Page 41 of Alan

“Keira. Babe.” Emelie leaned forward. She had maintained silence up to that point; there had been nothing for her to add to the conversation, after all. “This is not your fault. You had nothing to do with it.”

“Emelie is correct.” Tamhas slid an arm around Keira’s waist. “No one holds you responsible.”

No. She’d done nothing to harm us. She was merely a child, innocent of the sins of those around her. In the end, she might have been the one destined to reunite us, since those in power before her birth had torn us asunder.

It was Gavin I held responsible. Gavin and whichever member of our clan had allowed himself to be sheltered, shielding himself in cowardly silence while so many lives were destroyed as a result.

They couldn’t have known where their action, or inaction, would lead us. But it had likely resulted in Gavin’s death, at the very least.

I realized then that Keira and Emelie and I shared something in common: all three of us had been called upon to question everything we thought we knew. I’d held Gavin in nothing but the highest regard throughout my life, wishing to model myself after him as a leader and as a dragon.

In the months since his demise, I’d pushed myself at all times, in all matters, to follow his sterling example. Time and again I’d quietly resented myself for falling short, for losing control, for allowing outsiders into our tight-knit clan.

It was time for me to stand on my own, to forge a new era for the clan.

Before I spoke, I looked down at Emelie. Her eyes were on me, shining and trusting, a slight smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. As though she knew what I was about to suggest and supported the notion. How could it be that someone I’d only just met understood me so well?

She is our fated mate, my dragon reminded me.

Quite so. But still, I had so much more to learn of this woman. And her to learn of me.

“I believe there is a solution which might benefit both sides,” I began. “There is no reason for the eleven of you to live here, with the Gwydions bearing down on you. If you believe you could be comfortable with us, and that we might be able to compromise when necessary, you are more than welcome to share our cave.”

Ainsley gasped, but she was pleased. Her hand grasped mine and squeezed gently. A glance at Tamhas from the corner of my eye told me he agreed as well.

I might have done better to discuss the notion with the clan before making the suggestion, but there were times when a leader had to make decisions on his own.

If the Gwydions were still a threat, we would do better to act in conjunction with the Blood Moon Priestesses. Offering them our protection was the olive branch which I hoped would serve as a first step toward rebuilding our partnership.

Selene looked to Hecate, Iris, Callie, Electra. One by one. Only Iris hesitated in giving her consent, and when she did, she gave it grudgingly. But even she was not so hard-headed as to deny the course of action which made the most sense.

Selene’s brilliant smile seemed to light up the room. “A generous offer, and one which I am happy to accept. Iris, make the announcement to the others. We shall gather our things and prepare ourselves to leave at once.”

She was not one to take her time, evidently. “Fair enough.”

“Do you think the others will agree with this?” Ainsley whispered once the witches set out to prepare their belongings.

“I see no reason why not, once the reason behind the decision is explained. This is a solution which benefits both sides. Go out, gather the others, have them wait for me in the main room where we had our meeting. I’m certain they will have questions once they see the witches moving about.”

Within moments, I was alone with Emelie. As I wanted nothing more than to be. I sat on the edge of the bed with a chuckle and a shrug of my shoulders. “How did I do?” I asked.

She slid her hand into mine. “You did just great. It was a good idea. It took balls to put it out there like that.”

I laughed at her turn of phrase. “Forgive me. I’m not laughing at you. I’m unaccustomed to hearing it put so plainly, is all.”

“Get used to it,” she grinned.

“Do you mean that?”

“Do I mean what?”

“That you wish for me to become accustomed to your way of expressing yourself?”

She looked stricken. “Oh. Um. Did I speak out of turn? Because if I did, I’m sorry. I just figured… I mean, after what happened and all, and since, I don’t know, it seems like we have a thing happening between us… If I was wrong, just forget it.”

“You are not wrong.” I took her face in my hands, held it there, relished the softness of her skin. “I believe we are thinking along the same lines.”

A slow smile spread across her face, lighting her up the way dawn light up the morning sky. “You know what’s crazy? I mean, crazier than all of this?”

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