Page 23 of Purple Protector (Eiloren Clan #3)

Birch went to take his place behind Killian. Killian’s expression was serious, but he huffed and spoke softly so that only Birch could hear him. “I’d say I can’t believe my sister is doing this, but knowing her, it’s not a surprise.”

“She’s going to try to use Aaron against you,” Birch murmured back.

“I know. I expected something like this would happen, and I’ve already talked things out with Hedley and Tito. Don’t worry.”

How was Birch supposed to not worry? Pearl was threatening two of the most important people in his life.

Pearl swooped into the room as if she owned it. She glanced around, appearing displeased by the way the office looked, then stopped in front of Killian’s desk. “I demand that his human get cast out of the clan. He attacked a dragon. He’s dangerous.”

Birch gritted his teeth. Whatever had happened, if Aaron really had attacked a dragon, he had to have a good reason to do it.

“Dangerous?” Killian looked at Aaron, who was still being held by one of the guards and stood next to the dragon he’d apparently attacked.

He wasn’t half the dragon’s size, but he was a close thing. His cheek was swelling, and there was a fine line of blood at the corner of his mouth. The orange dragon, on the other hand, looked like nothing had happened to them.

“He attacked a member of your clan,” Pearl insisted. “You have to take this seriously, Killian.”

“I would if it was anyone else, but there’s little damage Aaron can do to a dragon. Just look at him. Even if he did attack your friend, he clearly got the worst of it.”

“I’ve never seen this dragon before. I don’t have to be friends with them to stand up for them,” Pearl snapped. “And the situation is clear. Your human attacked someone unprovoked. He needs to leave.”

Killian leaned back in his chair. “What did you see?” he asked the guard who was holding Aaron.

“Aaron was on the floor. Mitri was on top of him. He’d just punched Aaron while Aaron was pulling on Mitri’s hair.”

“Who would you say was winning the fight?”

The guard glanced at Pearl, then back at Killian. “Aaron was losing. He might have managed to get a punch in, but he was the one on the floor.”

“Do you believe that Aaron’s a danger to the clan or to Mitri?”

The guard hesitated before shaking their head. “I don’t see how he could be unless he used a weapon, and he doesn’t have any. We searched him and his luggage when he arrived.”

“There are plenty of weapons that the human could use in the palace,” Pearl interjected. “Just think of the knives in the kitchen.”

“Having a knife wouldn’t make him more dangerous to the clan than any of the dragons who live here, Pearl,” Killian told his sister.

“We have fangs and claws. We can hurt each other without weapons. Aaron’s half the size of any of us, even you.

Do you really think you’d lose if he were to attack you? ”

“He doesn’t belong with us. I trust the rest of the clan. I don’t trust him.”

Killian watched her for a moment. Birch would’ve paid to know what was going through his friend’s mind. He knew what Killian thought of Pearl and what Pearl was trying to do. His money was on Killian, but that didn’t mean that Pearl couldn’t create trouble.

She already was.

“Do you know how many dragons fight in the hallways every single week?” Killian asked eventually.

“It doesn’t matter. The human is dangerous, and he doesn’t belong with us.”

“He belongs with us as much as any of us. He and Birch are together. Aaron’s making himself a life here, and I personally asked him to become a clan member. Are you saying that you don’t trust my judgment?”

Everyone in the room knew that she didn’t, but Pearl wasn’t stupid. She wouldn’t say it out loud. She wouldn’t give Killian that kind of ammunition. Instead, she smiled sweetly at him.

It gave Birch the creeps.

“You’re our king. Of course I trust your judgment,” she said.

“Good. You can let Aaron go,” Killian said as he turned toward the guard. “Aaron, I’d like to talk to you and find out what actually happened. Pearl, you can go.”

She puffed up her chest, but Killian narrowed his eyes at her. He wouldn’t take any more shit from her.

“You’ll have to find something better to take me down,” he told her. “No one would believe that Aaron was a danger to any dragon who lives in the clan. He doesn’t have it in him, emotionally or physically.”

“You’re making a mistake.”

“Maybe, maybe not. You should be careful, though. I’m still the king, no matter how little you like that.”

Pearl huffed and turned to leave. Birch didn’t relax until she was out the door, but their problems weren’t over. Aaron’s attacker was still here, looking like he was dying to go after her or possibly throw himself out a window.

Killian turned to him. “Now, why don’t you tell us why you attacked Aaron?”

* * * *

A ARON COULD HAVE CRIED in relief when he realized that Killian actually believed him. He believed that Aaron hadn’t started this and that he wasn’t dangerous.

