Page 20 of The Dragon's Mate

Cadmus stared at her, and a flush rose in her cheeks. Howdid he know?

“Kaida,” Cadmus said. “What would you like to ask of thecouncil?”

She swallowed down her nerves and kept her shoulders back. “Iask the council to grant the fox shifter mercy. He will keep our secret andwhen you speak with him in the morning, you will see what I say is true.”

“We will take your request for mercy under advisement,” Ryulsaid stiffly.

“Thank you, elder.”

“If that is all, then we will -”

“Kaida,” Cadmus’s low voice interrupted Ryul, “what else?”

She licked her dry lips, knowing what she was about to askwas madness and cursing her dragon for getting her into this mess. “I ask thecouncil for permission to train the yearling human and the fox shifter how tofight.”

A smile broke out across Cadmus’s face as the clan made moregasps of surprise and dismay behind her.

Ryul laughed. “You’re kidding.”

“I am not,” she said. “The human believes we’re bears, andthe fox shifter will keep our secret. I will only need a week or two to trainthem. I’ll take them to the training circle and keep them away from the clan.”

“No,” Ryul said. “Absolutely not.”

“Ryul,” Cadmus said. “That is not how this works.”

Ryul sighed before sitting back in his chair. “Fine, wewill vote on it. All council members in favour of allowing Kaida to bring ahuman and a shifter near our clan and thereby endangering all of our lives,raise your hands.”

Her stomach a hot twisted mess of bile, Kaida clenched herhands at her sides and scanned the council. When only Leia and Cadmus raisedtheir hands, a small part of her was relieved. Bringing the humans into herworld would only cause trouble.

I want the big human, her dragon grumbled to her.Givehim to me.

Shut up.Christ, now was not the time for her dragonto get involved. She didn’t know what the fuck was going on with her dragon,but its sudden crush on a damn human was a complication she didn’t need.

“All those against?” Ryul asked.

The other four raised their hands. Kaida ignored herdragon’s grumbling as Ryul said, “If we decide to allow the fox to live, youwill return him to his family immediately.”

“Gram says he shouldn’t be moved for a day or two,” Kaida said.“It could make his injuries worse.”

“That is not our problem,” Ryul said. “As for the humans, ifthey show up to see the fox shifter, I would advise that you warn them to notreturn to our lands.” He stood, gathering up his cloak. “The meeting is -”

“I’m overruling the council’s decision.”

Ryul froze and turned to Cadmus. “What did you say?”

“I said, I am overruling the council’s decision. It is myright to do so as high elder,” Cadmus said.

“Cadmus, be reasonable,” Walter said. “I do not think thehumans to be the problem that Ryul and the others do but allowing them to be nearour clan is madness.”

“Why?” Leia said. “They think we are bear shifters. Whatis the harm?”

“What is the harm? Have you gone crazy?” Drago jumped upfrom his seat.

“Watch your tongue,” Leia said to him. “You’re speaking toan elder, do not forget that.”

“Forgive me,” Drago said. “But we cannot allow the humansanywhere near our clan again. Humans are stupid and dangerous.”

“Thank you for your input, Drago,” Cadmus said. A serenelook had dropped across his face again. “But as you are not yet a member ofthe council, your opinion is not asked for or needed. Return to your seat.”

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