Me and My Shadow - Katie MacAlister [103]
“Nor can we forget the price that those of us who survived have paid. It was only by a miracle of the most profound nature that I have found a mate, the other half of my being, but the other silver dragons must bear the punishment a black dragon placed upon them.”
Kostya shifted in his chair, but said nothing. Cyrene’s smile had faded during Gabriel’s speech until she looked lost, her gaze moving between Kostya, Gabriel, and me. I felt Gabriel’s sorrow even as I was warmed by his declaration, but it drove home the fact that even if the black dragons rejoined the weyr, they could not remove the curse.
Only Baltic could do that.
Gabriel’s silky voice rang out strong and clear in the silence of the room. “But even as we have acknowledged that pain, we have sought this moment, the day when old wounds could at last heal. The silver dragons welcome our long-lost brothers to the weyr with open hearts.”
Tears burned briefly at the backs of my eyes as Gabriel sat down beside me, taking my hand in his. I rubbed my thumb against his, trying to tell him without words how proud I was of him, how much I loved him.
“Well-done, Gabriel,” Aisling said softly.
Cyrene gave a moist sniffle and dug through her purse for a tissue. There was an echo of a sniffle from the side of the room, where Jim sat. I glanced at it, but it was licking its front leg.
Kostya stared at Gabriel for a long, long time, then nodded his head again, and turned expectantly to Chuan Ren.
“I am in agreement with the other wyverns,” she said crisply. “The sept of the black dragons is herewith recognized as a member of the weyr, as Konstantin Fekete is recognized as wyvern. The sárkány has thus been fulfilled and is at an end. Fetch Fiat!”
Chapter Seventeen
“So, are there going to be snacks for the dragon-heart thing? Because I missed lunch, being Cyrene’s decoy, and that gyro she bought me isn’t going to last until dinner. Hey, Fiat, long time no kidnap. Massacre anyone lately?”
“Jim, so help me god, one more word out of you, and you’re going to be visiting Magoth,” Aisling snapped.
I hurried over to where the demon sat, watching Drake’s two men bring Fiat into the room, filled with contrition. “I’m sorry, Aisling. I should have been watching it. Jim—”
“There’s no need for you to yell at me, too,” it said with an injured sniff as it plopped itself down in front of the fireplace. “Ash already chewed my ass off. Man. Grumpy much?”
“I’ve just had it with you,” Aisling said, moving uncomfortably in her chair. I was about to rejoin Gabriel, but I stopped next to her.
“Are you all right? Did the sárkány tire you out?” I asked.
“Yes, I’m fine.”
I examined her face. She looked tired, black smudges under her eyes.
She waved a hand toward her belly. “It’s just the baby. I wish she would make up her mind to come. Drake actually told the midwife she has to move in with us tonight. He wants her to do a C-section, but she doesn’t think there’s a need for that yet.”
I patted her on her shoulder. “I’m sorry that I’ve been so distracted I haven’t been watching Jim like I should.”
A smile lit her tired eyes. “Don’t worry about it. To be honest, I missed the big galoot when it was at your house. It’s just that things are a bit tense with all the wyverns being prickly with one another, although, thank god, the issues with Kostya are now over. That stress, at least, is gone.”
“I know Drake will probably have a fit at the idea, but would you like Gabriel to make sure everything is OK with you? Maybe the baby is moving or something.”
“Oh, she’s moved. She’s always moving, usually kicking me right in the bladder,” Aisling answered, shifting again. She heaved a sigh that seemed to come all the way up from her toes. “I just hope she decides to come soon, because I’m awfully tired of feeling like a fully loaded Goodyear blimp.”
I glared at Jim as it opened its mouth. “Don’t you dare!”
“Sheesh!” was all it said, looking away.
Aisling laughed, drawing Drake’s attention from Fiat, who was loudly