“There is always a choice.” Obsidian’s eyes blazed.
“If the choice is life or death,” Mountain growled. “Your life or your death, brother. That’s what we are talking about here, and if that is the choice, you need to listen to Demi.”
“That’s fucked up!” Obsidian whispered. He turned his gaze to her. “We’re talking about a lifetime here. You would have to spend it with him.”
“We are talking about your life, Obsidian,” she urged, trying to get through to him.
“He has enough on you to make this stick.” Mountain clenched a fist, frowning heavily. “He has witnesses to back him up. The blood and your seed in that clearing. His bruising after you attacked him. Your threats to him will be his word against yours but I know what others will think.”
“It is settled,” Demi said. “I am going to accept Cody. Accept our future together, even if it’s not what I want. It is enough that everyone knows it. Deep down…they know.”
“It shouldn’t be enough and you shouldn’t have to do this.” Obsidian’s beautiful chestnut eyes bore into hers.
“It’s how it has to be.” She felt like gasping out a sob when he finally nodded.
“Thank scale!” Mountain growled, sounding relieved. “I didn’t think you would back down.”
“Too stubborn for your own good,” Shale remarked. “Do not worry female, we will take good care of Obsidian.”
“Who is going to take care of Demi?” His eyes were still on her. They were filled with concern.
Her heart hurt with every beat. “I can take care of myself.” She pulled her shoulders back.
“You shouldn’t have to,” he said, under his breath. Then Obsidian turned to the others. “You can go now, please. Give us some space.”
He didn’t look back at her until the door clicked shut. “I’m sorry,” he said. Like it was his fault. Demi had never met anyone more powerful and yet so incredibly sweet.
“I don’t think we would be breaking any rules if we hugged now.”
Obsidian’s lips twitched. “No,” his voice was a deep rasp. “I don’t think we would.” He put his arms around her.
It felt so good. Like no one else existed in the world but them. “Don’t let me go just yet.”
“I will never let you go,” Obsidian murmured. “Never.”
If only it was true. If only. She hugged him tighter.
* * *
Obsidian wore a pair of cotton pants that his brother must have brought for him. The wounds on his chest were now puckered pink scars. Except for the one closest to his heart ‒ that was scabbed over. Not as healed as the others. She couldn’t take her eyes off of it. Couldn’t take her eyes off of him. He was standing tall, jaw tight, muscles taut. He looked the picture of health, but she knew the silver was still taking its toll on him. There was a light sheen of sweat on his brow and his color was a little on the pale side. The sooner this was over with the better.
Everyone from their village was in attendance. She couldn’t help but notice how the bears were to one side and the wolves to the other. A clear division. They were in the square. Everyone wanted to see the dragons. They wanted to see the male who had caused all the trouble. Obsidian was shackled. Hands secured behind his back like a criminal. Demi swallowed thickly. She’d protested against the silver restraints, but her requests had fallen on deaf ears. Nothing new there!
She smoothed a hand over her dress, standing proud. Demi needed to remain calm. She wasn’t going to show any emotion. How angry she was. How hurt. How scared. None of that mattered. Only Obsidian mattered. His life mattered. If she showed any of the things she was feeling, he wouldn’t go through with this. She knew he would end up sacrificing himself and she could not allow that to happen.
Cody cleared his throat. He was standing next to her. “Thank you all for coming,” he addressed the crowd. “I would especially like to thank the Earth Prince, Shale, for making the trip. I only wish it could have been under better circumstances. One of your earth dragons has been trespassing on our territory. That male,” he pointed, “Obsidian, came onto our lands and abducted one of our females.”
Obsidian clenched his teeth, his eyes narrowed. Demi had to bite her tongue.
Say nothing ‒ Cody had warned.
“The dragon took my female,” Cody growled, taking her hand. “Took her, and hurt her…”
Gasps and cries came from the crowd. Mountain growled low. Shale gripped the male by the forearm and shook his head.
