Page 12 of The Silver Spider
* * *
Amnan gavehis father two days before entering Maddugh’s office again.
“I need a warrant.”
Maddugh looked up from the pile of paperwork, brow raised. “You can’t arrest Hrutha for over-wenching, Amnan. We’ve already—”
“No. For Serephone.”
Maddugh’s expression cooled. “I told you I would handle it.”
The dismissive tone set his fangs on edge. His entire body ticked, scales roiling under the surface of his skin, waiting to burst free and fling him into flight. He needed the warrant, because he planned on leaving that evening and a document from a dragon Lord stating that the female was under his authority would go a long way towards mitigating any fireworks he knew would be set off during the struggle to bring her home. But he could tell from the set of Maddugh’s shoulders that his father wasn’t going to change his mind.
“How much longer?” Amnan asked, voice mild.
“Not much. I’ve nearly garnered the permission I need to hunt in another territory without causing a clan feud.” Irritation shone through for a moment. “You young ones don’t remember what it was like on our home world. The constant battles over hunting lands and caves.” Maddugh grimaced. “In some ways, I thank the humans for that at least—this is their world, and we’re forced to abide by their rules. Mostly. And there is more space.”
Demonstrably, since the nearest dragon enclave was several hour’s flight and enclosed in a mortal made Dome.
“Very well,” he said, and left his father’s presence. Kailigh was standing on the opposite side of the hall, watching the door gravely.
“I wanted to wait until you were done speaking with him,” she said. “You’re going after Serephone?”
He studied her. His stepmother was not a foolish woman, and her eyes were a little too knowing.
“Do you disapprove?” he asked.
“No.” She paused. “Sere isn’t an easy one, but once she gives her loyalty, you’ll have no better woman at your side.”
He bowed. “Our household is blessed by the addition of you and your daughters, Lady. I give my word I’ll make certain she comes to no harm.”
Kailigh smiled. “I thank you for the sentiment, but I won’t hold you to it. Just do your best. I’ll follow as soon as I can talk some sense into his Lordship.”
Amnan smiled as he walked down the hall. Her irritation with his father would distract Maddugh for long enough for Amnan to get a good flight’s start.
He waited. The hours grated, like claws ripping across his scales. Hours he should have spent hunting down Serephone. Hours during which she could be in serious danger, even dead. She was headstrong, too certain of her own power, and foolish—but she didn’t deserve death.
When the time was right, and everyone was in their beds and his father was otherwise occupied with the delights of marriage, Amnan slipped into the office and wrote the document he needed, forging his father’s signature and affixing the seal. A human had once told him of times when mortals communicated through flat rectangular objects filled with electricity that transmitted sound and images.
It sounded like dark, fae magic.
The drive of his desire to retrieve her astonished him, and he grimly accepted that the feelings might herald something deeper. An instinct, if unleashed, he knew he would struggle to control. He’d watched his father’s near-helpless dive into a mating with Kailigh. He wanted that for himself—but at a reasonable pace.
