Page 12 of No Honor Amongst Shifters
“I know some of the people are unhappy with the way Irwin is doing things,” he offered.“I can’t promise they’ll agree to be on our side, but I think it’s worth a try to talk to them.”He hesitated.He hated talking about this in front of anyone, but especially in front of people he wasn’t sure he could trust.He supposed that he deserved this, though.“Some of them helped me after I was beaten.I also overheard conversations about the coven and what Irwin was doing.”
“We don’t need them to fight with us.We only need them to stay out of the fight.”
Alcott couldn’t be sure it would be enough, but it was more than they had now.“I can try talking to them, but I’ll have to be allowed out of this bedroom to do that.”
“We can do that.Where are you thinking of meeting these people?I don’t think you should go into cockatrice territory.”
“I won’t need to.I know some of the places they visit, like bars and grocery stores.They’re close to cockatrice territory, but not in it.They’re public places, which means we’re allowed to go there.”
Elijah nodded.“You and Terrence will go together.I won’t send you alone because I don’t trust these cockatrices, but I’ll ask the people tasked to protect you to keep their distance and give you the opportunity to talk to them.They’ll only intervene if someone attacks you.”
It was more than Alcott had expected, but it made sense since Terrence would be coming with him.There was also the fact that Elijah didn’t trust Alcott.Maybe he expected him to try to run.
Alcott wouldn’t.He knew he’d lose the clan soon, but he wouldn’t leave of his own volition.He wanted the little time he had left with Misha, even though he wasn’t talking to him.He wanted to make sure that his brother was safe and happy before he had to go.
It was the least he could do.
* * * *
ROSLIN WAS RELIEVEDto hear that Alcott wouldn’t be doing this on his own.If he had a choice, he’d be the one going with him, but he was human.There wasn’t anything he could do to protect Alcott against a cockatrice shifter.Terrence, on the other hand, was a cockatrice shifter.Between him, Alcott, and the people who’d be watching over them, Roslin was sure that Alcott would come out of this in one piece.
He couldn’t say the same about the fight against the coven, but he still had a little time with Alcott before they had to deal with that.
It was something Roslin wanted.He was getting to know Alcott, and he wanted to know even more.He didn’t know what would happen next, but none of them did.They might not have a lot of time left, and Roslin’s family was busy with their partners and preparing for war.Roslin liked having someone to spend time with.
He likedAlcott.
“I would like to ask for a favor,” Alcott said, his voice soft.
Everyone heard him anyway.They all stopped talking and turned their attention to him.Roslin could see he wished he could be anywhere but here, and while he was tempted to reach out, he kept his hands to himself.He and Alcott weren’t anything, and he doubted that Alcott would be comfortable with Elijah thinking there was something between them.
“It depends on what that favor is,” Elijah said cautiously.
Alcott raised his chin and looked Elijah in the eyes.“I know you haven’t decided on my punishment yet, but I want to be allowed to leave the clan once this is over.I’ll help as much as I can, including during the fight, but I don’t have a place here anymore.It would be in your right to keep me as a prisoner or even kill me, but please, don’t do that to Misha.I promise that if you allow me to leave, I’ll stay away from the clan and never return.I won’t give you any kind of trouble.”
Roslin opened his mouth to say it was stupid and that Alcott didn’t have to leave the clan, but it wasn’t his place to say that.He could only hope that Elijah was the man he thought he was.He wouldn’t kick Alcott out, would he?
Except he wouldn’t be kicking Alcott out.Alcott was asking to be allowed to leave, and every clan member could.Elijah was a good leader.He didn’t have any power over who could or couldn’t leave the clan.The members were free to go if that was what they wanted.
“I haven’t made any decision when it comes to you yet,” Elijah started.
“I understand, and I also understand that it would be in your right to punish me harshly for what I did,” Alcott quickly said.“I deserve it.I just don’t think that Misha deserves to see me die.”
“You don’t deserve to die,” Roslin snapped.He could feel people watching him, but he didn’t care.He kept his focus on Elijah and Alcott.“You never wanted to hurt the clan.You did that because someone you cared about asked you to, and you were worried about him.That mage manipulated you, and while you were in the wrong, it doesn’t mean you should die for trying to help someone.”Roslin looked at Elijah.“He’s helpingus.Don’t you think that deserves a second chance?”
“Roslin,” Alcott started, but Roslin shook his head.
He understood that Elijah had the last say in all of this.He might not be a dragon shifter, and he might have only recently become part of the clan, but he did understand how clans worked.Elijah was the leader for a reason.People wanted him to be.They wanted him to make decisions and to keep the clan safe.
Killing Alcott wouldn’t keep anyone safe.
“I haven’t made my decision yet, but no one is going to die,” Elijah said.“I wasn’t planning on killing you, Alcott.”
Alcott’s shoulders relaxed.“So you’ll let me go?”
“If that’s what you want, but I was thinking about talking again once this is over and seeing if you want to continue being a clan member.”
Roslin was satisfied with that, but Alcott frowned.Of course he did.He didn’t believe he deserved a second chance.He was willing to sacrifice himself for Elijah and the clan just because he’d made a mistake.