“I want to spare Demi any further pain and suffering,” Cody shouted above the din, “so, we won’t talk about that night.” He put his arm around her shoulders, pulling her towards him.
How convenient. For him. If they didn’t talk about it, the truth ‒ namely, that nothing bad had happened ‒ wouldn’t be able to come out.
‘Agree to everything I say without question,’ Cody had made her promise.
“The dragon, Obsidian, blindsided me when I questioned him on his actions. He broke three of my ribs. The male wouldn’t leave my female alone after that. Even after Demi and I mated. I expressly forbade him from returning to our territory. I said that I wouldn’t take things further if he stayed clear of Demi and of Vale Creek, but he wouldn’t listen.” Cody pointed at Obsidian, who snarled.
Shit!
Don’t. She shook her head once. Obsidian only made things look worse by retaliating.
“I was forced to take things into my own hands. I was fearful of the safety of my female.” He closed his arm a little tighter around her. It felt like a threat rather than a comfort. “That’s why I shot the dragon. I couldn’t have him coming here, scaring my female, putting all of our lives at risk.”
Shale had his arms folded. He was staring daggers at Obsidian. Mountain’s face was red. Both his fists were clenched.
Obsidian, surprisingly, looked relatively calm.
Cody pulled in a deep breath. He looked like he was wrestling with something. All a pretense, of course. One big lie to add on top of all the other lies. She burst inside. Wanting to say something, needing so badly to set the record straight. “I discussed all of the ins and outs of this awful situation with the Earth Prince. You see, we have a relationship with the dragons. None of the packs wish to put strain on that relationship. I am within my rights to call a trial…to ask for the dragon’s head but I have decided against this course of action.”
There was more gasping, more talk amongst the pack.
“I have come to a decision. Obsidian will return home with his brother and the Prince. He will never come back to our territory. He will never bother my female again. The dragons will mete out the necessary punishments.” He looked in Shale’s direction and the Prince nodded. “Do you agree to the terms, Obsidian?”
“No!” Obsidian spat out the word, eyes narrowed on Cody.
A collective gasp went through the crowd. She felt Cody tense.
Her own mouth fell open. Why didn’t he listen?
“I insist on being put to death,” Obsidian said. “I forced myself on the female. I broke several of your ribs. I keep coming back and guess what…I won’t stop coming back onto your territory. I won’t stop harassing you, so you may as well take my head.”
“No,” Cody said, sounding confused. “You can go.” He looked towards Shale and Mountain. “Take the male and keep him off our lands.”
“They won’t be able to do that.” Obsidian shook his head. “Take my head!” he snarled. “That way you won’t have any more hold over Demi, you sick fuck!”
“Stop!” Mountain bellowed. “Don’t do this, Obsidian!”
Cody opened and closed his mouth. A look of horror on his face.
“What?” Obsidian, pulled at the shackles, which clanged. “You don’t know what to do now that you can’t use me to manipulate Demi anymore? She doesn’t want to be with you, and you won’t use me to make her do what you want. Not happening. I would rather die.” Obsidian sounded calm and fully in control.
&nb
sp; “You heard the male,” Cody snarled. “You heard his confession.”
“No!” Demi yelled, pulling away from Cody. “Stop this! It’s not true. None of it is. Obsidian has done nothing wrong. He didn’t hurt me I—”
“My poor female isn’t thinking straight,” Cody said. “After her ordeal—”
“I’m perfectly fine!” she yelled.
“She is confused after all she suffered.” Cody looked distraught, putting on an act even she was inclined to believe. “You heard the dragon. He forced himself on her—”
“Stop!” It was a voice she never expected to hear. Her father walked up to where Cody was standing. “This has gone far enough, and it needs to stop. Let the dragon go.”
“How can you say that, Sampson? This is your daughter we’re talking about. There is the male who hurt her.” Cody pointed at Obsidian.
“I struggled to believe Demi when she told me you had changed. I thought she was exaggerating because she didn’t agree with the mating. I kept holding on to my belief that our traditions needed to be upheld. That this mating needed to happen.”
