Page 16

Avery

We drove for sixteen hours across the country, Jacy and I swapping turns behind the wheel. Declan napped or played with his tablet, enduring the long drive without crying or complaining too much. As we’d departed on such short notice, we had no time to locate a pet sitter. Thus, Max, Wendy and Pete came with us.

“Let’s hope they don’t poop or pee,” I grumbled upon learning both kittens had hidden themselves under my seat.

“They have a litter box, Dad,” Declan pointed out.

“They’d better use it.”

Max curled up on his seat behind me and slept. Jacy eyed him over the back and smiled.

“He’s a good boy.”

“I’m not worried about him.”

We’d driven for perhaps six of those hours when the cats finally emerged from hiding. They cried for a while, but Declan’s hands and voice eventually quieted them. Not long after, Wendy climbed over the back and crouched on my shoulder, occasionally commenting on my driving skills.

“Backseat driver,” I snapped, and Jacy laughed.

We reached our destination just before midnight and rented a motel room that accepted pets. Max sniffed everywhere while the cats prowled the room, tail stuck stiffly upright to inform the world they’d become veteran travelers. I tucked Declan, sound asleep, into one bed while Jacy fed the critters.

With a grunt and a sigh, Max laid beside Declan. The kittens, not to be outdone, snuggled in the curve of his stomach. I turned the lights down, then held Jacy close.

“I’m scared this is a terrible mistake,” I murmured. “If I’m convicted, will you care for Declan?”

“You know I will,” she replied, kissing me. “You won’t be convicted. Tomorrow, this will all end. Happily.”

“I hope you’re right. If not, I need to know Declan will be with you. All his life.”

“I’ll be his mom.”

Jacy laid in the bed with me, her head pillowed on my shoulder. I couldn’t sleep. I stared up at the ceiling, unable to stop thinking if running wasn’t the better option. It’s not too late. We still can. I knew Jacy didn’t sleep either, though she pulled a good fake. I knew the pattern of her breathing when she slept, and she couldn’t feign it.

The sun rose at six, and Declan with it.

I listened to him yawn his way from his bed and go to the bathroom, then his pee striking the toilet. I sat up, rubbing my gritty eyes, then glanced at Jacy. She watched me, fully awake, her hair hardly tangled at all.

“You can do this.”

“We can.” I bent to kiss her as Declan, yawning, returned from the bathroom.

“Can we go out for breakfast?” he asked.

“Yeah, little man. That’s the plan.”

Jacy walked Max while Declan fed the kittens and cleaned their litter box. The council ordered me to appear in a private dining room in a restaurant at ten in the morning. I put the address in my GPS map, then took a quick shower to clear my head. The knot in my stomach failed to untie itself even after I ate a little and drank a cup of coffee.

“They’ll be okay in the car,” Jacy assured Declan at ten to ten as we parked in the lot. “It’s not hot. And we won’t be gone long.”

At least they’ll return to the car and drive home. I may be Iceland bound.

Declan carefully shut the cats in the car, then held both mine and Jacy’s hands as we crossed the parking lot to the restaurant. Oddly quiet and without his usual toddler jumping, Declan must have sensed the gravity between Jacy and me. He walked with his head up, his eyes bright, and with far more confidence than I felt.

Ian stood at the entrance to the private room, the familiar sneer curling his upper lip. “I figured you’d run.”

Jacy marched into his personal space, forcing him to back up or be stepped on. “Can it, jackass,” she snarled. “Unless you prefer to wear your nuts for earrings.”

His eyes wide, his sneer gone, Ian glanced at me. “Is she –”

“Talk to me, asshat,” she snapped. “I can answer, and the answer is yes. I am. Now get out of my way.”

Ian stepped courteously aside, looked askance at Declan, then followed us into the big room.

I paused, gazing around at the faces. I knew none of the councilors personally, yet lived the last three years of my life in dire dread of them. Most were elderly, gray haired, faces lined with experience. A few were younger. Yet none beheld me with anything more than a mild curiosity.

“Avery Smith?”

“I’m Avery Armstrong now,” I replied quietly, “but yes.”

“Please have a seat opposite me.” The dragon shifter at the table’s head gestured toward the empty seat at the table’s bottom. “Your mate and child may sit over there.”

Jacy took Declan’s hand, then both sat in chairs that lined the walls. Ian took a spot, standing, near the middle and put his hands behind his back. Like a soldier at attention.

Younger, brawny dragons also sat in chairs along the walls. My jailors. None looked at me, nor seemed at all interested in the proceedings.

“Thank you for coming, Avery,” the dragon said. “I am Dean Andersen, the chief of this council. We need to clarify the events of three years ago. When you killed a human.”

I wished I hadn’t brought Declan. I shot a glance at him. He held Jacy’s hand, his eyes wide as he stared at me. Sorry, little man, this isn’t how I wanted you to know about that day.

I cleared my throat, clasped my hands together on the table in front of me. “Very well, sir. The evening was late. My wife, Elsa, had just put the baby to bed. The baby, Declan, now sits over there.”

“Your wife was human,” Ian suddenly burst out. “Then who’s that there?”

“Ian,” Dean said, his tone imperious, “please park your tongue and wait.”

Ian’s face turned beet red, but he shut up.

“Elsa came back,” I continued, “and we sat to watch some TV. A loud banging came at the front door.”

