that with who my father is, your wariness of me is heightened, but as the senator’s son, I am even more cognizant of keeping your secret. If men like my father discovered your existence, keeping peace between our kinds would be difficult. I want peace as much as you do. My job is to protect and maintain that peace among paranormals and humans. I want you to live your lives without fear. I give you my word that I will never disclose your existence to anyone – paranormal or human.”
He wanted to say more. His nerves were practically screaming at him to keep babbling until the skeptical looks on the council members’ faces changed. Instead, he took a step back and kept his mouth shut. He’d said what he could, and he had to hope that they believed he was sincere.
“Thank you, human,” Walter said. “is there anyone else who wishes to speak on the human’s behalf?”
Kaida stepped forward and Ryul said, “No. You are not allowed to speak on his behalf.”
“Why not?” Kaida replied.
“Your friendship with the human is already troublesome,” the second dragoness on the council said. “You will not be neutral when it comes to his fate.”
“Sika is my best friend. She was not neutral when it came to my fate, yet you allowed her to speak on my behalf. What is the difference, Collette?” Kaida said.
Collette shook her head. “There will be no argument on this point.”
Kaida glanced at Cadmus who made a slight shake of his head. Disappointment and hurt crossed Kaida’s face and she stepped back until she was standing next to Bren again.
“Is there any other who wishes to speak on the human’s behalf?” Walter said.
Jarvis stood, and Bren could have run over and kissed him. “I wish to speak, council. The human was very kind to me and Sika. He let us stay in his home, gave us food and drink, and allowed us time alone to bond with our boy. He didn’t have to do any of that, but he didn’t hesitate to make us feel welcome. I believe him when he says he will not speak of us to other humans, and he should be allowed to live."
He glanced at Sika and the baby. “For him to burn because he helped our hatchling, neither Sika nor I believe that is right. He shouldn’t be punished for helping us. I ask the council to show mercy upon him.”
He returned to his seat and took Sika’s hand. The dragoness kissed his cheek as Walter said, “Thank you, Jarvis. Is there any other?”
Both Bren and Kaida jerked in surprise when Walter’s gaze slipped past them and he said, “Bones, you may speak.”
Bren turned, staring at the big dragon shifter as he stepped into the aisle. “The human should be allowed to live. It is because of him and his generosity that Jarvis and Sika’s hatchling does well. I ask the council to show mercy upon the human.”
He returned to his seat and Bren studied Kaida. The sick look on her face was still there and he resisted the urge to take her hand. He had a feeling it wouldn’t go over well with the other dragons.
“Any others?” Walter asked.
Silence filled the cabin and after a moment, Walter stood. “We will return shortly with our decision.”
Bren watched as the council members used a side door to file out of the cabin. When the door shut behind them, Jarvis jumped up and approached Bren. He shook Bren’s hand. “Do not worry, human. They will vote to let you live.”
“They won’t.” Drago had joined them. “Do not give the human hope, Jarvis.” He took Kaida’s arm. “Come, I wish to speak to you in private.”
She wrenched her arm out of his hand and growled at him. “Touch me again and I’ll rip your balls off, Drago.”
Sika laughed, and Drago’s face flushed red. “I gave you a chance, Kaida. Remember that when you’re banished and going mad in the woods.”
He stalked away and Kaida smiled shakily at Bren. “Are you all right?”
“Never better,” h
e said. “You?”
She grimaced. “It went as well as it could. Jarvis is right, the council may allow you to live.”
“What about you? What if they banish you?” he said.
“They won’t.” Sika stood next to Jarvis and smiled confidently at them. “They won’t banish Kaida and they’ll let you live. It’s because of both of you that our hatchling does so well.”
Bren wanted to believe the dragoness, he really did, but from the sick look on Kaida’s face, it was apparent she didn’t share the same confidence.
* * *
Her dragon was on the verge of losing it. The smoke was thick in the back of her throat and she had to swallow constantly to keep it from drifting from her nostrils.
Be still. You must calm yourself.
Her dragon hissed at her. If they touch my mate, I will kill them.
Bren being killed wasn’t their only concern – she shared none of the confidence that Sika did that she wouldn’t be banished – but her dragon didn’t seem to care about that. All it cared about was keeping Bren safe.
She studied him as he rubbed a hand through his hair. He looked tired and unwell and… scared to death.
She couldn’t blame him. If she was in his shoes, she’d be terrified too. Hell, she was terrified. Her dragon might not care if they were banished, but the idea of being kicked out of her clan and knowing that Bren was dead… she shuddered. She’d go mad in less than an hour, she was sure of it.
Because you love him, her dragon said. He is our mate and you love him. Tell him!
Enough. Now is not the time.
Her dragon believed it was the perfect time. It tried to push forward, tried to take control so it could – Jesus Christ – confess its love to Bren. Her heart knocking against her ribs, sweat trickling down her back, Kaida used every ounce of her inner strength to keep her dragon from taking control.
Let me free!
No, stop it! The human is already freaked out. If you tell him you love him, it will scare him even more. The humans do not take mates as quickly as we do.
Her dragon pouted but retreated with a soft hiss. The hiss turned to a purr when Bren touched her arm. “Kaida?”
The Dragon's Mate (Shifters Series Book 7) Page 19
