Page 64 of Dragon in Denial
“Go on,” the reeve said, making a shooing motion. “Let me piss in peace.”
Stepping out of the room and closing the door, Antoinette said, “The Elders need to make a decision. A lot of decisions, actually. First, you need to commit to shutting down the dragon’s blood trade.”
“How are we supposed to do that? We don’t even know who’s running it,” an Elder asked.
“Shouldn’t the reeve be in here while we talk about this?” another Elder questioned.
“I can hear just fine,” the reeve called through the closed door.
“How do you suggest we shut down the dragon’s blood trade?” the same Elder asked again.
“Darius is responsible,” Ketu supplied. “He created the recipe for dragon’s blood.”
“The reeve’s own son?” an Elder exclaimed.
“That’s terrible,” the female Elder added. “Shame on you, Darius.”
“That’s how my sister died,” Ketu said.
“The reeve’s son killed your sister?” one of the Elders asked.
“You need to punish and excommunicate Darius,” Antoinette said.
“You sure are pushy,” a different Elder commented.
Antoinette ignored him. “And you need to name the reeve’s successor. I suggest it be someone who can step in immediately while he recovers.”
“Successor?” Delilah said. “What about me?”
“That was your plan all along,” Ketu said, his eyes lighting up. “You never planned to let Delilah take over. You were just stringing her along so she could help us.”
“Well, I also wanted her to hear firsthand that her business is being shut down. But yes, I never intended to let her become reeve.”
“You are one conniving bitch,” Delilah said, nodding. “I like it.”
The bathroom door opened and the reeve slowly made his way into the room, leaning heavily on the walker as he moved. If Darius had truly been keeping him sedated for half a decade, Antoinette imagined his muscles were pretty much jelly at this point.
Delilah hurried over to him. “Are you mated?” she asked.
“No. I was with Darius’s mother for quite a few years, but she eventually found her fated mate and moved on.”
Delilah twined her arms around his bicep. “That happened to me too. More than once, actually.” She fluttered her lashes.
“It’s kind of hard to take, isn’t it? I mean, I cared for Helena. I didn’t want her to leave. But that fated mate business is no joke.”
“It really isn’t. I could tell you a story about an entire colony I cursed so that none of them could find their fated mates, ever.”
He arched his brow. “You can do that?”
She grinned. “Ihavedone it.”
While the rest of them stared, she guided him through the group of dragons hovering around the bedroom door and down the hall. Antoinette heard her say, “Let’s get you some coffee. How do you like it?”
“Strong and black. I’d also like to spread my wings and fly. It feels like it’s been a decade since I’ve shifted.”
Antoinette turned to Ketu. “Is this seriously happening?”
“Do you mean is Delilah flirting with the reeve, probably so she can convince him to mate with her and therefore she’ll be able to control the colony? Yeah, I think that’s exactly what is happening.”
