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He bit her on the jaw to show his affection for the kind Witch against him.

“You cannot do this!” Fionnlagh roared, his old, wrinkled scales shaking from the power of his yell.

Rurik pointed to them. “I have gone over the tombs. There is no law in place that states I cannot choose a Witch as a mate.”

There wasn’t. He and Glov had gone through the ancient texts Rurik held when he visited after the black moon.

“It has never been done!” Fionnlagh yelled again.

The other two Elders remained quiet for long moments while sharing looks between each other. They were concerned about this, but they didn’t appear enraged. It wasn’t their place to get in the way of a Dragon’s decision like this.

“He is right, there are no laws that prevent this,” Aneirin said as his eyes trailed over them. Amalia was frozen, and he could scent her fear worsening by the second. “But I also do not approve of this bonding.”

“This is no longer an appraisal of heroism. This is now a trial,” Fionnlagh bit out. “You are to shift so this can be discussed!”

“I am currently unable to.” Rurik grinned before finally bringing their bound hands forward to show them. “Since I am currently in the middle of a Witch’s bonding.”

This time, every Dragon in the room, including Glov, took a step back in either disgust or shock.

“She has tricked you in marring your body with witchcraft!” Fionnlagh exclaimed, his paw coming up so he could point a claw at them. “She is already trying to fulfill the prophecy, and you are blinded to it. She is trying to get you to trust her with this.”

Rurik shook his head before bringing their bound hands up and forward over her head so he could wrap his arm around her waist. He made sure not to put pressure on her shoulder by doing so and was thankful the length of twine between them was long enough to make it easy.

“She was not the one to ask for this, I did.”

Nayana’s brows came together in thought while Aneirin’s head twisted as he observed them.

“She had my mark, I wanted hers.” Then Rurik turned Amalia’s head so he could gaze into her face with tenderness radiating from him. “She has already completed the first half of the prophecy. We know that when Witches foretell a future, they speak what they have seen as it is happening and then forget it. She did not take my bloodied heart with a knife, instead she took it softly when she plunged that dagger into herself for me.”

“You love her...” The dark red Dragon off to the side muttered.

Everyone turned their heads to her.

“Yes, she stole my heart this way.”

He wasn’t afraid to reveal to anyone his feelings for this Witch.

“He has been mating with her already,” Aneirin commented. “I thought I mistook the smell, but now that I understand he has marked her, the scent is obvious.”

“Once again, this is proof that she is trying to trick you now that she has obtained her memories! She wants to obtain that child for herself. That is why she helped you kill Strolguil,” Fionnlagh growled.

Rurik gave a laugh. “I have been bedding this Witch for the past month,beforeshe obtained her memories.”

The Elders turned their heads to Glov. “You did not tell us of this.”

His eyes were wide, and he shook his head in disbelief. “I did not know. This has been kept from me.”

Now that the proverbial cat was out of the bag, Rurik felt no reason to keep any other secrets.

“That strike of lightning you saw racing towards the sky had been her.”

Glov’s jaw dropped before he took a step forward with a snarl. “You have been lying to me!”

“Of course, I did. I had been hiding how she obtained such magic.” Rurik’s eyes fell to the Elders once more. “How Amalia obtained dragoncraft from me.”

“She has stolen your essence! This is forbidden. Witches who steal blood from Dragons must be eradicated, not mated with.” Fionnlagh shook his head, his snout bunching when his lips curled over his fangs.

“The lightning was blue, not red. I would never have allowed Amalia to drink from my blood.” When he could see they were about to accuse him of lies, his hand moved to rest low on her stomach. “She obtained my magic with my seed. She took it incidentally and had obtained it purely.”