“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 myhead. 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.”
