Chapter 32
Drake
I take a deep breath and then finish recounting the incident, keeping my voice level despite the adrenaline that is still humming beneath my skin.
“Thankfully, there were only two casualties in total. Nyx sustained broken ribs and extensive lacerations across his chest and back, as well as burns to the right side of his body. He broke five bones in total but will make a full recovery within the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours.”
“And the human?” Thorne asked, his weathered face creased with concern. His silver hair is tied back, revealing the sharp angles of his features.
“Jennifer Robertson has some scrapes and bruises; she broke her right femur in the incident. It was a clean break, but it will require eight to twelve weeks for proper healing. Possibly longer, depending on how the physiotherapy goes.”
“So, we’re one dragon and rider combination short?” Tairn leans forward, his dark eyes gleaming with an edge I don’t like.
“That’s correct.”
“How soon before the new mind-bonds qualify?” he asks.
I stare at him, unable to keep the disbelief from my expression. Is he serious?
“They’re nowhere near ready.” My tone is clipped. “They’ve only just started their training.”
“Is there any way to speed up the process?” Arrow asks from the end of the table.
My hands clench at my sides. “We’ve already sped up the process as much as we can.
We’re forcing Tributes who don’t wish to mind-bond to form bonds anyway and to stay.
We’re pushing partial mind-bonds to develop into full bonds.
Something I disagree with. Mind-bonds should never be forced.
” I meet Vector’s steel-gray eyes across the table.
“I’ve made my position on this clear already, so I won’t say too much more on the topic.
I can absolutely push the Tributes through their training faster, but it will result in higher death rates.
This is particularly true when it comes to the humans, but it will affect shifters too.
I don’t recommend it. We’ve fast-tracked the program as much as is safely possible.
Know that our head trainer, Scar, will step down if this is pushed any further. ”
The chamber falls silent for a long moment. I force myself to wait it out.
“It’s concerning that more and more Red Dragons are making it through our frontline,” Ember says, rubbing her chin. “What are we going to do about it? We’re stretched too thin. I agree with Tairn on this; there aren’t enough rider-dragon combinations.”
“We need to petition for more Tributes,” Tairn says.
“Something you keep pushing for,” I respond.
“We need to keep the Reds at bay. We need to keep our island safe from our enemies.” Tairn bangs his fist on the table, his eyes blazing.
“Are they really our enemies?” I ask. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Reed flinch. “Octane has been asking for a meeting with this Council for months. He is one of us. He is adamant that the Mistveil dragons mean us no harm.”
Tairn snorts. “Utter foolishness. If that is true, why do we keep having skirmishes day after day? Why do we keep losing dragons to the Reds? They are very much our enemy. Make no mistake.”
“Tairn makes a good point.” Arrow nods, pulling at his beard.
“There is a new king on Mistveil Island. Arctic wants peace. He wants change,” I tell them.
“So he says.” Ember shakes her head.
Reed glares at me, silently telling me to shut my mouth, but I can’t. Someone has to speak up about this.
“Why not hear them out?” This is the third or fourth time I am bringing this up.
“What? And bring our enemies here? Onto our island? Into this chamber? Have you ever heard of the Trojan horse, boy?” Tairn asks.
Boy.
My blood fucking boils, but I tamp down my emotions. He can’t know that he is getting to me.
“I doubt very much that a small group of Red Dragons would pose much of a threat,” I tell them, my gaze moving across the room.
“What would you know?” Tairn narrows his eyes on me. “You, my boy, are still wet behind the ears. You’re still on probation.”
Something he loves to remind me of at every turn.
“Not for much longer.” I smile at the prick. In less than three weeks, I will have served my first year. I will no longer be on probation. I will no longer need to be mentored.
I glance at Reed, whose expression is schooled.
“This discussion is something we can table for the next meeting,” Vector says. He looks my way, forcing a smile. “Drake has had a trying day. We’ve all been brought up to speed on the incident.” He gives me the smallest of nods. “The incident today was well handled and managed. Thank you, Drake.”
I bow my head for a moment before looking up.
“This meeting is adjourned,” Vector announces, rising from his seat.
I look over at Tairn, and he grins at me, making me want to go over there and break his jaw. Instead, I ignore him.
