Chapter 9: Chapter Eight

-Daniel’s POV-

“Thanks for letting me be here, Aaron,” I said to him, more out of formality than anything because nothing could’ve kept me away from this trial today. I was seated next to Aaron, between him and one of his clan leaders. He requested the presence of all his leaders, which considering he was punishing one of them, I think it was the right call.

“Thank you for coming. I don’t have a lot of experience, still, at this sort of thing, so your presence and experience will help.”

“Not to mention he wants to kiss our ass in an attempt to win Amaya’s hand,” Ruairi said in my head.

I snorted, “Like that will ever happen. He doesn’t know that I’m not the one he needs to convince.”

I shifted my focus back on what was happening in front of me. Scott was led into the room in iron chains. Aaron had members of the royal clan present, but all members of the Wyoming Fire Clan were required to attend. Aaron banged his gavel to quiet the room, bringing their attention to him. “Let the trial of James Scott begin.”

Representation for Scott stepped up first, “Your Majesty, my client didn’t know about Queen Wardwell having a title. She wouldn’t tell him who she was, and she lost control of her dragon several times before my client lost control of his.”

I laughed, causing Aaron, the lawyer, and the other clan leaders to look over at me. Aaron gestured for me to speak, “I’m sorry it’s just she didn’t lose control. She’s highly trained to stay in control of her dragon. All storm dragons are. If we weren’t and we lost control, you would know, and we would still be attempting to get Niamh under control.”

“And who are you to be such an expert?” He asked, chin raised slightly.

“Daniel Wardwell, King of the Storm Dragons,” I smirked slightly as his face fell, “I trained Amaya for years. She has far more control than anyone I’ve ever met, even me. What makes your client think she lost control?”

“My client says her dragon spoke through her several times,” the lawyer said.

I smiled, “Niamh likes throwing her weight around when she faces dragons who don’t know their place. Amaya was never not in control of what was happening. She and Niamh share a special relationship, unlike most dragons.”

“Would you care to define that relationship, your Majesty?” Scott’s lawyer pressed.

“No I wouldn’t because my daughter is not on trial. Your client is, so let’s continue,” I said with a wave of the hand.

“Right. According to King Wardwell, his daughter didn’t lose control. Any dragon who doesn’t know her could easily make that mistake and feel threatened, given how dangerous storm dragons are,” he paused, glancing in my direction, but unable to hold my gaze. My lips held a smile, but my eyes showed my deadlier nature. He cleared his throat, “My client felt justified in allowing his dragon to take control and protect him.”

“Your client only lost control after he was called out for the racism and misogyny he has always displayed. Scott was angry and lost control due to that anger, not fear. He attacked even after learning of her status as Princess of the Storm Dragons and Queen of the Dragons, because he touted her position of power due to her gender,” Aaron said, voice unyielding.

“What will happen to my son?” Scott said, interrupting Aaron.

“Your son has already been dealt with,” Aaron stated vaguely, “You will be lashed thirty times and imprisoned for thirty days. After that you will join your mate in my clan, if she will have you, and that is where you will remain. Unless something more is turned up in the investigation that is currently underway in your clan, in which case we will have another trial, and your punishment will be steeper.”

“You can’t do this! What happened to my son?!” Scott shouted.

“You don’t get to make demands in my kingdom, Scott. You will be told what happened to your son when you’ve earned the right to know; until then you will take your lashes and do the time,” Aaron tapped his gavel and two guards took hold of Scott, who fought to get loose. The guards kept a tight hold on him, escorting him from the room. Aaron banged his gavel to regain the attention of the crowd, “There will be a thorough investigation conducted in the Wyoming Fire Clan. Your full cooperation is expected and appreciated. There will be a contest of mental strength and control, and whoever is left will be up to vote for as leader which will be held after the investigation has been concluded. This concludes the meeting. Thank you all for attending,” he tapped the gavel again, and people began to filter out of the room.

“Thanks again Aaron for letting me sit in on this,” I said, shaking his hand.

“Thank you for being here to give insight to the way Amaya does things. We might not have known that if you weren’t here. I could see she was in control when I got there, but who’s to say someone hadn’t gotten her under control before I got there.”

“If Amaya ever loses control no one except her mate can get her under control; not even me anymore,” I stood getting ready to leave, “That’s why we worked so hard on her control. We knew that one day Niamh wouldn’t bow to anyone.”

“Has she found her mate yet?” The leader of the Oregon Fire Clan, Wang Jun, asked.

