“And we, you,” Ian whispered in reply. He laid a hand on Geoffrey’s shoulder and squeezed. “What they say about us changes nothing about how I feel. It never will.”
Matthieu, who no longer trusted his words, sent his unconditional love and support through their mate bond. Geoffrey and Ian turned at the waist in unison and smiled at him, and Ian tugged Matthieu forward so that he was sandwiched between them.
“I will fight for you,” Ian vowed.
“I will win for you,” Geoffrey promised.
“And I will do whatever it takes to keep us all together,” Matthieu vowed as his voice cracked and a solitary, uncertain sob rattled his chest.
Geoffrey rested his head on Matthieu’s, but Matthieu needed no support. He cast his fear aside.
If Harry’s claim was true and he was a dragon, then he would go into battle as all dragons did—courageously, with claws and teeth at the ready, and fire burning deep inside.
38
Ian
The council room was fuller than Ian ever remembered it being. Each clan head occupied a seat at the room’s long table, all present save Sigric Brand, for whom the hearing was taking place. Behind each clan head stood their legal representative—Ian and Geoffrey’s peers. Ian had known to expect them, as any crime necessitating a consular decision was embroiled in politics, but it did nothing to soothe his nerves. Soon enough, every man in the room would know his secret. There was no telling how their perception of him would change.
He only hoped that, when the truth came to light, they would be understanding. Geoffrey and he were no different than they had been last week, last year, or last decade. Their love did not change their aptitude.
Jammed in both corners of the room nearest the door were the Drakes—Alistair and Nate in one corner, whelpless, and Everard, Harry, Sebastian, and Perry in another. Harry held Darwin in his arms. Steve, who wore a very fashionable tie, perched on Harry’s shoulder.
The council looked less than enthused to be joined by a business-ready lizard.
When Ian entered the room, he cleared his throat and bowed his head. “Ian Brand, repr—”
“We know who you are, Mr. Brand,” Liu Wei, head of the Gold clan, said stiffly from his seat at the table. He was a slender and severe man with long black hair and harsh amber eyes speckled with flecks of gold. “Unfortunately, your presence will not be necessary. The Council must ask you to leave.”
A chill swept down Ian’s spine. “Pardon me?”
“Sigric Brand has appointed new representation,” Liu Wei elaborated. “As Sigric has seen fit to ask another attorney to represent him, your presence is extraneous and unwelcome.”
It did not surprise Ian in the least that his father had elected to seek different legal representation. What did surprise him was the fact that he’d allegedly found a way to remove Ian as the Topaz clan’s legal counsel. As far as Ian knew, such things could not be done so hastily.
He wasn’t the only one to think so—before Ian had time to voice his concern, Geoffrey swept forward and dominated the room.
“If a clan head is deemed unworthy to take his place at the council table through virtue of suspected illegal activity, a legal representative cannot be appointed without a vote.” Geoffrey’s words flowed like water down a brook—fast, fluid, and ever-certain. Ian, who had always admired Geoffrey’s unflappable confidence, couldn’t help but smile.
A nestler hung from each of Geoffrey’s shoulders, their brocade pattern in stark contrast with his fitted Armani suit. Not only was Geoffrey an exceptionally skilled attorney, but he was an equally impressive father. The fact that he could be both at the same time flooded Ian’s heart with longing.
Tonight, when they were free of this hell, Ian would take Geoffrey home and show him how impressed he really was.
“As I was not made aware of this alleged appointment,” Geoffrey continued, “the Amethyst clan has not had its chance to voice its opinion, and the vote is therefore ruled in breach of conduct.”
Erik Jormun, who stood rigidly behind Ødger Jormun, head of the Opal clan, looked at Geoffrey. Erik’s eye twitched. Ian knew that words were waiting to burst from behind his closed lips, but for now, Erik kept his silence. He looked meaningfully at Ian instead and nodded slowly as if to say, “he’s right.”
“Liu Wei has misspoken,” Grimbold Drake, head of both the council and the Amethyst clan, said. “Sigric Brand has elected to appoint temporary legal representation, which he is within his rights to do. He has not yet made a motion to replace Mr. Brand as representative of the Topaz clan. As such, I see it only fair that we allow Mr. Brand to witness the hearing, even if he will not be the one defending the accused.”
“Leniency like this begets weakness,” Liu Wei argued, but Yaroslav Lyubimov, head of the Diamond clan, waved his hand.
“Liu Wei, to you,everythingbegets weakness.”
Liu Wei bristled. “Perhaps if the council wasn’t controlled by Amethysts who live with their heads in the clouds, our rules would be stricter and better enforced, and I wouldn’t have to say that.”
“It certainly beats living with your head in your ass,” Yaroslav murmured.
The room went quiet. All eyes turned to Yaroslav, who shrugged.
