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Damian

“I ’m going to make your life miserable, I’m afraid.”

I stared across the desk at the Sovereign Ruler of All Dragonkind. The distance between us yawned like a chasm as her words sank home. She didn’t blink, impaling me on the spot with her jade green eyes, so vibrant as usual. There was no hint of remorse in her tone or on her face. It was all soft skin and sharp angles as usual.

It wasn’t so much an apology as it was a notice.

“How, my sovereign?” I asked, wondering just what she was getting up to.

“As part of the terms of ceasefire with the humans, I will be insisting on a tribute.”

“What does money have to do with me?” I asked, confused. That was the realm of the treasurer, not the magistrate.

“I’m not referring to monetary tribute,” she said. “Instead, they will be sending us eight women per year.”

“Sending us,” I repeated slowly, processing the bombshell that had just been dropped in my lap. “You mean humans, here, in the isles.”

“Yes. Eight of them. The first will be here in a few days. Callum and his team will be bringing them to the palace. There, they will be chosen by eight of us.”

I sighed and, despite it all, rubbed at my forehead. “You want to bring human women here and offer them as mates. And you’re giving me, what, a week’s notice?”

“Two days.”

I groaned. “My sovereign. You know I will do whatever it is you ask of me. I am your humble servant, but two days? Could you not delay?”

Platinum hair rustled softly as she shook her head. “No.”

“This is going to be a nightmare,” I whispered. “Integration of humans into our society … Some people are going to lose their minds.”

“Probably. I’m counting on you to ensure our laws are followed with respect to the humans.”

“I will do my utmost,” I promised, though secretly I was less than certain that I stood a chance.

Nor was I entirely certain I wanted to. The sovereign could do as she wished. She was our leader. But humans in the Isles? The Dragon Isles? It bordered on the edge of madness.

“Of course you will, Damian. You are ever the perfect magistrate for our society. They trust you.”

“Only because I’m impartial and believe in justice for all who are wrong. Our people understand that.”

I neglected to mention the incident with Tobias.

“And?” she prompted.

“Humans don’t,” I growled. “They don’t have our values. Bringing them here and trying to integrate them won’t be easy.”

The sovereign flashed me a dazzling smile. “Think of it as job security.”

“With all due respect, Sovereign, but I’m glad you ended up where you are. You are ill-suited to life as a comedian.”

She laughed heartily, rising from her desk to come around and squeeze my shoulder.

“Your honesty is refreshing, Damian.” Her eyes tightened almost imperceptibly.

A slight crease formed between my brows as I noticed the action. “Is everything okay?” I asked, keeping my voice so low only she would hear it.

Somehow, with just a touch of my shoulder and a look in her eyes, she’d changed the subject entirely.

“I don’t know,” she admitted, looking past me to the door to her office. “Maybe. Maybe not.”

I cocked my head slightly, abruptly on high alert. This was very unlike her.

“It’s just a whisper, Damian, a hint of a whisper really. Bordering on paranoia, perhaps.”

“Never in my time as magistrate have I thought you prone to paranoia, my sovereign. What are you hearing?”

“A plot,” she said. “People moving against me in the shadows.”

“Are you talking about the protestors in the square? Malakai and Levi and their group? I’ve been keeping an eye on them, but so far, they have broken no laws.”

“Not them. And others are watching them, too. I fear nothing from them. No, this is from within the council. I’m certain of it. Something deeper and darker. Whatever it is, when it happens, they expect to be invited into power. Unlike Mr. Malakai, who plans to try to seize it by overthrowing me. This way, by appearing reluctant and gracious, the mysterious conspirators will have a better claim to it. They will pretend they don’t want it but are only taking control for the betterment of the people.”

“How would they even go about such a thing?” I asked, stunned at the depth of what the sovereign suspected. “They must know I would investigate anything.”

She nodded. “Which is why I’m warning you, Damian. There’s a chance they’ll come after you as well. Be careful.”

“I will,” I assured her, trying not to curse out loud at the double bombshell that had been thrown into my lap.

First, she wants to bring humans here. Now, I’m to be on the lookout for potential assassinations and coups?

I didn’t dare let myself think about what else might be awaiting me as the day progressed. After all, with the way it had started, it was bound to only get worse from there.