“She has, but he’s human,” I told them.

“Has she decided what she will do if he doesn’t accept her?” Clara Munoz, leader of the Northern California Fire Clan, pressed.

“That’s not your concern,” I said, turning to leave.

“And if she loses control without a mate to calm her down and no one can get her back?” Lila Woodward, the Idaho Fire Clan leader, asked.

“She won’t. None of you have half the training in control that she does. Her discipline outmatches all of you and she hasn’t had her dragon nearly as long,” I said, taking strides to leave.

Aaron’s hand caught my arm to stop me, “Daniel, please. They meant nothing by their questions. We just don’t know anything about Amaya or having a storm dragon as the queen of all of us. You might consider her taking a mate that isn’t her fated. We don’t know if the human will be able to control her the way one of us could.”

“You mean you,” I stated rather than questioned, “Listen, she will have her mate or she will have no one. As you know that’s not me speaking, that’s her. She and I have spoken about it, and that’s her stance on it. I agree with her. I don’t think a nonfated mate would be able to control her anyway. Only her fated mate should be able to control her. The goddess doesn’t make mistakes when she pairs us. If you attempt to force her into something she doesn’t want to do, not only will it not happen, but you will be no better than James Scott, who didn’t allow fated mates in his clan. Is that how you run your kingdom Aaron?”

He swallowed hard, “I would hope you know I don’t.”

“I would hope you didn’t, but since you’re attempting to mate my daughter off in a piss poor attempt to control her I’m not so sure,” I narrowed my eyes, “Is it her power you crave? Why are you so eager to mate to her?” I asked in a hard voice.

He cleared his throat, “No. I am tired of waiting on a mate that seems like she will never come. Your daughter is from a good family. I just thought it might be good to bring the two families together.”

“It’s not my choice to make, but I can tell you she will probably choose a century of solitude rather than mate with someone who isn’t her fated mate,” I said, walking out of the room before anyone else could stop me to mate my daughter off to anyone.

I called Amaya once I was outside, “Well?”

I smiled at her directness. I quickly recounted the results of the trial and the conversation that followed.

“I’m sure Aaron wanted me mated to him,” she said in a bitter tone.

“He mentioned it, yeah. Don’t worry about it though. I told them it was your choice, and I’ll back whatever choice you make. Plus they’re afraid of you, you can use that as leverage against them.”

She sighed, “I guess. Are you coming back here or heading home?”

“How are you feeling?” I asked instead of answering her.

“A little better. I’m still a little weak. I’m hoping to be better by tonight for the feast,” she grunted quietly, “So are you coming back here or heading home?”

“Do you need me to come back or would you like me to go back and help Josie and Alanza?”

She sighed, “If you want to come to the feast because you’re friends with the Jacksons then come back, otherwise you can go help Josie and Alanza. They might need it, although their respective inner beasts are both pretty dominant, Conner might still need someone more dominant.”

I thought about it for a bit, but ultimately decided it was better if I didn’t attend, “I’ll go help out Josie and Alanza. I think you’re right; plus I need to make sure Jace hasn’t lost it,” I sighed and scratched my forehead.

“He’s still having a hard time controlling himself?”

“Yeah. He’ll get there, but I remember what it was like for Joseph,” Ruairi growled at the mention of Joseph’s name, “When he was learning to control Dubhlainn. He had a lot more trouble than I did. Jace’s dragon is very strong, but I know we can get him under control.”

“Let me know if I can help.”

“I will. I’ll see you when you get back.”

“Yeah, see you,” she said before disconnecting.

I heard Aaron walk up behind me, “I didn’t mean to offend you or her by suggesting she take a non-fated mate; none of us did.” I turned toward him, “They’re just afraid-”

“You all are afraid of what you don’t understand. Don’t pretend to be any different than the rest of them,” I said before walking into the clearing used for shifting.

He followed me, still attempting to have a conversation I was not willing to have. “Daniel please,” I ignored him, stripping to shift instead. He took in a sharp breath when he saw the scars that covered my body from that night, “Daniel I had no idea.”

Most people saw the one on my face that ran from my cheek over my nose, but people rarely saw the rest of my scars. Like my mating scar, when Amaya’s mother was killed, it collapsed in on itself creating a deep impression. The other scars varied on my torso, arms, and legs from the endless fighting. “Yeah most people don’t,” is all I said before I shifted. I grabbed my clothes and bent clouds around me as I took flight, making my way back to Virginia.