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“I really don’t think so. That’s not the kind of ruler Killian is.”
Twig settled against the back of the couch. “You don’t think he did this only because we’re related?”
“No. I think he chose you because you have something to offer the council.”
“Ilias disagrees.”
“Ilias is old and stuffy. He’s used to being in charge and to the council being a certain way. He already sat on it when your father was king, right?”
Twig appreciated the fact that Taylor didn’t shy away from that kind of question. Most people never talked to Twig about his father, because they knew how he’d come to be. Taylor no doubt knew too, but he still didn’t think he needed to shield Twig from it. He didn’t have a reason to. Twig had known all of it since he was a child, and he didn’t care. He’d been raised by his mother, who’d loved him more than a lot of people would have. It was enough for him, especially with Killian now reaching out and apparently wanting a relationship with him.
“Yes, he already sat on the council then. I guess he’s used to things going his way.”
“That’s where you come in,” Taylor said with a nod. “You’re young and new. You’re going to change things just by being there. That’s what Ilias doesn’t appreciate. He knows there’s a chance he might lose some of his influence, and no one likes that, but especially not someone as powerful as him when it comes to the clan. That’s why I think Killian made the right decision, choosing you. He knows you’re on his side, but also that you’re going to shake up the council, and that’s what it needs.”
Twig wished he could truly believe that. Maybe in time he would, but first he’d have to get through the council meeting.
He wasn’t looking forward to it.
* * * *
THERE WAS A BOUNCE in Taylor’s step after he left Twig. He hadn’t wanted to go, but Twig had mentioned his mother would be back from work soon, and Taylor had known better than to want to be there when she was. He had no idea what she thought of him, but it was clear Twig wasn’t ready to tell her that he and Taylor were talking, and Taylor respected that. Twig still lived with his mother. He knew her and how she would react, and if it wasn’t time to talk to her yet, that was fine with Taylor.
He’d appreciated the coffee, but Twig hadn’t thought about getting anything to eat, and now Taylor was starving. That was why he decided to go to the dining hall instead of back to his room, although maybe he should’ve gone and knocked on Palmer and Rune’s door instead. It would have been better because he would’ve avoided having to deal with Ilias, who was sitting at a table in the corner, surrounded by other dragons. Most of them were eagerly listening to what he was saying, and Taylor thought he looked a bit like a king with his subjects.
He doubted Killian would like that.
It was funny because Taylor had been watching Killian since he’d moved into the palace, and even though the dragon was king, he never behaved the way Ilias did. He didn’t need people to adore him, and he didn’t want sycophants. He did his job every day, thinking of the good of the clan, and that was that. On the other hand, it was clear Ilias liked to be adored, which would make him a very bad ruler. Taylor was glad he’d never be one. It was bad enough that he was on the council.
Taylor went to grab a sandwich and more coffee and tried to get as far as possible from Ilias. Unfortunately, to do so he had to walk past him, and of course, Ilias noticed him. Taylor knew it by the curl of his lips when he smiled.
“Of course I don’t have anything against humans,” Ilias was saying, looking around. “They can be useful. They should know their place, though.”
“They’re like us,” one of the other dragons said.
Ilias didn’t seem to appreciate that. “Are they?”
“Our king’s consort is human. What does that say?”
From the glare Ilias shot him, Taylor suspected the dragon who’d questioned him wouldn’t be part of whatever meeting they had next. In fact, he was ready to bet Ilias wouldn’t want to be around him again after that. It was nice to see that someone stood up to him, though.
“Of course he’s different,” Ilias said. “But we have plenty of other humans around. They need to know who to respect and to stay in their place. For example, you would never expect a guard to fraternize with one of the king’s siblings.”
That was a pointed answer, if Taylor had ever heard one. Not that it would be enough to intimidate him. He didn’t care what Ilias thought, or what any of the other dragons nodding along and agreeing with him thought. The only thing that mattered was what Twig wanted, and Taylor was pretty sure he knew what that was.
But it did make him wonder. How complicated would it be for Twig if they were to be together? Probably not any more complicated than Rune and Palmer’s relationship. Palmer was a doctor, though. Most of the dragons respected him for that. Taylor couldn’t say the same about himself, and he didn’t know what the dragons here thought of him. He didn’t care, but Twig might.
He supposed he’d find out soon enough. None of what Ilias was saying would stop him from giving Twig what he wanted. He was just waiting for Twig to wrap his mind around it and decide what he wanted.
He grinned at Ilias as he slid into an empty chair facing the dragon. When Ilias wrinkled his nose, clearly displeased, Taylor picked up his sandwich and took a bite. He really didn’t care what Ilias thought of any of it. In fact, the fact that Ilias wasn’t happy with what Taylor was doing made Taylor want to do more of it. He didn’t want to provoke the dragon, but if he could be happy while making Ilias unhappy, that was a nice perk.
Chapter Seven
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TWIG WAS SO NERVOUS he felt like he might puke, although luckily, he’d been too nervous to eat that morning. His mother had been worried, but thankfully, she hadn’t pushed. She’d said she understood, even though she’d looked worried.
This was his first council meeting. He should’ve had this experience several weeks ago, but he’d been poisoned and spent all that time in the infirmary instead. He was out now, and while Killian had told him he didn’t expect him to be present today, Twig decided he might as well be. Delaying the inevitable wasn’t going to help him. He’d have to attend his first council meeting eventually, and he might as well do it now.