It was enough to look at both of them. Aaron was the one who was in pain, while his attacker stood there, looking scared but without even a bruise on him.

Aaron hated him.

“Your Majesty,” Mitri started.

Killian raised a hand. “Don’t try lying to me. It won’t work.”

“I apologize, your Majesty,” Mitri said as he looked at the floor. “I don’t trust the human. I think he doesn’t belong here.”

“You said that if I didn’t leave the palace on my own, I’d leave it dead,” Aaron burst out. “You wrapped your hand around my throat and pinned me to the wall.” And if Aaron wasn’t mistaken, that would leave bruises. It hurt enough to, anyway.

Killian lightly shook his head at Aaron. Aaron understood that Killian wanted to hear from Mitri, so he pressed his lips together. Doing that hurt, too.

“I might have threatened him,” Mitri admitted. “I’m sorry for that. I shouldn’t have.”

“You’re right,” Killian agreed. “You shouldn’t have.

I won’t tolerate threats to any of my clan members, dragons or humans.

I don’t expect you or any other dragon to understand why I’m welcoming humans into our clan, but you’ll respect them and treat them the way you would any dragon.

Now, Aaron’s going to apologize for punching you, and you’ll apologize for threatening and hitting him.

He might have thrown the first punch, but you knew what you were doing when you threatened him, and you continued the fight, even though he’s obviously weaker than you. ”

“Your Majesty, he attacked me,” Mitri complained.

“He’s the one with bruises around his neck. I don’t care who started what. We’re not children. I only care that one of you is hurt, while the other looks fine.”

“He could have hurt me.”

“If he did, I can ask a healer to take a look at you.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Mitri said. He glanced at Aaron. “I apologize for what I said to you. I shouldn’t have.”

Aaron didn’t want to apologize to this asshole, but he understood why he had to. He needed to support Killian. “I apologize for punching you.”

“Good. You can go, Mitri. Be aware that this is your one and only warning. If I get news of you fighting again, I won’t go as easy on you as I have today.”

The guard, who’d still been holding Mitri, let go, and Aaron’s attacker rushed to the door. The guards turned their attention to Killian, and Killian nodded, tilting his chin toward the door. “Go after him and watch him for a few days,” he ordered.

The guards left the room. As soon as Marlin closed the door, Birch walked around Killian’s desk and rushed to Aaron’s side. Aaron collapsed against his chest and took a deep breath.

Fuck. He’d made it. He’d fought a dragon and had survived.

He almost couldn’t believe it. He knew that if Mitri had wanted to kill him, he would have, but the dragon had clearly been surprised by the fact that Aaron was standing up to him.

Aaron had done the right thing, even though he’d been ready to run away in fear.

Birch gently cupped Aaron’s cheek. “Look what he did to you,” he murmured.

“I’m fine,” Aaron reassured him. “It hurts a bit, but it’s not that bad. He didn’t have the opportunity to do more.”

“And even if he had, you would’ve stood up to him,” Marlin said. “I’m impressed. You did a good job.”

“Don’t encourage him,” Killian complained. “I can’t have Aaron going around punching people, no matter what they say to him.”

“I promise I won’t do it again,” Aaron told him. “I wouldn’t have done it in the first place if I hadn’t felt threatened. I did throw the first punch, but I’m sure he would’ve attacked me even if I hadn’t.”

“I suspect that you’re right. Still, you need to be careful. I don’t want anything to happen to you. No one here does.”

Aaron leaned harder against Birch’s side. “I’m sorry for making your life more complicated.”

“What are you talking about?” the king asked.

“Your sister’s going to use this against you, isn’t she?”

“Oh, definitely. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’d been the one to organize it. This has nothing to do with you, though, Aaron.”

“She’s using me.”

“She is, but she could as easily use Palmer or Taylor. She wants the throne, and she’ll use anything or anyone to get it. She doesn’t understand that it’ll never be hers.”

Aaron hoped he was right. He didn’t know Pearl that well, but he could tell that she wouldn’t be a good queen. She wanted the throne for her own benefit, while Killian was trying to do the best for the clan.

“Birch, take the rest of the day off. Palmer should be here any second, and once he makes sure that Aaron’s okay, I want you to take him home and relax. Aaron, please stay out of trouble and let Birch take care of you.”

Aaron’s cheeks flushed, but he nodded. “Considering how I’m feeling, I think I can promise I won’t look for trouble anytime soon.”

And hopefully, trouble wouldn’t find him. He had enough of this shit. Was it too much to ask for the universe to let him enjoy his life with Birch?