There’s nothing to be afraid of, she reminded herself as she continued to make her way past them with Gregory. Gregory wouldn’t let anything hurt me. And I have a right to be here. I’m the one who was attacked.
The dragon atop the plinth marked by the symbol of water closed his eyes, his giant jaw opening a little. It should have looked threatening—but for some reason, Naomi thought that the dragon was smiling.
“Gregory Drago,” a disembodied voice now boomed out of the darkness before them. “You have been summoned by the council of elements to be judged. Present yourself before us.”
Sudden dread filled Naomi’s heart. It came rushing over her out of nowhere, her heart pounding fiercely despite the reassuring warmth of Gregory by her side. She couldn’t say what had caused it—it seemed to have no obvious reason.
Apart from the fact that I’m all alone in a giant cave filled with dragons and who knows what other monsters. Maybe a Yeti. But damn it, I’m stronger than this! I choose to be here—with Gregory!
Determined, she took one step forward, and then another. It was a struggle, but she didn’t falter.
My mother didn’t raise me to be afraid of dragons, she thought, and then nearly began to giggle when she tried to imagine her mom’s reaction to a dragon as a son in law.
Well, it’s going to make Christmas more exciting, that’s for sure!
Her heart a little lighter, it was easier to continue forward. The gloomy cloud of darkness that had seemed to fill the cave before had gone. Instead, they were walking straight towards what looked like a large wall of bare rock. Shadows flitted across the surface.
Gently, Gregory’s thumb drew along her knuckles.
Courage, his voice said in her mind, sounding just as warm and confident as always. Remember, you have a right to be here. You are my mate.
Warmth seemed to flow into her where their skin touched, and for a moment she couldn’t tear her mind away from the memory of Gregory’s wet skin pressed against her, the incredible sensation of Gregory inside her. Then, flushing a little, hoping that the other dragons wouldn’t be able to read her mind, she tightened her fingers around Gregory’s.
I’m with you, she sent along the strange connection between them. Whatever’s going on, I’m with you.
Perhaps it was strange to feel so protective of someone who could turn into a giant dragon—but all the same, he was Naomi’s dragon, the same way she was his. She wouldn’t let anyone come between them either.
Even if she was rather inadequately equipped for a fight against another dragon.
“Feisty,” that same booming voice now laughed out of the darkness. “I like that. I would say that you have chosen well, Dragon of the Storm... But it is your recent behavior that is on trial today. And I rather question your decision to bring a human to the council, when you know the ancient laws that govern this place. No human has ever walked through these caves before.”
“She’s no ordinary human,” Gregory said, challenging the shadows before them with confidence. “She’s
my mate. I know that you can sense it. You have no case to bring against her.”
The darkness laughed. “Perhaps. But we do have a case against you, Gregory Drago. A rather serious one. Dragon of the Storm, you are accused to have brought strife to human lands. A fight between dragons where humans can observe us. You have willfully endangered human lives. The burst of power was so large we felt it here in Sky Home—it was a power unlike anything you have ever wielded before. Gregory Drago, you are here to be judged for having broken the limit of power available to you. You have gained—and used—an alpha’s power. And you are not mated. You cannot control the power that has woken in you. You are a danger to dragons and humans alike. You cannot be allowed to leave again. And perhaps—perhaps you cannot be allowed to live.”
“No!” The word escaped Naomi without thought. “You don’t know what you’re saying. He wasn’t attacking anyone. He was defending me!”
One of the dragons behind her roared, but Naomi refused to be intimidated.
Gregory took a step forward, protectively placing himself between her and the shadows before them.
“She says the truth,” he said calmly. “You have no case against me. I came into my full power, that’s true—but it was because I’d found my mate. And because a fire dragon had kidnapped her.”
“A fire dragon?” The shadows before them flickered and grew larger.
The shadows don’t look like a dragon, Naomi thought, blinking at what looked almost like the head of a goat. Or... was that the tail of a snake?
“That is impossible,” the darkness continued. “No fire dragon has been seen for centuries. But we did sense your power, Gregory Drago. It was the power of the storm, which grew until it finally escaped all control.”
He is dangerous, a voice behind them said, speaking straight to Naomi’s mind.
When she turned, she saw that it was the dragon sitting atop the plinth marked with the symbol of the mountain who had leaned forward, staring at Gregory from suspicious eyes.
I say he has lost his mind. He’s trying to distract us all by bringing up that ridiculous story of a fire dragon. We all know the warning signs of the madness that can take us all. Why chance another catastrophe that could give our existence away to humans?
“I was there,” Naomi said fiercely, glaring at the dragon. “You can’t judge him for something you didn’t see. I saw. I was there. I’m the one who was kidnapped by the fire dragon, damn it! Are you telling me that I’m making all of this up?”