Dragon Heartstring(43)

A collective sigh and a joyous whoop echoed around the chamber. I squeezed Shakara’s hand. She beamed.

“Quiet!” The whack of Tennison’s gavel sounded three times. “Continuing. ‘All citizens of Gladium in ownership of said Hydra G-66 shall voluntarily submit their weapon to the state armory.’”

A group of men grumbled, including a few Parliament members.

“I am not done, damn it.” Tennison’s scowl was worse than my father’s. “This is not part of the judgment but has been accepted by Parliamentary Council and shall be recorded. The CEO of Cade Enterprises, Pritchard Cade, shall reimburse Grayson Weaponry and Manufacturing for the current store of weapons at the factory not yet on the market. Mr. Cade also extends an invitation to all employees who shall be displaced or suffer an employment reduction due to this judgment to report to Cade Towers for employment opportunities. Now, damn it, this godforsaken hearing is over. Adjourned!”

With a final whack of the gavel, we were dismissed. We stood, both of us stunned by the final remarks.

“Demetrius, your father.”

“I know,” I said, seeking him out in the room.

“What in the world was that?” asked Jessen now at our sides.

“I have no idea,” I laughed. “Come on.” I tugged Shakara behind me, following the figure of my father as he slipped into the corridor.

We caught up to him near the door right before he walked out into the spotlight of photographers and journalists.

“Father. Wait.”

His dour expression was dark and agitated. I kept Shakara close as people jostled around us. “Why did you do that?”

“What? Compensate that bastard Grayson and his damned son?” He scoffed. “Because I won’t have him hold anything over our family for his financial loss.”

“But Father, the cost will be—”

“Not enough,” he said, cutting me off. His frown softened as his gaze slid to Shakara. “Not enough to pay her back for what she did for you.” Then he leveled a steely look at me, his shoulders tightening with the strain. He wasn’t comfortable expressing himself in this way. “But I will gladly forfeit a small share of our profits so the Graysons have no reason to seek retribution upon us. Damn the whole lot of them.” Placing one hand on the lever of the door, he glanced outside to the mob of reporters as Parliament members left the building. “I’ve suffered enough for making the mistake of allying with that damn family. The mistake with Jessen. And I won’t suffer them anymore.” Swiveling back to me, “And besides, Parliament has assured me that I’ll be confiscating the steel once the Volt guns are melted down. I won’t lose all of the money.” He winked. “Best get your girl home, Demetrius.”

With a small smile for Shakara, he ducked outside to meet the onslaught of reporters who engulfed him as he moved powerfully through like a shark at sea.

“Your father is a kind man,” said Shakara.

I laughed loudly then pulled her close and kissed her lips. “Shakara Icewing, I believe you are the first person who is ever called my father ‘kind’ in his entire life.”

His driver was at the curb and shoving people aside so that my father could duck into the back seat.

“He has had some misfortune in his life, some other heartbreak. I can feel it like an aura weighing him down. And he has made mistakes, that is certain.”

“That is certain,” I agreed.

“What about him and Jessen? Do you think they’ll ever forgive each other?”

“I hope so,” I said, for I truly wished that to happen. “But it will take more time, I’m afraid.”

She hugged me with one arm and gazed up at me. “Well, no matter what wrongs he’s committed in the past, he does have a good heart.”

I scooped her off her feet into my arms. She squealed as onlookers gaped, even her Aunt Asheera, all of them watching me as I paraded down the corridor toward the back entrance.

“Put me down, Demetrius Cade. Right now.”

When we rounded the corner, I set her on her feet and pressed her to the wall, her wings spread wide. Cupping her face, I tilted her chin upward.

“You are the one with a good heart, Shakara Icewing.” I grazed her lips, pried them softly open, nipped gently. “Love of my life.”

Wrapping her arms around my neck, she kissed me hard, tasting me long and deep as I tasted her, pulling away on a moan. “You have a good heart, Demetrius. My love…my mate.” Her eyes flared with the dragon, brilliant blue with serpentine pupils. She looked exotic and wild. And so very beautiful.

My pulse beat wildly. “Your mate?”

“Yes,” she said, sliding her tongue along my lower lip. “If you want me.”

Grinning, I swept her up again into my arms and carried her toward the back elevator that would take us to the underground garage. She squealed again.

“If I want you.” Still cradling her close, I stepped into the elevator. “You are my whole heart, Morgon mine. And no one will take you from me.”

“Good,” she said. “For I think my father may protest the match.”

She swung her feet as if it were every day a man carried her into an elevator.

“You don’t think he likes me?” I asked.

“No. I don’t think he does. You’ve been awfully forward. Not much of a gentleman.”