My father stood up, came off the dais, and bowed before the council. "My lords."
Lord Tilly straightened, his silver-blue eyes boring into my father and Lord Finnley.
"We have been called together to resolve the dispute between your two circles. We will hear your grievances."
King's Return
Devin
Isettled beside Roarke, who clasped my hand as the little man led the proceedings with his big voice. It was quite an awe-inspiring sight. It was, in fact, the kind of place you would expect to see a dragon. Krispin stood behind me, his focus on the dais. It must have brought a lot of memories back to my friend—some not all that good. Addison positioned himself on the other side of me, and Aaran flanked Krispin. They were all on alert, surveying the surroundings; it seemed they were taking their new roles to heart. Through many arguments, Colin had finally agreed to stay with Ben, but only after I had threatened to call Master Stephen.
"Lord MacNair, you are the one who requested this gathering. Sta—" the short man started to say.
"Forgive me, Lord Tilly, I-—" The man Roarke had pointed to as his father's second attempted to interrupt but stopped shortas several on the council, including Lord Tilly, growled their displeasure.
"There will be no interruptions, Second Braxton. Know your place and stand down," Lord Tilly commanded. Braxton bowed his head, abashed, and stepped back.
"Now, as I was saying, Lord MacNair, you were the one that requested this gathering. State your business," Lord Tilly said, taking his seat on the dais.
"Lords Tilly, Donavan, Hanson, and Dranin, thank you for assembling here," Alister began, tilting his head at each man as he said their name.
"I have asked you here to mediate a dispute and a threat of war. I had facilitated a mating between Lord Finnley and my youngest, Roarke. Roarke has been away for nearly a year, so I was unaware that he had found his Cardia, his heart."
Gasps sounded throughout the crowd at the statement of Roarke finding his mate. I wondered why, but I didn't have to wait long to find out.
"Preposterous, a dragon hasn't found their heart in an age. I believe Lord MacNair was the last of our kind to have a true mating. He's just saying that now to get out of our agreement," Finnley snarled.
Roarke stepped forward. "It's true, my Lords. I have found my true, fated mate," he declared loudly above the murmurs.
"Silence!" Lord Tilly cried, and the murmurs died away.
"Roarke, of the Red caste, where is the man you claim to be your Cardia?" Tilly asked.
Roarke reached behind him, holding out his hand to me. I quickly grasped it and stepped forward. We approached the dais. Finnley and his men growled low.
"My Lords, this is my Cardia, Devin Davis, Second of the Walden Vampire Coven," Roarke announced.
There were more whispers at the announcement that I was a vampire. A throat cleared on the platform, and Lord Hanson stood.
"If he's truly your Cardia, and you are truly bonded, then he should be pregnant. Does he have the mark of conception?" he asked coolly.
Love, can you show your mark without revealing the caste marks? I don't want them to know that we are having twins or what castes they are, Roarke asked through our bond. I nodded yes and pulled my shirt up.
"Yes, Lord Hanson, he does; he is pregnant with our son," Roarke replied as I revealed the mark of conception.
All in attendance had shocked expressions, even Lord Finnley and Roarke's father. We hadn't had an opportunity to make the announcement to his parents.
"It's a true mark. Roarke has found his Cardia," Lord Dranin said with awe.
Finnley was among the first to recover. "If I can't have Roarke, I demand one of Lord MacNair's other sons. He made a promise to me I should be bound to his house."
"No!" Alister yelled. "I will force none of my sons to give up on the hope of a Cardia. Fate has blessed my house; I won't deny any of them that right."
"Then my brother, Lord Finnley, deserves a place on the council," the Finnley lookalike from the other day yelled.
Lord Donavan stood. “Surely, that is an acceptable alternative to a war between circles," he said, his high-pitched voice not matching his sturdy frame.
"I agree. Either another son must be provided, or we will allow the Green caste to have a position once again on the council," Lord Hanson said.
