Bram's voice echoed in the hall, letting them know the others had come down from the second floor. "Aye, it went well. But the true test will be the celebration next week. Speaking of which, Finn and I are going to return home until then. I suspect it'll be easier to get things going without us breathing down your necks."
Finn snorted. "That's a nice cover story. I know you just want to go home to your mate."
Bram frowned. "Of course I do. But there's a rational reason, too."
Honoria jumped in before Finn could reply. "The reasons don't matter. I think it'll be easier to get a feel for the clan if you two aren't here." She sought out the DDA female's gaze. "And while I know you don't ta
ke orders from us, you leaving would also be a big help."
The human didn't hesitate to bob her head. "I agree. And the fact you didn't order me to leave already raises my opinion of you slightly." The human's face turned serious. "However, I want to impart how delicate Skyhunter's status is with the DDA. I know there will be small rumbles, but if it becomes out of control, we may have no choice but to break up the clan and seize the lands."
Honoria's dragon growled, but she replied to the human before her dragon started ranting. "We understand. I only hope you'll give us a fair chance."
The human nodded. "I will. Now, I should probably head off and start making my report—the trials themselves have created a mountain of paperwork. However, don't hesitate to reach out to me. I know some DDA employees see dragon-shifters as a liability, but I think they can be allies. Maybe one day, we can work closely together."
Asher grunted at her side, but Honoria smiled widely. "We'd like that."
The human made her goodbyes, leaving them alone with Finn, Bram, and Robin. Finn spoke first. "We'll be going in just a second. But I'll impart one piece of wisdom before I go. I, too, had to deal with a difficult transition when I took over Lochguard. However, with hard work and love for your people, it does get easier. Well, most of the time. I'm sure you remember my cousin Fraser, aye? Family doesn't always follow orders like they should."
At the mention of family, Honoria's longing for her absent cousins surged forth. Maybe if she tried hard enough, she could get them to come to the celebration next week.
Bram slapped Finn on the shoulder. "You can offer more advice next week. Let's go and leave these two to handle things here."
The two leaders left, and after making plans to meet with Robin the next morning, Honoria and Asher headed toward Asher's cottage. It would be their last night there before moving into the cottage designated for clan leaders.
However, once they reached his place, neither one of them had the energy to do more than lie down and cuddle before they drifted off to sleep. Even though Honoria's mind was whirling with thoughts, just having Asher's heat and scent surrounding her helped to calm her. Before she knew it, she was fast asleep.
~~~
Asher was chained to a chair, blood running down his chest from where his cousin had cut a K into his skin.
A dull pain thudded at the wound. Maybe it would've been more pronounced if Asher hadn't been through so many "persuasion sessions" over the last four years.
And with his dragon unable to do more than loll its head around inside his mind, there wasn't much anger left in him either.
His cousin stood in front of a fire, holding a long piece of metal into it. If not for having various bones broken, skin shredded, or his senses overloaded purposefully for days on end, he might have had a small sense of trepidation.
But he knew what was coming, and nothing short of swearing allegiance to Marcus would stop it.
His cousin would brand him without hesitation.
His cousin pulled the red-hot metal from the fire and looked at him. "All you have to do is pledge yourself to Marcus, and all of this can stop."
It would be easy to give in. A few words from his lips, ones he didn't mean in his heart, and he could finally be reunited with his dragon and see the sky again.
And yet, if he did that, his bastard uncle would win. Asher may be insignificant in the grander scheme of things, but if everyone gave up when it got tough, then no one would be able to eventually help Skyhunter. All of his former students, friends, and family would be forced to live a life of fear, until the day when the clan was no more.
Because in his heart, Asher knew that if Marcus reigned for even five more years in the same way, his uncle would make a move too far. All it'd take was hurting some of the local humans to bring about the end of the clan.
And he didn't want that.
So, yes, giving in would be easier. However, he couldn't do it. While defiance wasn't much, it was all he had.
Trying his best to sit up tall, Asher finally replied, "No. I won't ever serve that narcissistic, power-hungry arsehole for as long as I live."
He swore excitement flashed in his cousin's eyes, but it was gone before he could be sure. His cousin moved to stand in front of him. "Then let's try something new. Maybe it'll be the final push you need to finally break." He lowered his voice. "Because you will break, Asher. My record is nearly flawless, except for you. So, yes, you'll break."
And then the bastard pressed the hot metal against his open wound. Asher did his best not to scream, but as his flesh burned, he finally let out a roar. The smell also made his stomach churn, and it took everything he had not to vomit.