Chapter 19 #3
Romilly chuckled, pulling his mate back against him.
It was obvious he liked the connection of their bodies as well.
The Council members gave a good laugh at his expense, though it wasn't teasing.
They seemed genuinely happy for him. The mood in the room had lightened, the darkness from before fading.
Now that a decision had been made, Silas released his grip on Nicholas's neck. He turned toward the Fae healer and, with a single firm nod, shared whatever directions they had previously discussed.
The Fae raised his hands, and his words grew louder.
It was some language Archer couldn't understand. He also didn’t understand the energy pulsing from the Fae.
His hands glowed, and more of that sparkling mist wove around Nicholas.
It swirled as if making a vacuum, a tornado of sorts.
The glow brightened so much that Archer had to close his eyes because he couldn't take it.
There was a popping noise, and then everything was back to normal.
Nicholas sagged onto the floor, his body heat against the cold tile of the space. The Fae shook their hands out, and Silas motioned for two guards, who had suddenly appeared, to come forward.
"Take him to the prison. Make sure he is secured. A guard must be on him at all times. The Fae will come later to silence him, lest Nicholas try to speak his way out with promises he cannot keep."
The guards nodded, lifting the man and dragging him away. Nicholas didn't speak. Even without the spell binding his voice gone, he was so dejected, so torn down, that he went along with what was happening.
The minute he was gone, the Council stood. They lined up in front of Romilly, and Archer didn't know what to make of it for a moment, until Romilly eased him forward.
“They would like to introduce themselves to you, my mate.”
Archer looked from Romilly to the powerful dragons before him. These people had lived for years and years, centuries possibly, and they were almost in a submissive posture toward him. This was so trippy, so confusing.
One by one, the Council members stepped forward.
They would bow slightly—not so low to the ground that it put him on some huge pedestal, but enough to show they saw and acknowledged him.
Archer greeted them all with smiles and waves.
No one dared to touch him, which was good, because he didn't want to feel them.
Their pulsing energies were enough. He could tell who they were from that alone, moving forward.
Once they finished introductions, the Council members left. Then Soren, Hadrian, and Eden came forward, and Silas joined them.
"Well, that was fun," Eden said cheekily.
Hadrian shoved his shoulder. "Don't be a brat. It was a necessary thing. They were trying to hurt our new bro. We can't let that stand."
Eden swiped at his shoulder as if to wipe away Hadrian's touch. "Yeah, that's true. New little bro cannot be in trouble…especially since he's taken the role as the youngest, so he's like the baby of the family."
Soren rolled their eyes. "Of course he's the baby. He's human. He hasn't been alive long enough. But he will be."
They turned their eyes to Archer, and the amusement there, the shared acknowledgement of the discussion they'd had, made Archer giddy. He bounced slightly on Romilly's leg, then clapped his hands happily.
"Yes, I will be the littlest bro." His voice had taken on a younger quality. He hadn't planned on it, but it made sense. He was comfortable with these people. He was home for the first time in his life.
Silas smiled, then wrapped his arms around Soren and Eden, reaching his hand out to lay his fingertips on Hadrian's shoulder.
"My children are all wonderful." He looked to Archer.
"Now, I don't know about you all, but I have worked up a bit of an appetite.
I think we should go bug Belinda and see if she will make us a celebratory treat.
Nicholas being off the Council is worth acknowledging in a positive light. "
Romilly nodded, then stood, lifting Archer onto his hip. "Yes, but we will have to replace him with someone. His seat will have to be filled."
Silas nodded, turning serious for a moment. "Yes, but that is a problem for later, my son. For all we know, they might vote for one of my other children to be on the Council."
Three pairs of eyes widened and looked at one another.
Then their fingertips went to their noses in unison.
Archer giggled loudly, because he knew that movement, and to see it in a dragon custom was interesting.
The rest of the group laughed as well as they moved toward the kitchen, their plan for celebration in motion.
Archer cuddled close to his Daddy, to his mate, his Alpha, his king, the man, the dragon, who had saved him and protected him.
His future was unknown, but he trusted these people.
He would never have to guess if he was too needy or too much.
They loved him just the way he was, and that, above all else, made him understand that the pull he felt to San Noctis.
The way Fate had gotten him there was worth all of the pain.
He'd do it over and over again, in every single lifetime, if it led him to Romilly and the Saints.