“It did! It does! Our traditions are all we have. There has been increased fighting between our two species. It wouldn’t have happened if we had been properly mated,” Cody countered. “Our traditions do need to be upheld, Sampson. This male needs to be dealt with for—”
“All that male is guilty of is trying to protect my daughter. If Demi says he did nothing wrong, then I know he did nothing wrong. Come on, Cody! You are about to end a male’s life to get what you want. That’s not okay.” He shook his head. “Maybe the power of being Alpha has gotten to your head. Or, it might be the love you have for my daughter that’s making you behave irrationally. I’m not sure what’s going on with you, but I do know this needs to end.”
“I am the Alpha of this pack. Demi is my mate. Mine!” he snarled. “That male hurt her…by his own admission.”
“He did nothing wrong,” her father said. “He only said all that to protect Demi. To get her out of a bad situation. You are that bad situation, son. Do you even realize that?”
Cody barked out a laugh. “I am Demi’s mate. That is crazy talk.” He took her hand, gripping her hard.
Obsidian snarled, yanking against his shackles. The males on either side of him fought hard to hold him back.
“See. Look at that beast.” Cody pointed. “It is feral.”
“Do not talk about my brother like that,” Mountain rasped. “Your lies are—”
Shale was holding him back. “Let this play out,” the Earth Prince said, saying it more than once, until Mountain relaxed.
“He hurt your daughter,” Cody spat. “Won’t leave us alone. He keeps harassing her, she’s told him to leave her be, but he won’t listen.”
“Obsidian didn’t hurt me!” Demi yelled. She cried out when Cody squeezed her hand.
Obsidian snarled louder.
“My female is confused. That’s all,” Cody said. “Confused, right, sweetheart?” He glanced her way. Not waiting for her to answer. “I am the Alpha and my decision is final. That creature raped and hurt Demi. It attacked me. The male has trespassed three times on Vale Creek soil and keeps harassing Demi. I want it beheaded today.”
“No!” she shouted, ripping away from his hold. “I am not confused. For the last time, Obsidian didn’t hurt me.”
“That isn’t going to happen,” her father said.
“My decision is final,” Cody spat.
“There are six of us on the Council. I would need three more votes to counter this decision.”
“Three votes you won’t get.” Cody narrowed his eyes.
Shit! Cody was right. Three members of the Council were wolves and three were bears. Her father would have a hard time getting the bears on his side. Especially with the packs so divided at the moment.
“Who will stand with me?” her father asked. “The only thing this dragon is guilty of is of loving my daughter. Of trying to protect her from Cody.”
“That’s absurd!” Cody spat. “I love my female with all my heart.”
“The awful reality is that I do believe you, son, but you’re taking this too far. This needs to stop. I vote to let the dragon go. To allow the dragons to leave safely, to return to their own lands. Who will stand with me?”
Within seconds, two of the Council members put up their hands. Both wolves.
“Thank you,” her father said. “What of you, Thomas?” He looked at the male in question. Thomas frowned. After half a minute, he finally shook his head. “I’m sorry,” he muttered.
“Mac? Will you do the right thing?” her father asked, looking at the male in question.
Cody growled low, his lip curling away from his teeth.
The bear elder looked like he was deep in thought. It didn’t take long for him to say, “Cody is our Alpha. The decision lies with him,” Mac finally conceded. “I can’t…” He shook his head, looking unhappy but sticking with his decision.
There was only one Council member left. Laird, Cody’s father.
“There it is then.” Cody grinned. “I am sorry to have to say,” he bit back a smile, although his eyes still danced with malice, “but that leaves me with no choice but to—”
“I still have a vote,” Laird interjected.
“What?” Cody frowned. “Surely you would side with the bears? With me? I am your son. I have Demi’s best interest at heart. You have my word on that.”
“Bears, wolves…we are all one pack. I refuse to take sides,” Laird said. “I have known Demi for many years. She is a level-headed female who—”
“Who suffered an ordeal,” Cody insisted.
