Chapter 11
“Tiger Mate?”
Startled at the soft voice, Glenn looked up to see Alex standing near the open door to the sitting room, worrying his bottom lip. “Hey buttercup, I didn’t wake you, did I?” he asked, setting his phone down on the side table before opening his arms to beckon his mate to him.
“Uh-uh,” Alex murmured, walking over to Glenn, “just a dream did.”
Tugging his mate down to his lap, Glenn nipped Alex’s earlobe, grinning at the shiver it caused. “Wanna talk about it?”
Shrugging one shoulder, Alex buried his face in Glenn’s neck, seeking comfort in his mate’s scent. The dream always panicked him for hours afterward but this time it began to fade as he sought comfort in Glenn’s arms. It had been a while since his last nightmare and he knew what had triggered it again. But unlike before, where he’d spend the rest of the night awake, filled with fear after battling the demons that had breached his mind, it was different this time.
Humming softly to Alex, Glenn gently rubbed his mate’s back, relaxing his tight muscles. Slowing his movements even more, he listened as Alex’s breathing grew quiet—sleep had reclaimed him. Kissing the top of his mate’s head, Glenn remained where he was—to make sure the nightmare was truly gone. And while he hadn’t pushed Alex for answers due to the sharp scents of fear and panic swirling around the room, he was determined they’d talk about it in the morning. Glenn knew his mate was hurting.
~/~/~/~/~
It took Fionn a lot longer than expected to find the right mating gift for Alex because his dragon kept rejecting all his picks, at least until the last one. Grinning, he dragged the heavy object over to his dozing mate, setting it upright at Hunter’s feet. “Mate, I got it,” Fionn announced excitedly. “Let’s go…I gotta get a room ready for my brother and his mates. They’re gonna need a super big bed…maybe Ki can help me.”
Blinking several times, Hunter sat up, running a hand over his face in an effort to chase the sleep from his body. When his gaze landed on the solid gold statue standing next to Fionn, he smirked. “Nice choice.”
Snorting, Fionn said, “I hope that means Sawyer will like it, but I’m not sure about Alex…and I really doubt Glenn will like it but this is what my dragon chose, so here we are.”
“Your dragon chose this?” Hunter asked. “A gold statue of three men…ahh…hmmm…”
“Fucking! Yes, he insisted.”
“Where is it from?” asked Hunter, his eyes still glued to the gift.
“From ancient Greece. It’s Apollo and his two lovers,” Fionn said, staring at the statue. “I inherited it from my mother who got it as a gift from an uncle when she hatched. Do you think it’s okay? I’ve never given a mating gift before so…”
“Did your dragon say why he picked this?” Hunter asked, waving his hand at the gift.
“He’s upset that Alex doesn’t have a hoard.”
Raising an eyebrow at his mate’s explanation, Hunter replied, “Doesn’t he know Oracle said Alex doesn’t need one.”
“Duh, of course. But she’s wrong. A dragon without a hoard is just…just…”
“Odd?”
“Just not right!” Fionn exclaimed. “Just wait and see. When I give Alex my mating gift, his dragon is going to go bonkers. I bet he’ll make my brother sleep with it.”
A bark of laughter escaped Hunter. “If that’s the case, we better make sure they have ahugefucking bed.”
Glancing at the golden statue, Fionn giggled. “If anyone knows where to find one, Ki will.”
Rising, Hunter said, “C’mon, pet. Let’s get this monstrosity home, then go tell Oracle about your decision.”
~/~/~/~/~
Finishing the last of his toast, Brady picked up the cup of tea from the breakfast tray Theo brought, sipping it as he read through the laws the Witches’ Council passed after he was banished. His frown deepened at the sheer magnitude of those pertaining to low-level magic users. Whatever rights they once possessed were now gone; now they were merely property in the eyes of the law. Not that he could point to any law in particular that stated it plainly because each, in and of itself, seemed harmless enough. But when they were all combined, the end result was; a devious and cleverly designed plan to circumvent the High Council’s governing laws ruling the paranormal world. Clearly, someone on the Witches’ Council had set upon a course to exploit the weaknesses in the system.
Brady discovered that flaw by accident when he’d challenged a law the Witches’ Council passed stipulating the education for each low-level magic user. He lost the case because the Court ruled the law was not in conflict with the High Council governing laws. And he had to admit the judge was right regarding that particular law. But when it was enforced in conjunction with previous laws, the effect was devastating to every low-level magic user.
Using that as justification to refile the lawsuit, Brady was positive he’d prevail since, as he pointed out in the filing, enforcing the laws collectively produced a result thatwasin direct conflict with the governing laws set out by the High Council. Every word of his argument’s conclusion was still etched in his mind: “The laws that the Witches’ Council have passed, while not technically in conflict, fail to meet the spirit of the High Council’s governing laws—and their enforcement leads to the curtailment of fundamental rights of low-level magic users.”
In answer to his complaint the opposing attorney filed a Motion to Dismiss, claiming Brady was a ‘vexatious litigant’. At a hastily convened hearing, the presiding judge agreed with the opposition, dismissed the compliant and forbade Brady from filing any more lawsuits. It was at that moment he realized he was fighting a losing battle when even the wronged couldn’t find justice in the courts. He spent that night with a bottle, mourning the loss of everything he held sacred.
The next morning, Brady made the decision to seek an audience with the Keeper of All Magic in a last ditch effort to set aside the judge’s order. Dressing slowly, his mind was busy formulating his argument when a pounding on his door interrupted him. Not suspecting anything, he opened the door only to be handed a decree banning him from properties owned by the Witches’ Governing Council, including the Magic Courts and precluding him from ever practicing law again.
