“Prove?” I ask, snorting out a wisp of smoke. “Can you not smell her? If I had assaulted her, my scent would be all over her.”
Aida tenses beside me, and like a wave, I sense her unease at my words. “I was there,” she says. “Though I could not see, I could hear. Delina said since she was the elder’s chosen female, she should be with the mightiest male.”
Tabach sighs.
“Your sister would not do such a thing,” Aida’s mother—Shyn is her name—says. “Delina has Leith, and by being chosen, she was chosen to be with him and no one else.”
“You don’t know your youngest daughter well enough,” Aida mutters.
Shyn scowls. “Delina may be spoiled, but she isn’t stupid.”
“She also has not been raised for the duty she’s been handed! She doesn’t fully understand the importance. When we were growing up, you and the tribe gave all your attention to me, letting Delina get away with whatever she wanted. Now she’s making bad choices because she doesn’t fear there will be repercussions.”
“You said so yourself, daughter—you didn’t see what happened! How can you go against Delina so? When you should have been there to protect her?”
Aida’s jaw ticks. “Because I was recovering from mating with Zaeyr,” she gripes. I watch Shyn’s face void itself of color. “I rose within minutes of the interaction. Zaeyr had his hand on Delina’s shoulder. And though I didn’t know what occurred, he told me he was pushing her away for being touched unwantedly. Considering the things she said, if anyone assaulted another, it was Delina who assaulted him!”
The females glower at each other.
But before they can continue, Tabach interjects. “Did she touch you first, Zaeyr?”
“Yes.”
“What happened after?”
“Aida ran, and I chased after her.”
Tabach nods. “And you have brought her back to us. Thank you.”
“Only for her safety—assuming this place is safe for us. She is mine. We need a place to nest.”
“She’s yours?” Aida’s mother asks.
“Nesting? What is nesting?” Nata adds.
“We have not accepted your claim on my daughter!” Tabach stammers.
I growl. “You have no choice in the matter, old one! She is mine regardless—not yours, not anymore.” Aida shifts uncomfortably next to me. “If you knew anything about dragons, it is that once we mate, we remain with them until our dragonling is raised, protecting them, caring for them, nesting withthemonly. No female, femdragon or otherwise, could come between that. Even if she seeks the protection of an alpha male too, there are no others. I seeded Aida—chose her to carry my young—Delina wanted that as well. I denied her, pushed her away.” My voice darkens. “She is not honorable for coming to me when she reeks of another.”
Silence falls again between the humans. I find I do not like this or them, wanting to take Aida away, understanding now why my little human did not want to face her tribe.They ask inane questions. I have never been accused of such a thing in my life.
If I assaulted a femdragon, she would kill me. If not her, others.
“And nesting?” Nata asks again.
“A place to stay during gestation,” I snap.
Aida buries her face into her hands.
Shyn gasps. “She is pregnant? How can you know such a thing? It’s only been days!”
“If she is not yet pregnant, she will be within days,” I warn. “That is how I know.”
Some of the elders gaze at me in disbelief, some shake their heads.
“Aida… you are… you know what this means?” Shyn turns to her daughter, saying her name softly. Her face falls. “What are we going to do about your sister? Leith?”
“I don’t know,” Aida says, raising her face.
