He wanted a drug, we happened to have one that would constrain him to his human form for a time. Bastian had no desire to explain that the drug had been liberated from the zoo prison of an insane shifter collector who had been hell bent on adding Bastian himself to his collection.
Trickery, his father rumbled, and Bastian found himself bracing for the pang of guilt he should feel for disappointing his progenitor. It was oddly missing. Perhaps he was more tired than he realized.
All an aside to the deal at hand, Saina swiftly interceded. I offered you my exposure of your son’s true nature in exchange for my Voice.
They returned their attention to her as Bastian staggered the final steps to her side and took her hand in his own.
Riches are a more standard exchange for dragons, his father told her coldly. There is no value in your part of this exchange.
I base my offer on your past behavior, Saina said with no kindness. You cast out your eldest son for something as trivial as compassion. Clearly you value your family reputation above any treasure.
You are blackmailing us, his mother exclaimed. You are threatening to tell people about Keylor’s dishonor!
Bastian felt Saina’s grim smile. Blackmail is such an ugly word.
He tightened his hand in hers. This was the part of the plan with the most uncertainty.
You are a remarkable woman, his father said thoughtfully, and Bastian relaxed. They were impressed by Saina, as they should be. It is a pity you are not a royal dragon. That would simplify this situation considerably.
There is a story that sirens were once dragons, his mother added, cocking her head at Saina as she lowered her face to inspect her more closely. Are you royalty among your kind?
Saina looked back at the dragons without flinching or stepping back, despite her small comparative size and their impolite crowding. We have a similar origin story, she conceded. But sirens do not have royalty.
Then she laughed dryly. But my name does mean ‘princess’ in Hindi.
Bastian’s parents exchanged a significant look and a private exchange, then turned to Saina.
We would accept this as fulfilling the terms of the contract, his father said proudly.
Bastian had been trying to decide which of his shoulders hurt worst, and whether he could gracefully go sit down on the bench to recover for a moment while his parents treated with Saina, then realized where the conversation had moved.
He blinked up at his father. You… you’d take me back?
Even as he tried to wrap his tired mind around the idea, Saina spoke.
You can’t have him.
She was drawn up to her full height, tiny against his monstrous parents, and she brought them to silence with her statement.
Bastian is mine, by bonds more powerful than family blood or title, Saina snarled. He is better than any of you, by any standards of human or dragon or siren, and you may not have him. He has a family of his own making, in a place that accepts him as he is, where he has a hoard that puts your gaudy pretension to shame, and if you try to take him from me and from his true family, I will hunt you to the ends of the earth and sing the sky down on you.
Her words echoed in their minds and in their ears. Bastian was not sure when she had started singing the words out loud, but the magic in the courtyard was tangible and full of anger.
She took two firm steps forward. I came here to treat for my Voice, taken from me by your dishonorable son, and you try to take from me the treasure that you discarded in foolishness. I will give you one chance and only one to redeem yourselves.
Bastian’s parents gaped at her.
Give. Me. My. Voice.
Chapter 39
Are you sure about this?”
Bastian’s parents had flown away with Keylor’s limp form once the deal had been struck. Saina had even managed to make them promise to see him through his withdrawal, using every non-magic negotiating tool that she had.
Saina and Bastian stood alone in the courtyard at last.
“I’m sure,” Bastian said firmly, leading her up the steps to the grand entrance.