Not wanting to waste energy on arguing about Ashley allowing anyone to "keep" her, he ignored his dragon and entered the main conference room.
He sat down across from three human men, ranging in age from thirty to probably mid-fifties, all wearing the gray uniforms of the ADDA police. Their golden dragon-shaped badged gleamed a little under the light.
Ashley slid into the chair next to him, which wouldn't be unusual even if she wasn't about to become his mate. After all, she was, for all purposes, his representative to the human world. No one would be able to tell that he could hear each breath of hers, or how her heart raced a little faster than normal.
Under the eagle-eyed brown gaze of the deputy police chief for the area, he didn't dare risk taking her hand under the table, either. Since he'd met Officer Garcia before, Wes nodded in greeting. "Hello, Officer Garcia."
The human male in his fifties with black hair peppered with gray returned the greeting. "I'm a little surprised to be here, Dalton. Of all the clan leaders in the area, you're usually the most well-behaved."
He resisted clenching his jaw at the remark. Garcia was doing his job and didn't think anything about how his words made Wes and the other leaders sound like children.
Keeping his voice neutral, Wes asked, "So what can I help you with, officer?"
Garcia's eyes darted to Ashley and back. "Were you out with Ms. Swift in Reno last night? Specifically at a bar called Deuces Wild?"
There was no reason to lie. "Yes. I participated in the orphan charity auction, and Ms. Swift had the winning bid. ADDA can give you all the details and confirm I was there."
"Your
participation was already confirmed. It's what happened after Ms. Swift won you that worries me." Garcia flipped open the folder on the table in front of him and read, "The tall, auburn-haired dragonman threatened me with growls, flashing eyes, and I saw him clench his fingers into fists. If I hadn't left, he would've attacked me. Even if he didn't threaten with words, it was intimidation. He's not supposed to do that in human places, and I feared for my life."
Wes suppressed another growl that threatened to emerge and waited for Garcia to ask him a question. After all, the less he said to the police, the better. That way words couldn't be twisted later on if he was actually charged.
However, Garcia looked at Ashley when he spoke again. "The person who made the complaint is the brother-in-law of Duncan Parrish. Parrish said you were being taken against your will. Is this true?"
If it had been just him and Ashley, he knew that her temper would've flared. However, her cool, collected ADDA persona was fully in place as she replied, "Of course not, Carlos. I won Dalton in the charity auction and wanted to see him lose at darts." She shrugged a shoulder. "It's not every day you can trounce a dragon-shifter, let alone a clan leader."
Garcia spoke again. "So it was just darts and nothing else? Parrish suggested there was more between you, mainly on Dalton's side. He was worried he might try to kidnap you and force you to be his mate."
His dragon growled inside his head. Wes had known little about Parrish before the meeting at the bar, but the male was definitely on his shit list now.
Ashley replied, "Yes, it was only to play darts at first. As for my feelings about Mr. Dalton, they shouldn't be Mr. Parrish's business. However, now that you mention it, let me show you that any relationship between us is covered legally." She pushed her letter toward the officer. "Per the ADDA rule book, Dalton qualifies to take a human female as his wife. This is my letter of intent to marry, and the ceremony will be held as soon as ADDA gives the green light."
Garcia blinked and scanned the letter. Once done, he met Ashley's eyes again. "Are you sure about this, Ms. Swift? If he's forcing you, just say something, and I'll escort you off PineRock straight away."
Anger churned inside Wes's stomach. He wanted to shout at the bastard and tell him off. However, restraint was the only way he was going to win this round. So he let Ashley answer for him. "No one is being forced, Carlos." She leaned forward and smiled. "Do you think anyone could really force me to do something?" She gestured toward the youngest male in the room. "Johnson there knows firsthand about that."
Johnson's cheeks turned pink, and he cleared his throat. However, it was Garcia who spoke. "And how Johnson treated you was why he was demoted." He paused and then said, "Are you sure about this, Ashley? You're one of the most competent ADDA liaisons I've worked with over the last twenty years. I'd hate to lose you."
She beamed at Garcia, and it took every ounce of strength Wes had not to haul her against his side and glare at the other males. His human said, "Oh, that won't be changing." She tapped the letter. "This is the protocol for marrying a dragon-shifter. However, because Dalton qualifies under the reward system, it means I should still be able to work with ADDA, too." She winked. "I'll be keeping you and your guys in line for a while yet, Carlos."
Garcia barked a laugh. "Good. Otherwise, I might have more paperwork than I already do."
His dragon murmured, Our female is charming and very, very good at managing them.
I suppose, he muttered.
Ashley motioned toward her letter. "That should clear everything up about me being here by choice. As for the complaint lodged against Wes that says he threatened the human, Wes was merely trying to help me. One of the human guys wanted me to leave without Dalton, no matter my own desires. If Wes hadn't stepped up, along with the bar's security guard, I'm not sure what would've happened. I want to say the other guy might've tried to force me to leave or might even have tried to hurt Wes just to scare me."
Garcia frowned. "Do you want to press charges? If he hurt you, I'll risk Duncan Parrish's wrath."
Wes nearly blinked. It seemed Ashley did indeed have a very good relationship with the ADDA police. That could most definitely be a blessing in disguise later on, once she was officially his mate.
Ashley waved a hand in dismissal. "No, it's fine. As long as the other side's charge is dismissed, I won't bother. I'd much rather focus on my upcoming marriage and move to PineRock."
Garcia's eye finally met his again. "You'd better treat her right, Dalton. If not, then I don't care if I get fired, I'll kick your ass into next week."
His dragon snorted but thankfully didn't say anything so Wes could reply, "I will treasure her every day, sir. And if anyone threatens her, then consequences be damned, I'll do what it takes to protect her."