Geoffrey left the house to join Ian, for once in his life not caring a whit about his appearance, and not giving a second thought to the fact that his earlier transformation had ripped asunder his clothes, leaving him entirely nude.
As Geoffrey came to stand by his lover’s side, ready to face his loathsome father, a thought traveled through his mate bond with Matthieu.
Distractle monstre.
Matthieu was supposed to be safe inside with the eggs. What the devil did he think he was doing? Still, Geoffrey didn’t dare turn his head to see what their omega was up to, or why he’d left their clutch and the relative safety of the house.
“Here we are,” Geoffrey said to Sigric Brand, refusing to let his fear color his voice and betray whatever Matthieu was up to. “You have what you want, so let the whelp go. He’s no part of this. Harming that dragon will put you in violation of several laws. If you’d like, I could start listing them for you.”
Hide, be quiet, be safe,he thought at Matthieu.
Merde, monsieur le dragon autoritaire. Non!
The eggs!he all but wailed in his mind.
A wave of pain smacked into Geoffrey, making him blink, then Matthieu’s firm presence was in his mind, as well as Ian’s.The eggs are fine. Hidden. Safe. Guarded. And I will not let le monstre get anywhere near them. Ever.
Matthieu!came from Ian.Go back.
Please,added Geoffrey.
But in response there was nothing at all, as if Matthieu was hiding from him as well as Sigric. Ian gave Geoffrey a panicked look. From both of them, it seemed.
“I don’t think I’ll let go of my little bargaining chip so quickly,” Sigric sneered. “Thanks all the same, lavender.”
“Father,” Ian said, his voice low and soothing, but also ragged with worry. “Please put the child down and we can talk like civilized dragons.”
“Civilized! Ha!” Sigric jeered at them. “Is it civilized to comport yourself as you have? I think not.”
“Geoffrey is correct, however. You are violating several of our laws, Father, and if you harm that child, I don’t think I could do or say anything to the council to save you.”
Sigric laughed. It was a twisted sound that sent scales tumbling down Geoffrey’s arms in anticipation of trouble. “Save me? I’ve removed you from your counsel position, effective immediately. You’re no get of mine.” He gave Geoffrey a contemptuous look, raking down his tall, thin, and entirely naked body. “You and your antics disgust me, whelp.”
Ian threw his hands up in frustration. “Then why come here? Punish me, fine, but leave the Drakes alone. They’re no part of this.”
Sigric again eyed Geoffrey. “The DNA evidence on your sheets tells a different story, boy. Yours was there, yes, and that of the omega, but there was more. A third. A dragon with no genetic relation to our clan at all. And I had to ask myself, how did it get there? Hm? Care to discuss that, abhorrent child?”
“You had the sheets DNA tested?” Ian sputtered. “Father, what’swrongwith you?”
In his agitation, Sigric swung Darwin about, and the small dragon whimpered. Far behind them, Geoffrey heard Everard roar. He suspected that Sebastian was holding him back, but he dared not turn his head to look. He kept his eyes on the treacherous Topaz monster before him.
“What’s wrong with me?” Sigric shrieked, trembling with rage. Fat tears leaked down Darwin’s snout, but he didn’t make a sound. “I’m not the one who’s been fucking another dragon for the past century—and one of the Amethyst clan, of all things! It’s an abomination.You’rean abomination. And that clutch of yours is full of abominations. This will not stand.”
“You’re mad, Father. You’re babbling nonsense and scaring children for no good reason. Put down the whelp and we’ll discuss this like rational dragons.”
Sigric laughed cruelly and did not put Darwin down. “Bluff all you want; I know about the eggs. Two of them are yours, two are worthless lavender ones, and there’s one that’s a twisted monstrosity. I’ve heardallabout it. Attendantstalk, boy, and you haven’t been very careful. Between the sheets and the disgusting rumors, I know it all, and I’ve come to see that everything is once and for all put to rights, since you’re too blind and foolish andstupidto manage on your own.”
“If my family and I are such hopelessly stupid abominations, then go.” Ian didn’t stand down, and Geoffrey did all he could to channel reassurance and strength through their bond. “You win. I’m no longer your son. I renounce everything. Pretend that I, and my brood of ‘abominations,’ as you call them, have nothing to do with the Topaz clan. I don’t care. They are my family, we are all Drakes now, and you are trespassing on Drake property. Release the whelp and go.”
Sigric looked shocked. “Just like that? You’d give up your birthright forthis?” He shook poor Darwin, eliciting another roar of rage from Everard and a wail from Harry. Darwin cried helplessly, his wings wilted and his tail tucked.
“What other choice have you given him?” Geoffrey spat in return. His dragon felt far too close to the surface, and he battled for control.
Sigric flicked a poisonous look at Geoffrey. “Be quiet, you perverse bit of filth.” He turned back to Ian. “There is another choice—come back home. Bring the omega, put only your seed in his belly, and give up this foolish, disgusting association you have. That’s all I ask.”
Ian choked. “That’sall? What about the children Matthieu has already borne?”
Disgust crawled across Sigric’s face. “As I said, they’re abominations, and as such, are not proper dragons. You will destroy them before they hatch. There is no place in our world for such creatures. Any real dragon would understand that. And if it kills your mate, so be it. We will find you another—perhaps an obedient Disgrace from the Gold clan instead of a spitfire, promiscuous Ruby. According to the research presented to me, you can successfully mate with either. The Amethysts were fools to share their secrets with the entire council.”
