“The dining hall.”
“Then get everyone there.”
“What’s going to happen to her?”
“Like I said, I don’t know.It’s not my job.”
Jacob looked like he didn’t want to leave, but in the end, he did.Rex felt like everyone was breathing a little easier once Jacob was out of the room.He was glad he’d never have to deal with the man again once this was over.
“Well, that’s at least one problem solved,” Merrick said.“We all agree that Jacob isn’t going to be the next leader, right?”
Rex nodded.He didn’t need to think about it.
Everyone else seemed to agree with him.Merrick sighed when he realized it.Rex didn’t blame him.He didn’t want to stay here any longer than they absolutely had to, either.
He glanced at Eva.He didn’t know much about her, but he knew someone who did and who could tell him and the others more.
They’d come here to help the clan choose a leader.They’d known they wouldn’t have a lot of time to get to know these people well enough to be sure they wouldn’t do anything stupid, but he didn’t think Eva would.
“Why don’t you take Sarah back to her room?”Rex suggested as he glanced at Eva.“You can join us in the dining hall once you’re done.”
She nodded and leaned toward Sarah.The two of them spoke quietly, and Rex looked away because what they were saying was none of his business.He really hoped that whoever would have to punish Sarah would keep everything that had happened to her in mind.She might have gone about it the wrong way, but Brian had gotten what he deserved.
Eva guided Sarah toward the door.The guards stepped out with her as if wanting to protect her from Sarah, which was ridiculous.That girl wouldn’t hurt a fly, even though she’d killed Brian.
There was a moment of silence when the door closed.Rex relaxed since they were alone now.They’d even gotten rid of Jacob.
“We all agree that the leader should be Eva, right?”Mallory asked.
“I don’t know,” Rex told him.He turned to Arlen and Merrick.“What can you tell us about her?Do you think she’d be a good clan leader?”The pack couldn’t afford for the clan to be an enemy, which meant they needed someone who would work with them.Kieran didn’t care if the clan imploded and disbanded, as long as they stayed away from the pack.He cared about his people, and he wanted to keep them safe.
Even if it was at the detriment of the dragons.
* * * *
HARMON HADN’T EXPECTEDthe night to end with them finding a new leader, but he was excited.He wanted to go home.He wanted to spend time with Rex.He wanted to never have to think about this dragon clan again.
“I think she would be,” Arlen said.“I’ve always liked her.I don’t know how things changed after Merrick and I left, but she’d be better at it than most other people.She always tried to do the right thing, even when she was ordered otherwise.That got her in trouble a few times.She didn’t stand up to Martin or Lou, not openly, but she did what she could to help people behind their backs.”
Harmon glanced at Merrick.He wasn’t the only one, and Merrick huffed, then shrugged.“As long as it’s not Jacob, I couldn’t care less who’s going to lead the clan.I think it should be disbanded.”
That wasn’t an easy thing to do, and Harmon disagreed that it should be done.The clan would need a strong hand, though.“How do you think she would react if someone were to stand up to her and defy her orders?Because we know that’s going to happen.Martin and Lou still have supporters, even though they’re gone.Brian can’t have been the only one.”
“He wasn’t.I’m sure she can deal with it.You saw how she dealt with Jacob.She took over when he should have if he actually wanted to be clan leader.I also like the way she treated Sarah.She’ll make the right decisions when it comes to the girl.”
“Do we know if she wants the job?”
Merrick shrugged.“We’ll find out soon enough.”He got to his feet.“I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to go to the dining hall and tell everyone what happened and that they have a new leader.I can’t wait to go home.”
They still had a few people to talk to, but Harmon agreed.
Rex bumped their shoulders together as they walked out of the room.“Still doing okay?”he asked.
“Better than Sarah.”
“Yeah, I feel sorry for her.I really hope that Eva will do the right thing.”
They weren’t even sure that Eva would want the job, but Harmon prayed she would, for everyone’s sake.
