If he was smart, he would’ve stayed in that form, but he didn’t. The mirage-like waves surrounding his body shimmered as his form shrank and realigned, taking on human features and size. He looked as though he’d been severely beaten, though the dark purple bruises were already starting to turn yellow thanks to the accelerated healing.
Who was this guy?
Rune leaned closer. “That’s Zhuron. The representative for the Black Clan in the Alliance.”
Oh.
That did not seem to bode well. Except, through the brand-new link that bound her soul to his, Rune’s emotions brushed against hers. Wariness, yes. But also a strange sort of calm acceptance.
Shadows overhead alerted them to more dragons, and they all looked up to watch as, one by one, three more landed and shifted. Rune murmured to her, identifying each one. “Macon, the Alliance member from the Blue Clan. Smit, from the white, and Eldar from the gold. All of the remaining Alliance members are here.”
All three men moved to Zhuron’s side, obviously standing with him.
“Well, this is a clusterfuck if I’ve ever seen one,” Zhuron said in a commanding rumble.
“I won’t fight these men anymore,” a voice suddenly called out from those across the way. Someone farther back in the trees. One of their attackers, though. “I believe we were lied to. Traitors don’t risk their own lives to do the right thing. To put out a fire to protect all dragons and to protect mates. I won’t fight.”
“Nor will I,” another took up the cry. Then another. And another.
The Huracáns and their allies all shifted on their feet, glancing at each other. What was going on here?
One of the men who’d been a part of the attack—a white dragon—stepped forward. “I don’t know what fuckery is going on at the leadership level, but these men stopped in the middle of a fight to protect mates and protect our kind from being discovered. An act of a true enforcer. I refuse to stand against them.”
Again a cry resounded throughout the gathering. The air expanded in Hadyn’s lungs. They’d won. The day at least. The loyalty of all these dragons at most.
What next, though?
Zhuron crossed his arms, staring them all down until they quieted. “Mathai is the traitor here,” he said. “I was taken to be used as a scapegoat. Those illegal weapons were his. We have a warlock in our custody who turned himself in. He has proof that Mathai wished to take out the Huracán team, then kill the remaining Alliance members and take over the Americas colony himself.”
Holy fuck. Hadyn wasn’t sure if that was her thought or Rune’s, but it didn’t matter. Similar exclamations of shock rose up from all those around them.
Zhuron waited for the sound to die down. “The remaining Alliance members and I are in agreement. Here’s how this is going to happen. We have declared Mathai a traitor, and his execution, enacted by Rune Abaddon, is legal.”
Shock hit her right in the sternum and Hadyn gasped. Everyone else had similar reactions, a low murmur rising.
What does that mean for us?
Rune wrapped a hand around hers, squeezing tight.
Zhuron held up his hand. “At this time, the clans and kings are split down the middle. Blue, Gold, and Black Clans are on one side of the king’s war, with Red, White, and Green on the other.”
“But Pytheios is High King,” someone called out. “And has a phoenix.”
Zhuron didn’t so much as bat an eyelash. “So do all three of the blue, gold, and black kings.”
Another shocked silence settled over the rumblings.
Zhuron held steady. “I am enacting wartime law immediately.”
“Which means what, exactly?” Finn demanded.
Zhuron didn’t even blink at the growl in the alpha’s voice. “It means we all go back to our homes. The remaining Alliance members are freezing all travel and rules within the Americas colonies. Any fighting or attacks against other dragon shifters, or starting dragon fires, will be dealt with swiftly and harshly. The penalty will be death. All enforcers still alive are reinstated and will continue to be available to deal with fires in their territories, but otherwise, will not be upholding the laws at this time. That will be up to your individual settlements.”
He paused, expression practically daring anyone to argue.
“What about orphans?” Lyndi called out.
“Or rogues?” Jiǎ asked.
Zhuron didn’t hesitate. “Same rights as other dragons for now. Same penalties. All dragons will be protected until a king is decided. The other option is anarchy and chaos and that will only lose more lives.”
“What about mates?” Rune demanded, pulling himself up to his full height to face down the man from his own clan.
Good fucking question. After all, she and Rune had just mated without permission or involvement by the Mating Council. Technically a major offense.
Zhuron tipped his head.
A whisper of distrust, like the stench of death on the wind, feathered through those gathered in front of them.
“I have been in direct contact with my new king,” Zhuron said. Then turned away from Rune to face the others. “All the mates Rune Abaddon took have been accounted for and are safe, unharmed and unmated.”
Hadyn bit back a smile, even as yet another surge of shock whipped through those gathered across the way.
“I pledge to you that this is the truth,” Zhuron said.
“Why’d you take them?” a voice called out.
“To protect them,” Zhuron answered for him. He cast a look at Rune, one Hadyn swore was filled with a thankful sort of pride. “He learned that the mating process was being manipulated and more and more mates have been dying or have disappeared once the Mating Council got them. He warned us. Mathai didn’t listen, and so the Alliance didn’t listen. If you wish to see proof, I have it at our mountain.”
“Fuck, man,” Rivin muttered off to her right.
Rune said nothing, but his hand around hers relaxed. So did his mind.
“To that end, with Rune’s input, the Alliance will be forming a group to supervise and protect any newly discovered unturned mates until we know better what to do to find their mates.” Zhuron turned to face her mate directly, the light of challenge in his eyes. “Do you accept?”
After a long pause, Rune nodded. Just once.
The gathering seemed to release a collective breath.
Her mate—a rogue, a traitor, an outlaw with a bounty on his head—was now a trusted advisor. In the course of a single night.
Hadyn squeezed his hand. The man was…incredible.