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“I will not step down from my opinion on this!” Fionnlagh roared.

“That does not matter,” Nayana sneered. “I joined the ring of Elders to prevent your stubbornness.”

“And I joined to prevent no trial ever being completed because you two disagree on everything,” Aneirin added. “The decision has been made, Fionnlagh. Two Elders have sided with the defenders. Rurik will be allowed to keep the Witch as his mate and the child, watched carefully, will be raised.”

“But now that she is marked, his wards will not keep her here! She is not a prisoner. She is not safe to our kind like she was before, and she will try to escape.”

“I do not wish to leave.” The voice came from behind him, so soft and hesitant. The two Elders beside them turned their heads to Amalia. Rurik stubbornly attempted to keep her back when she tried to come forward, but she slapped his hands away. “Although I did not consent to his mark, I consented to the Witches bond when he asked me, because he has kept me safe and protected and makes me feel cherished.”

Rurik turned his head to her when she stood beside him to speak, but he was ready to grab her and shield her with his own weak human body if anyone were to try to harm her.

“I did not leave him behind because he did not deserve to be tortured and I took that blade to myself because I already loved him.” Her face began to grow pink as Rurik’s eyes widened. He didn’t know that she’d already fallen for him before the night of the black moon. “That was the only reason I got the courage to do it. I do not wish to leave Rurik, and I am afraid of humans.” Her averted gaze came to Fionnlagh’s so she could meet his glare. “And I do not trust my own kind to the point that, even though he helped save me, I do not wish to see my father again because his hands have touched dark magic. I do not wish to harm or be without the only person I trust and care for.”

“That still does not change my mind, Witch,” Fionnlagh sneered, his eyes narrowing on her further.

Nayana’s wing came up to block their view from the last Elder standing in front of them. “It has been decided. This trial is over, and your argument has lost. Any more words about the topic are in vain.”

“Fine! By the order of the Elders this bond has been recognised and any or all products of it allowed,” Fionnlagh bit. The wing came down to reveal that the lavender Dragon sat as well since he understood that he could no longer fight this. “Now that it has been decided, and all discussions we had hoped to commence are done, we are to leave.”

Rurik knew he only wanted to leave because he was angry he didn’t get his way.

“Actually, I have a request,” Rurik interjected.

Now that a new discussion was coming into place, the two Elders came away from beside them to stand next to Fionnlagh.

“Speak your request,” Nayana snapped. She was no longer being kind to him now that she was being indifferent of the topic.

“Amalia’s father is here and neither of us want him to be. He has tried to return back to the white path for the sake of her mother and her so, therefore, he should not meet his death.”

“You wish for us to take him from here?” Aneirin said with one of his brows cocked. “She truly does not wish to be with her father?”

“She has asked me that he does not remain here.”

“You want us to take him to our prisoner cells so that we can see if we can rehabilitate him,” Fionnlagh stated.

“Yes.”

When all three began to nod slightly, Fionnlagh spoke again. “Yes, I believe we would all prefer he does not remain here.”

“Agreed,” Nayana said before Aneirin answered with, “I third the proposal.”

“It is done. Let us take him so we may leave,” Fionnlagh said before eyeing them warily and adding, “Unless there is anything else you wish to tell us?”

He was asking if Rurik had any more secrets.

Not any that I wish to share.

“No, that is all.” Rurik turned his head to Glov. “Would you mind assisting with this?” He held up his arm to show that he was bound to Amalia. “I believe I will be too slow.”

“I will do it!” Nyota squealed, quickly turning around to walk down the tunnel to his prison alcove.

Fionnlagh and Aneirin turned to follow behind his sister as her dark red tail bounced with excitement.

Nayana, his mother, and Glov walked over to approach them. Amalia stepped back a little to shelter herself from them with his arm.

“You have found a female that is willing to bond with you, Rurik,” his mother said with a tone of disbelief and mocking humour. “I truly thought that you would be mateless with how easy you come to anger... or that you would die before you found one.”

“If father can tolerate your spiteful, barbed personality, then Amalia can love that in which you gave me, your spiteful, barbed personality.”