Page 58 of Claimed by the Savage Dragons

‘The Tribute is for Aziel,’ someone says from the tables.

The Commander’s face contorts into amusement as he looks at whomever said the words, his lips turning up into a cold smirk. ‘I thought I was the Commander here, Goliath.’

‘You are, sir,’ the male says more quietly. ‘Of course. Apologies.’

The Commander snorts. ‘Now, Torvial.’

He leaves the dais and stalks to the front of the room, pushing open a nondescript door.

Tor takes my arm, gripping it firmly as he leads me toward it, thrusting me ahead of him when we get it to it and pushing me inside.

He closes the door behind us with a click and I glance around. There’s a dark wooden desk with two red leather chairs in front of it, a matching couch on one side of the room, and some bookshelves along with a huge map on the opposite wall, I guess of the faction’s territory. The Commander reaches his desk and whirls around.

‘What the fuck have you done?’ he grinds out low.

He lunges forward and I cringe back, sure he’s going to attack me, but it’s Tor he punches in the jaw.

The dragon man staggers back a couple of steps.

‘I had no choice, Drey!’ he hisses.

The Commander paces the room, drawing his fingers through his longish dark hair.

‘And what about you, Brax?’ he says over his shoulder. ‘What do you have to say?’

His second in command appears in the open doorway that leads to the next room.

‘Same,’ he says, crossing his arms and leaning on the door jam.

‘That all you’ve got? Really?’

Brax shrugs. ‘What else is there to say? She’s ours. Clearly marked. The Nesting Law is enacted. Aziel can’t have her.’

Brax’s eyes shift to Tor. ‘Neat trick not letting anyone smell her until Drey did.’

Tor’s lips twitch. ‘I might not have Drey’s scent masking skill perse, but I do have some up my sleeve.’ Then he frowns. ‘But you were supposed to explain things to Drey before we arrived. The Commander not knowing what’s happening isn’t a good look.’

Brax looks uncomfortable, his eyes are apologetic when they find me.

‘I had a female in my apartments. Hannah.’

Tor’s brows rise. ‘The last one Aziel gave to you to kill after you were finished with her?’

He nods and side-eyes me. ‘I don’t kill them, just so you know,’ he says to me. ‘I help them. When they’re healed enough, I get them away from here. I’m sorry I wasn’t here in time to tell Drey what was happening, but I had to make sure she was safe.’

Tor lets out a sigh. ‘Anyway, it’s done, Drey. No going back. They all smelled her when you did. Everyone will know by now. Aziel will know by now.’

‘I won’t be in Aziel’s inner circle anymore after this either,’ Brax says apologetically. ‘But it couldn’t be helped.’

‘Fuck’s sake,’ Drey mutters, closing his eyes for a moment. ‘You two couldn’t have picked a worse time to go rogue on me.’

Brax pushes himself off the doorway and steps into the room. ‘We know, and we’re sorry. But the way it is, is the way it is.’

‘And both your dragons are in agreement? Even yours, Tor?’

At Tor’s answering nod, Dreythos tilts his head. ‘Last I heard your dragon didn’t speak to you anymore.’

‘That was true until…’ He glances at me helplessly and his eyes soften.