All's Fair in Love and Lion (14 page)

Chapter 21: Monroe

“It isn’t right,” Minuet says. “The Council approved Monroe Dubay’s marriage. No one, especially a Council member, has a right to act in such a manner.” She sits, cradling her new baby girl.

“I can’t believe you all are siding with that Firstling!” Lily jumps out of her chair hissing. “She’s not one of us.”

“Neither was John,” Minuet retorts. “I don’t recall you saying a thing when I married him.”

“You’re not a man-beast,” Lily snarls.

Minuet lifts her chin defiantly. “I’m a Thirdling.”

Bast gives a long-suffering sigh. “What Lily is attempting to say with her usual finesse,” he interjects, “is that a man-beast can’t deny his animal form forever. Eventually he’ll want to be mated in beast form as well as human.”

I give him a helpless look. He shrugs.

Loralyn raps on the table with the gavel. “We should consider Bast’s words. I’m engaged to a man-beast eagle, so I understand the circumstances.”

Neru raises a hand.

“The General recognizes Neru Vytale.” Loralyn gestures for Neru to proceed.

“Monroe has two choices. Either Sasha can become a man-beast herself on their wedding night before the marriage is consummated. Or Monroe can give up his lands, title, lion form, and the Third Realm to become fully human.”

“The potion would be extremely powerful. Would it be safe for a human?” Loralyn asks.

“My grandson took it,” Neru answers. “He said other than a few days of harmless side effects, he was fine.”

Loralyn’s brows furrow. “What kind of side effects?”

Neru turns red. “Nothing serious. The fairies will explain.”

I raise my hand and Loralyn announces me. “I’ve heard of this potion. However, I don’t have any.”

“It’s easily procured,” Neru says, his face returning to its natural color. “Brinda or Clarine could help you.”

Lily leaps out of her chair. “Absolutely not. A human becoming a man-beast? No!”

Loralyn rises. “I am neither human nor man-beast, yet, I do not recall such a ruckus being raised about my engagement.” Her eyes narrow. “Lily Tygress, I believe your motives have nothing to do with the good of the Third Realm.”

Lily opens her mouth to protest, then closes it.

“Furthermore,” Loralyn continues, ignoring Lily’s agitation, “I would venture, based on what Monroe has said, he accepts either choice.”

I incline my head in acknowledgement.

Loralyn holds each Council member’s gaze. “I move we make a decision on what Neru Vytale has said.” She fixes her attention on Lily. “Then we’ll determine what sort of repercussions Lily Tygress’s behavior merits. She’s been insubordinate too often.”

Neru stands. “I second.”

“Then we have a vote. Since she may have to forfeit her rights, Lily shall abstain from the vote. Monroe will also abstain since this directly involves him.” Loralyn bangs the gavel. “All those in favor of giving Monroe Dubay an ultimatum raise your hands.”

Everyone except me and Lily raise their hands.

“The motion is unanimous.” Loralyn points to me. “Lord Dubay, you and Miss Brighton will decide whether you become fully human or she becomes a man-beast lioness. Are you and Miss Brighton prepared to make this decision?”

“I am. I’ll talk to Sasha,” I reply. Would she want me as a human? Would she want to be a man-beast? I keep my face expressionless. I mustn’t appear weak. Lily would use it against me.

She turns to Lily. “Now, the matter of your behavior. How do you plead?”

Lily knocks over her chair. “I’m sentenced before I can present a defense?”

“Your behavior at this meeting,” Neru interjects, “is enough to condemn you, Lady Tygress.”

Loralyn bangs the gavel. “Neru makes a valid point. Please, everyone, wait for me to recognize before you speak. There has been some talking out of turn this session.”

Bast raises his hand. Loralyn gives him the floor. “I, for one, second any judgment made in light of Lily’s behavior. She’s shown open disrespect for a decision made by this esteemed Council.” He folds his arms. “A Council member cannot show such venom towards another member’s intended without a conflict of interest. I suspect there’s a question of Sasha’s safety.”

“Oh you would?” Lily growls. “And the rest of you will go along with Bast Cantrell without another thought, won’t you?” She leans over the table. “May I remind the Council he’s Monroe’s closest friend? How can this Council be sure Bast doesn’t have a biased opinion?”

Loralyn rises. “Lady Tygress, you may give a defense if you so choose.” She frowns. “But do show some decorum. I do not like being snarled at. Never mind the fact you spoke out of turn.”

A myriad of emotions flash across Lily’s face as she speaks. “Esteemed Council members,” she says in an infuriated tone, “think of my actions how you will. I’m more compatible with Lord Dubay than Miss Brighton. If the Council can’t recognize this fact, then I’m deeply concerned about where the Council might lead the Third Realm.”

