Page 53 of Dante's Circle Reborn

“We don’t need them. We never have.”

“We havealwaysneeded them, and you know that. We’ve done fine on our own because we’ve been forced to, not because we’vethrived. Our members are dying, and there’s no coming back from that without protection and treaties and arealm. The best way to accomplish our goals and keep our people safe is by letting the Conclave know we exist. By joining their numbers. By having a voice.”

“So you say.”

“Don’t growl,” Misha said, looking over at his cousin. “We all voted on this. We’ve spent years fighting over it, trying to find a better way. But this is it. This is our legacy. And we need to protect our young, Broderick. You have a child, a mate. Do you want them to die because we’re not strong enough to protect them?”

“You question my strength?” Broderick asked, his eyes glowing red.

Misha shook his head. “You’re one of the strongest people I know, but the two of us together aren’t enough to protect everyone. We’ve known that for a long time.” And he hated himself more every day because of that glaring fact.

“I still don’t like it.”

Misha held back a smile, his body tense, ready for whatever would happen next. “I don’t like it either. But we’ll figure it out.”

“So, you went in there, did a little show, and then what?”

“I told them they’d have to recognize us or I’d do what they feared the most.”

His cousin was silent for a moment. “You would really tell the humans who we are?”

“I would do anything to protect our people, and threatening to do that is only the first step.”

“It’s against all our laws,” Broderick growled.

“I know. I don’t want to do it. And, hopefully, they won’t make us. I would do anything for our people,” Misha whispered.

“I know. You’ve sacrificed so much for us over the years, and I will be forever indebted to you.”

“There’s no debt between blood. You know that.”

“So,” Broderick said after a moment of silence, “Is the plan the same? To make friends with the dragon?”

Misha frowned and stared over at the large building where the Conclave was held. It had been dismissed after his announcement, so most people had already left, including Dante the dragon—the one that Misha had always admired from afar, though the two had never truly met. It was safer for his kind, and himself, if he stayed away from Dante. Dante was one of the most famous of all of the paranormals. He’d saved their worlds countless times over his eons of existence.

The plan had been to meet up with Dante and try to form an alliance with him and his mates. It was said that the seven lightning-struck women were all connected to him, as well. If Misha and his people were to join forces with them, maybe the Conclave would recognize his kind as having the right to exist. And if that happened, then his kind would finally be safe. Or, at least, on the way to becoming so.

“I think…I’ve found another way in,” Misha said, his chest growing tight.

Broderick frowned. “Better than the dragon? Who does the Conclave look up to more than the dragon?”

“I don’t think anyone, but I might have another connection to the Conclave. Someone close to the elders.”

“Oh?”

“I found my mate.”

Broderick’s eyes widened. “What?”

“My mate.”

“You were only gone like thirty minutes.”

“And, in that time, I went to the Conclave, told them our demands, and I found my mate. It’s been a productive day.” He still couldn’t quite believe it.

“I’ll say.” Broderick paused. “So, your mate? What the hell? What are you going to do?”

“That remains to be seen. However, she’s young. A mermaid.”

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