Chapter 7
Brad wasn’t too happy to be sent back to the room with Ultrima, but at least they took the lightning dragon away this time. Brad wondered what he’d think of Barry the lawyer.
He wondered what Barry would think of him.
Could anything come of this idea of representing him too? Could anything come of the truce the Rian dragons had been trying to form with the Trima dragons? Did any of it matter, when the police were out there hunting for Lyrian?
Brad heaved a sigh. He felt so helpless here. Even more helpless than he had out there with Lyrian, not knowing what to do when dragons were chasing them.
In retrospect, he’d been able to do quite a lot to help then. Driving cars as they ran away from dragons, shooting at them.
In here, he could do nothing. Nothing except talk.
Maybe that would help at some point in the future. Brad slumped down on the stretcher, exhaustion overtaking him. How long had it been since he’d slept, really slept? He’d lost count of the days. Probably not since he’d come to Australia.
He gave a short laugh. Nate looked at him, but didn’t ask what was funny, only gave a wry smile. His twin brother got it without him even having to say it.
Brad wondered if Ultrima would be gone long enough for him to get some sleep, but he doubted it.
He was right. Ultrima was back not long after. He couldn’t have been gone more than twenty minutes. Well, Barry probably didn’t have as much to say to him.
Brad wondered, though, if Ultrima was interested in the lawyer’s offer of help. Or did the Trima dragon have some plan of his own? He’d have to have, wouldn’t he, to have given himself up to the police like that?
The lightning dragon didn’t say anything as the woman returned him to the room and locked the door behind him. He walked back to the stretcher and sat down, leaning back against the wall and closing his eyes.
It occurred to Brad that perhaps he was tired too.
It was strange, to be feeling sympathy for his enemy. A little uncomfortable.
But really, the Trima dragon wasn’t in a much better position than they were. Sure, he could probably bust his way out of here, but it wouldn’t help any more than Barry getting Brad off any charges would. Their clans would still be in trouble, and somehow, that was far worse than any personal issues.
“Did you ask your legal man to speak to me?”
Was it Brad’s imagination, or was Ultrima’s voice a little quieter this time, more respectful?
“It wasn’t my idea, no. Someone back at the clan suggested it. Lisa, I think.” Ultrima had met Lisa, he’d saved her life in fact. Maybe the Trima dragon would think this was her repaying the debt.
Somehow, he wasn’t sure if it was a good plan to tell Ultrima that his life dragon was working with them to wake the princess and ask if she really loved him. He suspected that wouldn’t go over well.
Ultrima raised an eyebrow. “Lisa? She wanted to help me? After I made her mate promise never to see her again? Somehow I find that hard to believe.”
That’s right, Ultrima didn’t know Latrima had rescinded that deal either. Brad hid a wince. “Maybe she’s hoping that you’d release him in gratitude?”
The Trima leader’s eyes narrowed. “What is going on? Tell me the truth, human. Or you may not live to regret it.”
Brad swallowed, then took a deep breath, trying not to give into the fear. Any connection he’d felt to the Trima dragon after their chats earlier dissipated. He and Nate were locked in a room with the irritated lightning dragon, angering him probably wasn’t the best plan. Maybe he should have just kept quiet.
But Nate was watching him, a trusting smile on his face. His brother didn’t seem worried at all. He seemed confident that Brad could deal with the Trima dragon.
Brad straightened his shoulders. He was a Rian prince. He could do this. Even if he did have no idea how.
Inspiration hit him as he thought of all the dragons needed to accomplish.
“Look, you’ve seen all those humans out there. They’re scared, and I probably don’t have to tell you that when humans are scared, they can be just as dangerous as dragons. I figure if we want to keep the clans safe, and find a place for them in this world, then we need to show them a united front. If they see us constantly attacking each other, then they’re going to see us as warlike and dangerous. I’m sure you don’t want that any more than we do.”
Ultrima was still frowning, but his expression seemed a little less angry now. “Are you suggesting a truce?”
“It seems like it could be a good idea. At least until we get out of here and get these humans off our back. The enemy of my enemy is my friend and all that.”
Brad held his breath, wondering if there was any hope the dragon would agree with them. The possibility seemed too good to be true, but then again, the Trima dragon hadn’t blasted him yet.
Ultrima raised an eyebrow. “You’re not even a dragon. Why do you think Rian clan would agree to a truce, even if you managed to convince me it was worth my while?”
Brad hesitated, torn between using his credentials to add weight to his offer, and keeping his mate a secret to protect her.
But he knew that Lyrian wouldn’t hesitate. She’d put her life on the line if she thought it would keep her clan safe.
Could he do any less?
He took a deep breath. “I’m mated to Princess Lyrian.”
One of Ultrima’s eyebrows shot up. “Rian clan has managed to wake another dragon? Trima clan must be shirking their duties in my absence.”
Brad hesitated. Was it possible the Trima dragon had an inkling that things had been going on behind his back? Latrima was only trying to help him achieve his aim, but it was possible he might object, if he knew the truth.
But his story, at least, didn’t incriminate his clan. “Actually, my uncle woke Lyrian a year ago by accident. Up until last week, she has been searching for her clan. I helped her find them.”
“And she mated you because of her undying gratitude?” Ultrima’s mind voice sounded amused. Teasing, if a dragon could be teasing.
“That, or because she loved me. One or the other.”
As soon as the quip was out of his mouth, Brad wished he could take it back. What was he doing, joking with a dragon?
But Ultrima actually let out a laugh. “I like you,” he proclaimed. “If your lawyer is smart enough to get us out of here, I might just agree to work with you. For the good of both our clans, of course.”
Brad stared at him, finding his words hard to take in. Had Ultrima just agreed to a truce with Rian clan? Because of something he said?
Or was the lightning dragon just wanting to get closer to Rian clan, so he could find a way to talk to Lyrian’s sister? To pressure her again?
“See,” Nate said into his mind. “I knew you could do it.”
Brad was glad his brother had had confidence in him, because he certainly hadn’t.
He had no idea what he was doing. He was feeling his way in the dark by guess and intuition. It was hard to stride confidently when he was sure that at any minute he was going to smash his knee on a jagged rock and fall.
But inching along in the dark wasn’t going to get them out of this.