Page 92 of The Dragon's Mate

Sika was still giggling and Ryul scowled ather. “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’sand only Kaida’s choice who she takes as a mate.” A small smile playing on hislips, 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 wouldrather be banished and go mad than mate with Drago.”

There were a few gasps and some muted laughterfrom the shifters sitting behind them. Drago growled and blew out a smallblast of fire. “You’ll wish you weren’t so stubborn when the council votes to banishyou.”

Kaida stared icily at him. “I’ll take mychances.”

“Is there any other who wishes to speak onKaida’s behalf?”

Sika stood immediately, the baby stillcradled in her arms. “I do, council. If it weren’t for Kaida, my hatchling wouldhave been born in a car on the side of the road. We would have been exposed tomany humans and who knows what might have happened. They could have taken ourboy from me or simply killed him on sight when they saw him. Her decision totake us to the human’s home was the right one, and to banish her for doing whatshe believed best for me and the hatchling is ridiculous. If it wasn’t forher, our hatchling – the first one born to the clan in over a decade – couldhave died. I ask the council to show mercy upon her.”

She sat down, staring up at Jarvis whokissed her forehead and put his arm around her.

“Thank you for your input, Sika,” Waltersaid. “Is there any other who wishes to speak?”

Bren listened as one by one, over a dozen moreclan members stood and spoke on Kaida’s behalf. Some told personal stories ofKaida helping them, others shared more general examples of why Kaida was anintegral part of their clan, but all of them spoke with sincerity and respectfor 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 toBren. “We will now speak of the human’s fate. You may speak on your ownbehalf now, human.”

Bren glanced at Kaida. She smiledencouragingly, although she still looked about three seconds from vomiting, andmade 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 andglanced again at Kaida, taking courage in the calm way she returned his look.

He looked at each of the council membersbefore saying, “I want to assure you that I understand how important it is tokeep your existence a secret. I realize that with who my father is, your warinessof me is heightened, but as the senator’s son, I am even more cognizant of keepingyour secret. If men like my father discovered your existence, keeping peacebetween our kinds would be difficult. I want peace as much as you do. My jobis to protect and maintain that peace among paranormals and humans. I want youto live your lives without fear. I give you my word that I will never discloseyour existence to anyone – paranormal or human.”

He wanted to say more. His nerves werepractically screaming at him to keep babbling until the skeptical looks on thecouncil members’ faces changed. Instead, he took a step back and kept his mouthshut. He’d said what he could, and he had to hope that they believed he wassincere.

“Thank you, human,” Walter said. “is thereanyone 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 alreadytroublesome,” the second dragoness on the council said. “You will not be neutralwhen it comes to his fate.”

“Sika is my best friend. She was not neutralwhen it came to my fate, yet you allowed her to speak on my behalf. What isthe difference, Collette?” Kaida said.

Collette shook her head. “There will be no argumenton this point.”

Kaida glanced at Cadmus who made a slightshake of his head. Disappointment and hurt crossed Kaida’s face and she steppedback until she was standing next to Bren again.

“Is there any other who wishes to speak on thehuman’s behalf?” Walter said.

Jarvis stood, and Bren could have run overand kissed him. “I wish to speak, council. The human was very kind to me andSika. He let us stay in his home, gave us food and drink, and allowed us timealone to bond with our boy. He didn’t have to do any of that, but he didn’t hesitateto make us feel welcome. I believe him when he says he will not speak of us toother humans, and he should be allowed to live."

He glanced at Sika and the baby. “For himto 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 uponhim.”

He returned to his seat and took Sika’shand. The dragoness kissed his cheek as Walter said, “Thank you, Jarvis. Is thereany other?”

Both Bren and Kaida jerked in surprise whenWalter’s gaze slipped past them and he said, “Bones, you may speak.”

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