The scrape of chairs against stone fills the chamber as the Council members stand and file out.
I remain still for a moment, letting the tension drain from my muscles.
I can’t let Tairn or the others get to me.
It’s not just Tairn, even though he is the worst and the spokesman for the group against making peace with Mistveil.
I stand and start walking, leaving the chamber. Reed is waiting for me as I do.
“I’ll walk with you,” she tells me, falling into step beside me. “You shouldn’t have done that,” she says.
“I know. I’m sorry, I couldn’t help myself. Why are they so damned closed-minded?”
“They are old…set in their ways. They have lost loved ones…” She stops, touching the side of my arm.
“As have you. I told you it’s going to be a long road, but we will get there in the end.
We have to play our cards right. You need to hang in there until you are officially appointed as a fully fledged Councilor before you start ruffling feathers. ”
“Too late.” I smile.
She laughs. “Indeed. Thankfully, Vector salvaged what could have ended badly…for you.”
“I know. Thank him for me.” I sigh. “It’s been a day.”
“Are you truly alright after what happened?” she asks as we move through the corridor toward the landing pad where the helicopter waits.
“I’m fine. My rider is shaken but well.” At least, I hope she is.
Reed doesn’t look convinced, but she doesn’t push me for more. We walk in silence.
“Remind me again why Red Dragons keep breaking through our defenses,” I ask Reed. “The shifter I encountered today was almost feral, which is at odds with what Octane and Shadow have told us.”
“The problem is that so many Reds are dissatisfied with being contained like they are,” Reed tells me.
“They’re frustrated and angry with the Draig Dragons, with us.
They see us as their oppressors. It’s all an elaborate scheme by the Mainland to keep the two islands pitted against each other.
” She pauses. “One that’s working very well.
You know this, Drake. Don’t lose sight of it. ”
My jaw clenches as memories of what happened today surge back.
“I haven’t. I’m still pushing for a meeting with Mistveil. Nothing has changed.”
Reed gives me the ghost of a smile.
“It’s just that the Red Dragon I encountered with Harlow was feral.
The way he acted wasn’t befitting of our species.
He had no honor, seemed dimwitted – practically an animal.
” The anger rises in my chest again, hot and bitter.
“He was going to take Harlow against her will. Mate with her. Force her to bear his children.”
My beast stirs beneath my skin, wanting to kill that sick fuck all over again. The thought of what might have happened—
“Even if the Council is against it, I want you to meet with Octane and Shadow soon,” Reed says carefully, pulling me from my dark thoughts. “According to Shadow, many of the dragons who attempt to leave Mistveil, particularly those who make a beeline for Draig, are looking for females.”
“I understand they don’t have enough females on Mistveil,” I say, forcing my voice to remain level. “But that type of behavior is unacceptable. It’s befitting of an animal, not a sentient being.”
“Agreed.” Reed’s expression hardens. “There’s a large group of males who have been banished from society into the jungles of Mistveil Island.
Within that particular group, many have turned feral.
Some of them are more animal than human now.
They are creatures driven purely by instinct.
One of those instincts is to mate.” She meets my eyes.
“The majority of the population on Mistveil aren’t like that at all.
The four males from today were very likely banished Mistveil dragons. ”
It explains the behavior.
“I don’t like it,” I say, shrugging.
“I know.” Reed touches my arm as we reach the door leading to the landing pad. “Things will get better once we start working together with Mistveil.”
“Agreed.” I nod.
The helicopter’s rotors are already beginning to spin, the pilot preparing for departure. “Is there anything else to report? Anything that needs to stay just between us?”
I know that Reed is talking of potential spies, but all I think of is Harlow. Of the way she looked at me after I took her hard and fast.
“All is well,” I tell her. “Nothing to report. I haven’t seen or heard anything untoward. I’ll keep monitoring the situation.”
Reed studies my face for a long moment, but I keep my expression schooled. Finally, she nods.
“Have a safe flight. Let me know if anything changes.”
“I will.”
I climb into the helicopter, the door sliding shut behind me. As we lift off, I watch the Council building grow smaller below us, the last rays of sunlight painting the stone walls gold. My mind is already racing ahead to the flight school.
More specifically, to Harlow.
She and I need to have a talk. One that can’t wait any longer.