Page 64 of Claimed By the Dragon
However, she knew it was Madalena Silva, her ex’s mother.
She nearly growled. But Trahern squeezed her hand again, reminding Grace that no matter how much she wanted to drag the dragonwoman outside and tell her to sod off, she wouldn’t give her anything to use against them.
Soon after Madalena sat down, the door at the front of the room opened. They all stood as the panel of arbiters walked in, consisting of three men and two women. After they sat behind a long table—one on a dais raised six inches above the floor—everyone followed suit.
Grace’s heart raced as she waited for someone to speak. Eventually the man sitting in the center, with gray hair, dark skin, and dark eyes, put on a pair of spectacles and finally stated, “We’re here to discuss the custody of Elijah and Edward Lewis. Are all parties present and ready to begin?”
She was about to reply in the affirmative when the doors at the back of the room opened. After turning, she gasped as the tall forms of Rhydian Griffiths, Wren Jones, and Dr. Maelon Perry from Snowridge took their seats at the back.
She whispered to Trahern, “Did you know they were coming?”
“No. They provided statements, but I said it was unnecessary for them to come in person.”
The man at the front table cleared his throat, regaining control of the room. Once silent, he stated, “I will excuse your tardiness since my assistant tells me you came all the way fromWales. Now, let’s begin. We’re here today to determine the best homes for Elijah and Edward. Their paternal grandmother, Madalena Silva, has put in a request for full custody, based on the unsuitability of Dr. Trahern Lewis as a guardian. Dr. Lewis’s own father has provided statements to bolster her claim, and will join us shortly to answer our questions. However, Mrs. Grace Lewis has refuted their objections and provided her own evidence and character witnesses for why Dr. Lewis is a suitable guardian. Since the burden of proof falls on Dr. and Mrs. Lewis to disprove the claims, Ms. Beckett, please begin your defense.”
As Hayley cited various case law, as well as the criminal history of Trahern’s father, and how Grace’s ex had sold her to dragon hunters and would be a danger to the twins if his mother gained custody, Grace took strength from Trahern’s hand in hers.
Trahern still tried to understand why Rhydian and the others from Snowridge had traveled to England. It would’ve taken considerable paperwork and time to get here.
His dragon spoke up.They were our allies before, no matter how much you tried to ignore the entire clan.
Before he could think of a response, Hayley called Rhydian to the front of the room. Once he sat in front of a microphone, Trahern focused on his former clan leader.
Hayley asked, “You’re the current leader of Clan Snowridge in Wales, correct?”
“Aye. For many years now.”
“So you’re familiar with Trahern and his father, Dewi Lewis?”
“Of course. Even though Dewi left the clan years ago, I’m very aware of him. Especially as he’s wanted by the clan for neglect of a child and attempted murder.”
Trahern frowned. He’d never heard of this.
Hayley continued, “For neglect and attempted murder of his son.”
“Aye. The former head doctor, Arwel Hughes, found high amounts of poison in Trahern’s body as a boy, and was acquainted with Trahern and knew he’d never take the poison willingly or by mistake—he was a very clever lad with plants and science and such. However, whilst the former clan leader never addressed it, I take harm to a child seriously. Once I became clan leader and learned of it, I informed my head Protector to detain Dewi Lewis. That’s when he fled Snowridge and never returned.”
Trahern’s head spun. Was it true? Had his father run away because he’d been wanted for a crime and not because of him embarrassing the male?
His dragon said softly,He was an arsehole. I never liked him, but knew you would never listen to me about him. Maybe now you’ll accept he was a horrible person and none of his words were true.
Hayley retrieved a folder and placed it in front of the man in the center of the front table. “New evidence for you to consider, Mr. Bailey. It’s the medical records from Dr. Hughes and the warrant for Dewi Lewis’s arrest, signed by Rhydian Griffiths.”
The man scanned the documents and passed them to one of his colleagues. “The warrant was approved by the DDA and still stands. As such, as soon as Dewi Lewis appears, he’ll be handed over to Snowridge’s custody.” He glanced at Madalena at the other table. “Do you still wish to use him as your key character witness?”
The dragonwoman shook her head. “No. But my claim on my grandsons still stands. I won’t let that male neglect and kill them.”
Trahern growled, but Grace shook her head a fraction. He rarely showed his temper, and he needed to get himself under control.
The man gestured toward Hayley. “Then continue stating your case, Ms. Beckett.”
And as Hayley interviewed each of the dragonmen from Snowridge, Trahern had trouble believing their words were true.
They lauded his intelligence, his willingness to help other doctors with research, and how dedicated he’d been to his patients back on Snowridge. How he’d given lectures to children at the school, and helped a few better understand chemistry or biology. Or, how he’d given advice to the teachers on how to handle another student who’d shown similar habits to him and how to engage him better.
So many things he’d forgotten about and had dismissed as inconsequential.
His dragon spoke again.It’s because you never took praise or compliments to heart, always believing the worst of people thanks to our father’s influence.