I gazed around again, observing the interested faces, the few nods of encouragement for me to continue. “I went to the door. I’d barely opened it when it was shoved violently into my face. I fell back, and this big human hit me twice in the head. I fell to the floor.”

“And you have proof of this?” Ian demanded.

“I don’t lie.” I stared at Ian directly, controlling my anger. “Unlike some I know.”

“Ian,” Dean barked while other council members grumbled at the interruption. “Stand down and be silent.”

“Yes, sir.”

I looked back at Dean. “I heard Elsa scream. I had a busted nose and bled everywhere. The guy had a knife, and he was walking straight toward her.”

“You believed her life was in danger?” asked a younger dragon.

“I did then, and I still do. I ran at him, tackled him from behind.” I tightened my mouth at the memory. The big guy in a filthy sweatshirt, hood up, stinking like he’d slept in a sewer. He elbowed me in the face to get me off of him, but Elsa had a chance and took it. She ran for the kitchen.

“He hit me again,” I went on after swallowing hard. “I rolled off of him, and he went for Elsa again, chasing her.”

“Then what?”

“She bolted for the backyard with him right behind her,” I said. “It’s as though he had something against her, needed his vengeance. But that’s impossible. Elsa stayed at home, wasn’t involved with drugs or gangs.”

“You think this dude was hepped up on PCP?” Ian sneered.

“I think it’s highly likely, yes,” I replied evenly.

“Tell us what happened then,” Dean said quietly.

“He reached her.” I stared into blank space, remembering the horror of the moment, the knowledge that I’d be too late, I couldn’t stop him before he brought that knife down and into her chest. “She screamed, falling onto her back with him poised over her.”

“And you shifted.”

“I shifted.”

I clutched my hands together until my knuckles glowed white. “I grabbed him with my talons, sent my fire into his body. The PCP didn’t even allow him the realization that a dragon just killed him. He died, and his ashes blew away.” I smiled grimly. “The neighbors never heard or saw a thing.”

“But your wife did.” Ian gazed around the council in triumph. “You let a human see you in your dragon form.”

“As Elsa lay on the lawn staring at me in horror,” I replied dryly, “that’s an affirmative.”

“I’ll ask the questions, Ian,” Dean said tersely. “Other than your wife, no human saw you that night?”

“No, sir. That neighborhood had houses spaced widely apart, large lots. I returned to my human form immediately and tried to comfort Elsa. No lights came on, no faces appeared over fences at ask what happened, no cops were called. It’s as though nothing at all was wrong.”

“And your wife?” the younger dragon asked.

“She was terrified,” I said simply. “She left us two days later. I never heard from or saw her again until she demanded a divorce a few months ago. She wants nothing to do with – us.”

I forced myself to not look at Declan. I’m sorry, little man. Life sucks sometimes.

“I see,” Dean commented. “It appears to be a clear case of self-defense. We can’t always control our surroundings, or the humans we live among. I personally have kept an eye on your Elsa, son, and she has never spoken of dragons. At least not publicly. Her social media is silent on the subject.” He smiled. “She rants on occasion regarding deceiving husbands, however.”

“Oh.” I coughed nervously. “I’ve never followed her.”

“That’s it?” Ian demanded, his voice raised. “You’re not going to banish him?”

“What is it you have against Avery?” Dean snapped. “You knew this was merely a formality. Had Avery come before us three years ago, we’d never have had to send you to find him.”

“He killed a human ,” Ian gasped. “That’s against our laws.”

“There are exceptions,” the younger dragon growled. “Self-defense is one such, you idiot. Had you told him back then to simply come and chat with us, this would long be over.”

Now I gasped. “This – this was just a formality ?”

“Of course,” Dean replied. “We never thought we needed to charge you with a crime. We had some of the information from that night, the rest had to come from you.”

I glared at Ian. “He told me I’d be banished for certain. He had me believing I needed to run for my life. So I did. I couldn’t have you taking Declan from me.”

“As he should be taken from you,” Ian hissed.

“Robert,” Dean snapped. “Please remove Ian from this room. His voice is giving me a headache.”

Robert and two burly dragons stood. Ian paled, then hustled from the hall with the three big dudes behind him. I glared at Dean.

“Why didn’t you come forward and say so years ago?”

“My boy, we couldn’t find you. We tried. You hid yourself far too well. I do apologize for Ian’s behavior. I can’t imagine what his problem with you is. Had he not been so – misguided – we’d have invited you to tell us what happened back then.”

“Where does this – misguidedness – come from?”

“I’ve no idea, but from now on, Ian won’t be our council liaison any longer.” Dean sighed. “Maybe Iceland would be a better choice for him.”

I laughed just as Jacy and Declan hugged me, each tucking their bodies under my arms. “I’d love to see that, sir.”

“Your young lady is also a dragon?” Dean asked.

“I am, sir,” Jacy answered with a smile. “Though I don’t know my parentage. I found out I’m a dragon just recently.”

“That’s a shame.” Dean smiled. “I’m sure your parents would be proud of you, my dear.”

“I hope so, sir.”

“Well.” Dean rapped his knuckles on the table. “That’s it. Avery, have a safe drive home with your family.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“My cats are in the car,” Declan announced with a note of defiance. “They need me.”

Dean’s smile widened as chuckles abounded around the table. “I adore cats, young man. If I ever hear of you not caring for them properly, I’ll summon you to this council.”

Declan grinned. “Will you come see them?”

“My boy, I’d love to.”