“The dragon can go,” Laird said. “I agree with Sampson. I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you, old friend.” Laird nodded in Sampson’s direction. “I’m listening now. You can go, dragon,” Laird addressed Obsidian.
“What of Demi?” Obsidian asked. “She is not safe with that male.”
“Bullshit!” Cody snarled. “I love my female. You want to steal her from me, you bastard!” he spat. “For that and for that alone, you deserve to die.”
Finally, a hint at the truth.
“Stop, son!” Laird looked tired. “I think Demi should go home to visit with her parents until we get this—”
Cody roared. He lunged for Demi, pulling her into his arms. “No one is taking her from me.”
“What is going on with you?” Laird asked. “I’m worried. I’ve noticed some changes in you, but I never imagined it was this bad.”
“I am worried too,” her father agreed, frowning. “Let Demi go, please, Cody. Let’s discuss—”
“I will complete the mating and we will be together.” Cody held her against him, holding too tight. “She is mine. I need her. I—” He squeezed her even tighter.
Obsidian roared. He broke free from one of his captors. The shackles rattled.
“Let me go!” Demi shouted. “Let me…” She elbowed Cody who wheezed as her arm connected with his diaphragm. His hold faltered and she broke free.
Demi took one stride away from him before he yanked her back. She was done with being afraid. Done! She turned, closed the distance between them and kneed him in the balls. Cody groaned as he crumpled to the ground. He reached out to her. “Brie,” he groaned. “Please…don’t leave me. You can’t go. Not again.”
Demi shook her head. “She’s gone, Cody. My sister is gone.”
“No.” Tears trickled down his cheeks. “Don’t say that! Don’t you say that. Come back, Brie.” He held his arms open. “We can be together again. Everything will be fine if you just…”
“Come, son.” Laird helped Cody to his feet. “Let’s go home.”
“No,” Cody raged. “No!” He swung a fist at his father. Within seconds, several males had Cody in a hold. “Leave me!” Cody yelled. “Brie!” His eyes were wild, darting around the crowd until they landed on her. “Come back!” he shouted. “Please!”
It was only wh
en a drop of wet landed on her chest that she realized she was crying. It was worse than she ever suspected. Cody was a complete mess. He was suffering a mental breakdown.
She was still technically mated to him too, which meant that her life was one big mess as well.
Chapter 19
Later that day…
Obsidian knocked on the door. It wasn’t long and Demi’s father answered. “Hello, sir.” He bowed his head when he spoke as a sign of submission and respect. He half expected the male to turn him away.
Instead, he was greeted with a smile. “I’m Demi’s father, Sampson.” He held out his hand.
For a few seconds, he was too gobsmacked to do anything but stand there. “Um…yes…I’m…I’m Obsidian,” he finally answered, clasping the male’s wrist.
“Thank you.” The male’s eyes became watery. “For being there for Demi. You knew there was something going on. You…I mean,” he shook his head in thought, “we knew she had taken her sister’s death hard and we knew she was opposed to the mating, but we didn’t realize…I just didn’t realize what was really going on with Cody. You knew though, you just knew.” He shrugged.
“I have learned over the years to look beyond words. I always tended to speak less and observe more. It is just the way I am wired. Others haven’t always understood me because of it. I always wished I could be more normal. Now I’m happy I am the way I am because I was able to help Demi. I could see she was in trouble. Your daughter is...she is wonderful.” It didn’t come even close to describing how amazing Demi was.
“Yes, she is.” He nodded. “I have resumed the role as Alpha…at least for the time being. I just wanted to say that you are welcome on our soil…in our skies too, for that matter.” Sampson smiled.
“Thank you, sir.”
“Are you going to leave the poor male in the doorway for the whole evening?” a female called from inside.
“Oh, where are my manners?” Sampson stood to the side. “Won’t you come in?” Obsidian did just that. “This is my mate, Delilah,” the older male continued.
Savage Dragon: Earth Dragons Series: Book 2 Page 14