“Not that I know of,” Gregory reassured her. “And I’ve never met a vampire either.”
Naomi narrowed her eyes at him. “Wizards? Witches? Umm... poltergeists?”
Gregory shook his head, trying hard not to laugh. “No poltergeists in a dragon’s palace. I promise. Although... have you ever heard of chimeras?”
Before Naomi could answer, a roar filled the air. It was the sound of large, powerful wings beating rapidly. A second later, the griffin had landed before them, his majestic eagle’s head gazing at them from serious, golden eyes.
He shook out his wings, each of them easily as wide as Gregory was tall, and then he gracefully folded them up. He paced forward, his head swinging back and forth as he looked both of them up and down.
Gregory straightened, waiting for the message the council had doubtlessly sent. Then the eagle’s beak opened, and the griffin soundlessly laughed at them.
A heartbeat later, the air around him shimmered, and the griffin had shifted back to his human form.
Jared wore a suit. That’s how Gregory immediately knew that he meant business. Jared hadn’t come as his friend, but had been sent as an emissary of the council.
“Gregory Drago, Master of Air and Wind, Lord of the Council of Elements,” Jared said formally, “I have been sent to retrieve you to be judged. You are commanded to follow me and present yourself to the Master of the Council, who shall decide your fate.”
Gregory wasn’t even given an opportunity to argue with the summons.
“My orders are very clear,” Jared said. “You are to come with me, immediately.”
“No,” Naomi said firmly.
Surprised, both Gregory and Jared looked at her.
Naomi swallowed, but didn’t budge. “He’s going nowhere without me. And that’s the end of it. A dragon just almost killed me. I’m sorry about your council, but given that I was the one who was attacked, I think I’ve got more of a right to his company right now.”
“You heard her,” Gregory said, feeling proud of his mate. “I won’t leave her side. A dragon—an actual fire dragon—just kidnapped my mate. Not even a summons from the council could make me leave her defenseless.”
“Hey now,” Naomi muttered. “Remember who got us both to safety.”
Gregory winced. “She’s right. The other dragon defeated me. I don’t know why he didn’t kill me right there. Still, either she comes with me, or I stay here with her.”
“Come with you?” Jared gave him a surprised look. “No humans have ever been allowed—but then, you say she’s your mate?”
At Jared’s curious look, Gregory straightened, then gently pulled Naomi more tightly against him. At the contact, the bond between them surged to life once more, warmth flowing where they touched—and this time, the connection brought with it an awareness of Naomi’s discomfort.
“She is. And I won’t abandon her, no matter what,” Gregory declared, as much for Jared’s sake as to calm Naomi’s fears.
Jared frowned, giving Naomi a thoughtful look. “The laws of the council are quite clear. No humans are allowed to know of the council and its rulings. But at the same time—”
“There is a law that states that every shifter has the right to have his mate by his side, no matter his crimes,” Gregory continued triumphantly.
“You are not formally mated,” Jared began.
“But you can feel it too,” Gregory challenged him. “We are mates. You saw it the moment you landed. I could see it on your face.”
After a long moment of silence, Jared sighed. “Let the council sort it out, in that case. I’m just the messenger.”
Gregory turned to Naomi. Once more it hit him just how gorgeous his mate was: her face was animated, her cheeks flushed, and despite her obvious confusion, there were sparks of anger in her eyes. Through the bond, he could feel the steely resolve that was there, hidden at the core of a personality that was all sweetness.
Naomi was strong. Stronger than she herself thought she was. She’d faced a fire dragon, after all, and hadn’t been cowed by that. She’d broken free of her bonds all on her own. She was more beautiful than any princess—but she wasn’t helpless.
“Naomi,” Gregory began. “Would you do me the honor of accompanying me to the council?”
After a moment’s hesitation, Naomi nodded. “I’m not scared of any dragon. At least... at least I think I’d rather know all there is to know, instead of just getting kidnapped out of the blue. I won’t be used as bait again. I want to know everything that’s going on—and I want to be with you.”
At his mate’s words, Gregory felt new heat well up inside him. This time, it was pride, especially when he saw the look of new respect on Jared’s face.