Rask
Adrenaline was the only thing keeping me on my feet. Nothing existed but the desire to defend my mate and my child. After Tarren was nothing but a furry smear on the ground, the pain came rushing back. I forced myself to fly the short distance back to the house to make sure Chandler and Reve were okay. Once I was certain they were safe, my legs gave out beneath me. My throat burned from the smoke, worse than Chandler’s as I had tried to shield him. My shoulder throbbed and my head was spinning from blood loss.
Everything was a blur. I vaguely recalled people gathered around me. And then, flying. I opened my eyes to see other dragons carrying me. I could sense my mate and let my eyes shut again. I awoke on and off, dimly aware of Chandler, human and cradling Reve, holding vigil by my side all night.
I didn’t remember turning back at sunrise, or even the sunrise at all. The next thing I knew I was in our room in the mansion, tucked into bed. Chandler was in a chair by my side, head down and asleep. Before I could panic, I spied Lawrence sitting nearby, holding Reve.
“How are they?” I asked. My voice was still rough.
“Worry not, my friend, they are well,” he said. “Dr. Craik arrived just after daybreak. Chandler has recovered fully from the smoke and slumbers now. He refused to leave your side. Reve was unharmed and rests now. You, too, recover swiftly. But ware,” he warned me, “Dr. Craik has attached your arm to a device. Do not be alarmed.”
I turned to examine my arm. I was glad Lawrence had warned me. A strange thread ran from my hand up to a bag that hung by my bedside. The bag was full of clear liquid, and appeared to be dripping it into the thread, that I could now see was hollow. It looked as though it were actually entering my hand. As I stared at it, puzzled, I thought of the description Nolan had given us of the medication he would use for Chandler during the birth.
“Is this an epidural?”
“I know not,” said Lawrence. “Dr. Craik called an eye-vee. He said it is administering water and medication to you as you slumber.”
“Indeed,” I murmured. “It seems to be working, I feel much better.”
“He said you would.” Lawrence stood and moved toward me. “Would you like to hold your son?”
I held my arms out immediately, heedless of the eye-vee. “Yes.”
He placed Reve in my arms and I cradled him gently against me. “Never again,” I whispered to him. “I swear to you, my son. Never again will I allow you to come so close to harm.”
“There is… another matter,” said Lawrence hesitantly.
“What is it?”
“While it is known you acted in self-defense, Parliament must still discuss the death of Tarren.”
I nodded. I had expected as much.
“It seems that quite a few members have come here. They plan to question you and your mate. And… I have been informed that they wish to question all of us about what transpired when we were shipwrecked.”
“They are ready to come to a decision about our fate?”
“So it would seem. Rask, there is something I wanted to discuss with you, about the island…”
Chandler began to stir. My attention turned quickly to my mate as his eyes fluttered open. He broke into a wide smile when he saw me.
“Rask! You're awake!” He flung himself to me and wrapped his arms around me. “I was so worried. I love you, I love you so much.”
“And I, you. Forgive me, for allowing you to come to harm.”
“Apologize only for getting hurt,” Chandler said. “And promise you will never do it again.”
“I will,” I said, laughing with relief at my mate.
“Do you want some water?”
“Please,” I said, clearing my throat.
Reve began to wiggle and I regarded him as Chandler crossed the room to the sink. Reve’s eyes opened and he blinked several times.
“Hello, my little one. Bonjour.”
He broke into the widest, most beautiful, toothless smile I had ever seen. I hardly dared to say my mate’s name, lest Reve stop smiling. His smile grew wider, he wiggled his arms, and then let out a distinct giggle.
Chandler spun, nearly dropping the glass of water. “His first laugh! You got his first laugh!”
Love and joy filled me, and I laughed and smiled back at my son.
~~~***~~~
Lawrence had not exaggerated the speed with which the Parliament wished to make a decision. As soon as Nolan gave me a clean bill of health, they started conducting interviews. They took each of us aside alone, in front of the Parliament members for our accounts of both the shipwreck and Tarren’s attack.
We were not allowed to speak to each other and I hated sitting there, holding Reve, not knowing what they were saying to my mate. I had to pass Reve to him publicly, as I took his place in the Council Chamber.
I was forewarned there were a lot of alphas, but the Parliament was packed with them. Aurora sat at the head of the room, overlooking everyone. I could see Soren nearby and spotted Kenai, obviously recalled after the murder of his Tarren. I tried to catch his eye, hoping to convey how sorry I was, but was unable to. They ushered me to the front and I stood before them. It was more shifters than I had ever seen in one place in my life and more people than I had seen centuries.
They had me describe what happened the night before with Tarren. When I was done some asked questions, others muttered among themselves. Then, I was asked to give my account of the shipwreck and everything that had happened until we were rescued.
I spoke until my voice was as hoarse as it had been when I woke in the morning. They brought me plenty of water and strange little candies that made my throat and mouth feel better.
And then they sent me out to make their decision. I paced for what seemed like hours. At last, I was allowed to reenter, along with my mate and my other dragon companions.
“I await your judgment,” I said as I sat down in front.
“Alpha Dragon Rask,” said Aurora, “you are here under the charge of the death of Alpha Wolf Tarren. And of changing three humans into shifters. The Parliament has heard your accounts and have come to our decision.”
I could sense a wide range of emotions in the room, but most keenly was Chandler's fear and nervousness. Instead, I focused on the small ray of contentment, emanating from my son nursing in his father's arms.
