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Damian

T he sovereign, a full contingent of her guards, and one other person waited for me as I dropped down to the roof of the palace.

Much as I served the Ruler of All Dragonkind, I could not keep my eyes away from the other green-eyed woman at the middle of the heavily armed ball of dragons.

For her part, Aurora didn’t look away either, her gaze firmly locked on me as she smiled from the corner of her mouth.

Shifting into human form, I gathered up the cargo I’d brought with me and strode into the center of that knot of guardians.

“My sovereign,” I said, noting Councilors Parun and Kerstun approaching from off to the side. They were not welcomed in the bubble but were close enough to hear. I spared them a glare. “I have retrieved the scepters. The shield is intact. The known perpetrators have been dealt with.”

I didn’t bother to stop my eyes from sliding over the two councilors as I made my pronouncement. More than one guard did the same, several even turning heads. The councilors, however, just stared back blankly, pretending they had no idea to whom I referred.

“Thank you, Magistrate.” The sovereign gestured to Jair, who collected the scepters from my arms. “You have done your people a great service. Truly, you are to be thanked for your efforts at resolving this crisis.”

I nodded. “It should be noted, Sovereign, that those behind this, including Councilor Laurana, made it expressly clear that they blamed all the problems on you and your guidance. Their reasoning behind this was to bring the shield down so our kingdom could be purified from the taint of humans that you have ‘allowed to infest us’.”

“Purified?” Aurora gasped. “They thought that having nukes rain down on this place would make it better? Are they insane?”

“No,” I said stiffly. “They were insane. Their punishment has been given.”

The sovereign was a keen reader of people. She came forward now, putting a hand on my shoulder. “Magistrate, I would have the names of those who defied me.”

I licked my lips. “There were three that I do not know. They died in my initial assault. I did not recognize their faces in the brief moments I saw them, but I assume they and others were part of Councilor Laurana’s household. In addition to them, I served punishment to her son, Farhan, his acquaintance, Evander, and the councilor herself.”

The sovereign’s hand tightened on my shoulder. “You have a brother by the name of Evander, do you not, Magistrate?” Everything was formal but her touch.

Beside her, Aurora inhaled sharply, eyes widening.

“I had a brother, Sovereign. But he lost that title many years ago.” I somehow got the words out, though my voice was like two stones grinding together.

There was a long pause. “I understand. You have served well, Magistrate. Your wounds will need time to heal. Please take as much time as necessary.”

“Not until your name is cleared,” I said, anger rising once more. “Only once this issue is settled will I rest. If there are others out there who still insist on your inadequacy, I will ensure I find whatever proof I must.”

Councilor Parun took a small step closer. The guards shifted, forming a solid line and barring him from coming much nearer. “I do not foresee that being an issue, Magistrate. The scepters are returned. The sovereign has demonstrated her ability to keep our people safe. She has the support of the council.” He paused. “The entire council.”

I snorted. Parun’s words meant nothing, given the unspoken but very loud “for now” at the end of his statement. There would be more plans, more attempts. But until he could be fingered in it, he would stay free. That was the life of a politician.

“Thank you, Councilor Parun,” the sovereign said, somehow managing to sound grateful and not irate as she dismissed the slimy bastard and his accomplice Kerstun. “That will be all.”

The councilors retreated, leaving the three of us surrounded only by the spiky ball of dragon guards. Aurora and I stared at one another.

“Well?” the sovereign teased. “Are you going to kiss the girl or not?”

“Gladly,” I purred, closing the gap to Aurora in a blink, lifting her up and spinning her around as I kissed her. Guards had to shift and move so I didn’t collide with them, but none of them complained.

Her arms wrapped around my neck, holding tight like she never wanted to let go. I never wanted to let her go. She was mine now. All mine.

The trumpeting roar of my dragon only sealed her fate, linking her to me for the rest of time.

There was no other way I would want it.

“Apparently, palace decorum goes right out the window after a major crisis is averted,” the sovereign teased.

I ignored my ruler for several seconds longer, basking in the warmth of Aurora’s tongue against mine as they danced the intricate dance of two lovers while we turned slowly in place, oblivious to the world around us.

Eventually, however, it was time.

“My apologies,” Aurora said, taking a deep breath. “I’m not sure what came over me.”

“That would be Damian,” the sovereign mumbled softly under her breath yet loud enough for all to hear.

Aurora blushed bright red, but she didn’t pull away from me.

I glanced between the two women. “Everything is resolved now, correct? Justice has been handed out. The scepters are returned. The council has been put in their place. Am I missing anything?”

The sovereign shook her head, her platinum hair glimmering in the sunlight as it bounced delicately. “No. You have done well, Damian, my magistrate. I am in your debt. If there is anything I can do for you.”

I glanced at Aurora, fighting the grin threatening to conquer my face. “Perhaps you could see to it that I’m able to find and appoint a deputy, Sovereign? I believe the time has come for me to spend more time as Damian and less as magistrate. If I am to keep my mate happy and be a proper family dragon, I must learn balance.”

The sovereign arched an eyebrow at me, then slowly turned her gaze on Aurora, who was now smiling broadly, having lost the battle to remain stoic.

“That seems like a most reasonable request, Damian. Go get your house in order. The Dragon Isles will be here for you when you return. I have full confidence you will be able to do your job just as well, perhaps better, with this newfound perspective.”

I glanced at Aurora, the giddiness in my stomach threatening to boil over. “Yes, my sovereign,” I said, trying to remain solemn. My efforts were a complete and utter failure.

“Go then,” the sovereign said with a laugh, breaking the tension between us.

“As you command,” I said, snatching Aurora up in my arms and running for the edge of the roof.

Wings sprouted from my back, carrying us high into the air, arm in arm as we left the palace behind.

“Where are we going?” Aurora asked, snuggling in tight against me, her head nestled perfectly under my chin.

“You’ll see,” I said cryptically. “But I know you’re going to like it.”