Page 45 of Purple Protector

“I apologize, your Majesty,” Mitri said as he looked at the floor. “I don’t trust the human. I think he doesn’t belong here.”

“You said that if I didn’t leave the palace on my own, I’d leave it dead,” Aaron burst out. “You wrapped your hand around my throat and pinned me to the wall.” And if Aaron wasn’t mistaken, that would leave bruises. It hurt enough to, anyway.

Killian lightly shook his head at Aaron. Aaron understood that Killian wanted to hear from Mitri, so he pressed his lips together. Doing that hurt, too.

“I might have threatened him,” Mitri admitted. “I’m sorry for that. I shouldn’t have.”

“You’re right,” Killian agreed. “You shouldn’t have. I won’t tolerate threats to any of my clan members, dragons or humans. I don’t expect you or any other dragon to understand why I’m welcoming humans into our clan, but you’ll respect them and treat them the way you would any dragon. Now, Aaron’s going to apologize for punching you, and you’ll apologize for threatening and hitting him. He might have thrown the first punch, but you knew what you were doing when you threatened him, and you continued the fight, even though he’s obviously weaker than you.”

“Your Majesty, he attacked me,” Mitri complained.

“He’s the one with bruises around his neck. I don’t care who started what. We’re not children. I only care that one of you is hurt, while the other looks fine.”

“He could have hurt me.”

“If he did, I can ask a healer to take a look at you.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Mitri said. He glanced at Aaron. “I apologize for what I said to you. I shouldn’t have.”

Aaron didn’t want to apologize to this asshole, but he understood why he had to. He needed to support Killian. “I apologize for punching you.”

“Good. You can go, Mitri. Be aware that this is your one and only warning. If I get news of you fighting again, I won’t go as easy on you as I have today.”

The guard, who’d still been holding Mitri, let go, and Aaron’s attacker rushed to the door. The guards turned their attention to Killian, and Killian nodded, tilting his chin toward the door. “Go after him and watch him for a few days,” he ordered.

The guards left the room. As soon as Marlin closed the door, Birch walked around Killian’s desk and rushed to Aaron’s side. Aaron collapsed against his chest and took a deep breath.

Fuck. He’d made it. He’d fought a dragon and had survived. He almost couldn’t believe it. He knew that if Mitri had wanted to kill him, he would have, but the dragon had clearly been surprised by the fact that Aaron was standing up to him. Aaron had done the right thing, even though he’d been ready to run away in fear.

Birch gently cupped Aaron’s cheek. “Look what he did to you,” he murmured.

“I’m fine,” Aaron reassured him. “It hurts a bit, but it’s not that bad. He didn’t have the opportunity to do more.”

“And even if he had, you would’ve stood up to him,” Marlin said. “I’m impressed. You did a good job.”

“Don’t encourage him,” Killian complained. “I can’t have Aaron going around punching people, no matter what they say to him.”

“I promise I won’t do it again,” Aaron told him. “I wouldn’t have done it in the first place if I hadn’t felt threatened. I did throw the first punch, but I’m sure he would’ve attacked me even if I hadn’t.”

“I suspect that you’re right. Still, you need to be careful. I don’t want anything to happen to you. No one here does.”

Aaron leaned harder against Birch’s side. “I’m sorry for making your life more complicated.”

“What are you talking about?” the king asked.

“Your sister’s going to use this against you, isn’t she?”

“Oh, definitely. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’d been the one to organize it. This has nothing to do with you, though, Aaron.”

“She’s using me.”

“She is, but she could as easily use Palmer or Taylor. She wants the throne, and she’ll use anything or anyone to get it. She doesn’t understand that it’ll never be hers.”

Aaron hoped he was right. He didn’t know Pearl that well, but he could tell that she wouldn’t be a good queen. She wanted the throne for her own benefit, while Killian was trying to do the best for the clan.

“Birch, take the rest of the day off. Palmer should be here any second, and once he makes sure that Aaron’s okay, I want you to take him home and relax. Aaron, please stay out of trouble and let Birch take care of you.”

Aaron’s cheeks flushed, but he nodded. “Considering how I’m feeling, I think I can promise I won’t look for trouble anytime soon.”

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