Page 16 of Not a Tribute

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Liam

Seeing Seline in her dragon form was a sight to behold. The aquamarine and purple scales are more beautiful than anything I have ever seen. And her rage, her defense of those she loves only made it more so. She was stunning in her anger.

I honestly didn’t think I would be able to get her dragon to back off, but I have never felt relief like I did the moment her human form came back into vision. Everything after that was a bit of a blur but I know I did the right thing in calling the Alpha Council. They govern our laws and will take care of this mess.

Gregor James has fucked up for the last time. I also need to tell them about Ares, Seline being my mate, and the fact that she can shift. All our cards need to be laid out to avoid any further problems. I fully intended to do it after we knew Seline’s dragon was under control, but my hand has been forced and it will have to be now.

I stand at the water’s edge holding her as the helicopter lands in a clearing behind the trees. I sense the moment the Alphas step through the tree line and let go of her to turn to them.

“Mikael,” I greet the man in front of the others. He wasmy father’s best friend and the High Alpha in the Council. “Thank you for coming so quickly.”

He casts a look of disgust at Seline’s gagged and bound father before casting his gaze to the blanket-draped bundle a few feet away. He looks at me with curiosity before nodding.

“What happened here?” he asks.

The other four members of the Alpha Council stand beside him, each wearing the same curiosity on their features.

“My father killed Angela,” Seline says softly beside me. “She didn’t deserve to die.”

“You’re Seline, correct?” Mikael asks.

“Yes, Alpha,” she replies.

“Why would Gregor do that? He has been a member of the Elite for many years.”

“You know what he did,” I cut in. “His Elite status has been stripped. He wanted Seline to go with him, to lie to you, to help him get back to his acquired position.”

“And the female?” someone else asks.

“Her name was Angela. She was here with us. He used her as leverage,” Seline replies. “When I didn’t agree, he shot her to prove his point.”

“Do you have any evidence of this?” Mikael asks.

“Yes,” I say. “I have cameras around the house. Everything we are telling you will be shown in the footage.”

“Show us,” Mikael demands.

“Before we do that, there are other matters to discuss.”

“Dammit, boy, spit it out already. I don’t want to stand here in the sun for the rest of the day,” Mikael groans. “Gregor is bleeding out and I want to dole out his punishment before he dies. If what you’re saying is true,” he adds as an afterthought.

“I need you to keep an open mind about what I am going to tell you. It’s about Seline,” I say carefully, making sure his attention is focused on me. “She is my mate. And a dragonshifter.”

“Lies!” one of the other Alphas calls out immediately. “That is entirely impossible.”

But my attention is focused on Mikael. His words and actions are the only things that matter to me. He is the Alpha with the final say. He steps forward until he is no more than a foot away from my female.

“Is this true, Little One?”

I want to bristle at the nickname he so easily uses for my mate but Seline nods with a small smile.

“Show me the footage, Liam,” he says without looking away from her. “I assume everything you’re saying will be proven then.”

I nod, leading Seline into the house as the Alpha Council follows us. The baby monitor crackles to life before Ares’s cries can be heard. Seline casts me a questioning gaze.

“Mikael, Seline needs to see to my son.” It’s not a request. I am just giving him the courtesy of letting him know what is happening.

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