Page 15

The moment I enter my mother’s quarters with Elsie in my arms, my father’s ire rains down on me.

Red-faced, he waves a hand at the trembling humans who are doing their best to make themselves small behind a table.“What in the name of dragons is the meaning of this?”

They’re all wearing simple robes, except for the man who’s dressed in pants and a tunic, which either my mother or father could’ve fabricated to cover their nakedness.I do the same for Elsie even though I’m shielding her from any invasive stares in my arms.It’s easy enough to disintegrate the cloth that covers the table and reassemble it in a soft, warm gown straight on her body.

Elsie gives a start as she takes in the dress she’s suddenly wearing, but with the palpable strained atmosphere in the room, she doesn’t make a squeak.

I look around.“Where’s mother and Gaia?”

“Your mother is consulting her secretary,” my father says.“Despite my order to rest.”He extends his arm toward the man and women again.“All because of this.Ofthem.I sent Gaia to fetch my advisor.We need to figure out a strategy.”

My tone is dry.“Thank you for asking about the welfare of my mate.”

He barely glances at Elsie.“I can see that she’s safe.”

“Your concern is heartwarming,” I mutter.

“Your careless action breaks the first and foremost commandment of the scrolls,” he says in a harsher tone.“How am I to appease the followers?How am I supposed to justify their future ruler, who should be setting an example, breaking the rules?”

“You know I’m not a believer.”

“That’s beside the point.What matters is that most of the people and the royals are.What in Zerra were you thinking, bringing them here?”

“Would you rather I left them to die?”

“You should’ve left them somewhere else until we’ve figured out a way to deal with the problem, not flaunted them under the noses of every Alit in Lona.”

“It’s my fault,” Elsie says.“Don’t blame Aruan.I told him I wouldn’t return unless he brought them with us.”

My chest swells at the fact that Elsie is defending me, but I won’t allow her to fight my wars, especially not with my family.

“They’re victims of the slave trade,” I say.“I’ll go into the details later.For now, I have to take care of Elsie.She’s injured.”

“What about them?”my father calls, gesticulating at the humans as I turn for the archway.

“Put them up in the empty quarters.Mother will send them back to Earth when she’s recovered enough.”

“You know any contact with Earth is forbidden,” he says through gritted teeth.“Opening a portal there even more so.”

“We’ll have to find a way around it.”

I don’t wait for my father’s reply.I make it back to my quarters in record time, tapping into Kian’s mind on the way.Usually, I don’t let my brother anywhere near my thoughts, but the situation calls for desperate measures.

Kian acknowledges my request immediately.Once he’s taken note of what I need, I close off my mind, making sure he can’t use the opportunity to dig deeper into my head.

Inside my quarters, I make quick work of stripping Elsie and inspecting her injuries.Through it all, she doesn’t say a word, which is very unlike her.

“Does it hurt?”Cupping her face, I ask, “How do you feel?”

Her chuckle is meek.“Terrible, actually.It feels as if my head is going to explode.I think I have a concussion.”

I don’t know what that word means, but she definitely has a head injury.She sucks in air through her teeth when, after gently parting her hair, I accidentally touch a big bruise on the back of her head.My fury ignites in a flash again.It’s a good thing the Phaelix who did this to her is dead, or I would’ve taken great pleasure in torturing him to his last breath.

“I think I’m going to be sick,” she says, sounding as miserable as she looks.

“Dragons, Elsie.”Anguish follows hot on the heels of my rage.“Hold on, my sweet.”I lift her into my arms and carry her to the cleansing room.“Vitai is on his way.”

“Remind me to never take on a gang of Phaelix again.”