“To the first,” said Aurora, “we determined that you acted in self-defense and in defense of both your mate and your child. Further, we have found Alpha Wolf Tarren guilty of attempted murder. After consulting with Parliament members from the age of the dragon massacres, we have further concluded that Tarren was a noted slayer sympathizer and suspected to have participated in many hunts. By your account of his own admission, he knowingly orchestrated the murders of what were believed to be the last dragons in the world. He has not once, but twice, committed the near genocide of an entire race of shifters.” She stood. “He will be buried without the Chorus.”
Even though most of them must have known the outcome, the room still erupted in whispers. He was essentially being buried in shame as a human; excommunicated from the world of shifters. I was surprised that the Burial Chorus still existed, its popularity had been waning in my day. Judging from the reactions of the other alphas, it must have regained its status among our people.
“Our final say in the matter is the determination that not only did you act with honor by saving your mate and your child, but with the death of Tarren you have avenged your race. As such, we accord you with a Chorus of Honor.”
My jaw dropped at the announcement. Much like the Burial Chorus, the Chorus of Honor was a rare reward, given to few shifters. Unless it had become less sacred over the years, it was a high honor indeed.
“Of course, as the eldest alpha dragon in the world, some of us believe you deserve a chorus anyway. Now, on to the matter of the island and the omegas.” Aurora folded her hands in front of her. A strange emotion swirled around her, I couldn't quite identify it, but it seemed almost she was amused about something. “By your own admission, you broke one of the most serious of our laws and changed more than one person into a shifter.”
I bowed my head and felt a stab of fear run through Chandler.
“However, it is clear that you did so to spare them from a most horrible death. In the past, accommodations have been made for such a choice. And for other reasons…” She glanced at Elara and Chandler, clearly thinking of their sire. “That said, there is some discrepancy in your story. Your accounts differ.” She looked around at my companions from the island. “Which means that one of you is lying!”
I swallowed nervously and the sudden dryness in my mouth had nothing to do with my parched throat. What did she mean?
“Upon your arrival at the island, you turned three humans; Abraham, Lawrence, and a third, now deceased.”
I nodded.
“Abraham and Lawrence have disclosed that they were already dragons when they boarded the ship in France. There, along with their alphas, and you, they intended to travel to America to flee the dragon slayings. Both of their alphas perished in the shipwreck.”
I looked at them both sharply, stunned. Their faces were neutral, but I could see a small smile tugging at the corner of their mouths.
“Betas Umber and Florian have also told me that this is the case,” said Aurora. “As you are the only dissenting voice, Rask, I can only conclude that your memory must be faulty. We cannot come to a decision regarding the turning of the omegas, as we have no evidence to prove it happened. All charges have been dropped.”
I stammered, unable to find the words.
“There is one more matter,” said Aurora. “As the eldest, and currently only adult alpha dragon, we invite you to sit on the Parliament, Alpha Rask.”
“I… It would be my honor,” I choked out.
Then, she raised her arms and addressed the room. “Let us adjourn to the courtyard.”
We all filed out, following her. Chandler caught my hand and held it as we left.
“The courtyard?” I asked.
“For your Chorus,” Kenai answered, coming up behind us.
“Alpha Kenai,” I said gravely. “I must apologize, your packmate…”
“We don't really run in packs anymore,” he said. “I knew Tarren from the Parliament, but we are from different regions. I could mourn for a fellow wolf, but I will not spare a single howl for his atrocities. There is nothing to apologize for.”
We shook hands, then hurried after the other shifters who had gone on ahead of us.
Once in the courtyard, everyone began to remove their clothes and fold them into piles. I followed suit, shivering with excitement.
Aurora changed first, into an elegant, snowy owl. She perched on a tree and nodded her consent, and everyone else followed her lead. When we were all shifted she spread and flapped her wings.
‘We are here to raise our voices in Chorus, in the honor of Alpha Dragon Rask. He has defended his mate and his offspring, he has avenged the deaths of countless dragons through the ages, now he shall sit in a place of regard on the Alpha Parliament.’
She folded her wings and let out a long hoot that sounded almost like the chime of a bell. Everyone else followed. Howls and roars filled the night sky, all for me.
Even Reve and Nevis seemed to sense something was happening. Reve changed and began chirping along with the cacophony and Nevis flailed his human arms and cooed, safely tucked in a bassinet under his mother's watchful wing.
I appreciated the honor, and indeed the power of the Chorus nearly brought tears to my eyes. And yet, I needed nothing more than the red-scaled dragon beside me, and the tiny dragonling perched on his shoulder.
**~~~***~~~**
Written as part of the Flight of Dragons M/M Week
About the Authors
Harper B. Cole
Harper B. Cole is the pseudonym of three bestselling authors and best friends who lie to their mothers about how they make their money. We love telling stories in the Omegaverse, and absolutely adore reading them. We are all mothers, and we'll probably lie to our kids about the existence of our books as well.
Kallie Frost
Kallie is the pseudonym of a USA Today Bestselling Author who normally writes young adult fantasy and dabbles in paranormal romance. She’s lucky enough to be friends with the Harper girls, who were thrilled to discover she loves mpreg. While she devoured their books, they busied themselves nagging her to start writing mpreg as well. It worked, and now Kallie is hooked on writing in the Omegaverse and is eagerly outlining tons of books.
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