Shock rakes through me. Lily dared insult the Council? Minuet’s gasp breaks me from my daze. Samson shrinks down in his chair looking frightened. Quin glowers at Lily. Dumb move on Lily’s part. A Nightshade isn’t worth angering.

Bast, on the other hand, relaxes in his chair, his hands behind his head. He never minded when Lily insulted him.

A dangerous expression darkens Neru’s features. Great, we’ll have lightning bouncing off the walls if Lily doesn’t watch what she says.

Delton’s jaw clenches. I don’t worry about him. He can’t do much.

My eyes rest on Loralyn. Now she’s someone I’d watch carefully. Something about her screams danger. I can’t put my finger on why. I shake my head and focus on Minuet, who rises as Loralyn gives her a nod. “Do you realize, instead of a defense you insulted the whole Council?” Minuet’s tone betrays nothing. But after years of friendship, I can sense her temper simmering below the surface. I haven’t seen her so angry before.

“I said if the Council didn’t recognize certain facts that would be my reaction,” Lily says.

“We’ve already given Monroe permission to marry Miss Brighton. Never has a decision like that been broken or repealed in this history of the Third Realm.” Minuet’s voice shakes with fury. “Each being has been free to choose his or her own mate without the Council disapproving. Yet, you would have us ruin centuries old tradition because you have a grudge against Sasha Brighton for Monroe’s rejection of you?”

The Council members begin murmuring. Lily’s eyes shoot sparks at Minuet. Minuet lowers herself back into her chair, soothing her baby. Amid all the commotion, I give Minuet a grateful look. She smiles encouragingly.

Just when I’m sure the Council will erupt into chaos, Loralyn raps on the table. “Order! Order, please!” The room goes dead silent. “It would seem by your actions you do have a particular problem with Sasha Brighton for the very reasons Minuet put forth. Have you an answer, Lily?”

Lily stands. Her whole body trembles. “You all will regret allowing this.” Her eyes blaze red as her gaze falls on me. “Especially you, Monroe.”

I’m nearly out of my chair. Delton grabs hold of me. “Don’t do it. Let the Council take action.”

I glare at him, but settle back into my seat. Lily’s expression challenges me. My fingers curl into fists.

“Lily Tygress,” Loralyn says as Lily sits, “the Council has heard your plea. We will now proceed with the verdict. You will remain in the foyer with a guard.”

“I think,” I say, rising, “I’ll wait outside. I believe it would be best if I didn’t present any influence on this Council by remaining here.”

“Very well, Lord Dubay, you are excused,” Loralyn says.

Guards escort Lily from the chambers. I pass her quickly, pushing through the huge front doors and out into the open air.

A light drizzle sprinkles on me as I lean against the side of the building hoping the decision is a quick one. If there are any arguments for Lily to stay, I don’t want to hear them.

Again I wonder what Sasha will say when I explain about the ultimatum. I’m willing to be fully human and give up my place in the Third Realm if she requests it. I’m also more than happy to have her become a lioness. Knowing Lily, her words are more than a show of temper; they’re a promise. If the Council doesn’t do something, Sasha will bear the worst of it. I pace uneasily along the side of the building. Damn tigress, how I hate her!

Time crawls by. My fury rises. When Bast appears, I’m ready for a fight.

“Well?” I snap.

He holds up a hand. “First, calm down. Second, I think we finally got her. I did my best to seem disinterested so Lily’s argument about our friendship wouldn’t be a factor. Loralyn said for you to come in and you’ll hear the outcome.”

I follow Bast in and resume my place at the table. Lily stands between two guards of Hawk descent. They have large brown and white wings folded back behind them. Each of them holds a staff sparkling with magic and electricity. Lily is a mask of rage. My fist twitches. My barely controlled temper boils while I contemplate all her thinly veiled insults to Sasha. From childhood onward she’s been a thorn in my side.

Delton shakes his head. “Smack me later if you need to whack someone,” he whispers, “but man, if you hit Lily, then you’ll be in trouble.”

I swallow. In spite of my dislike for him, he’s right. I can’t strike Lily without repercussion.

“Now that we are all reconvened,” Loralyn says. “Let us announce the fate of Lily Tygress.” Silence falls over the room. “This Council has contemplated how best to handle the impropriety Lily has introduced into the assembly. First of all, there was a lack of respect for a particular decision made by this Council. Followed by disrespect of a Council member’s choice of mate. Third, inappropriate behavior at a Council meeting, and fourth, a grudge against a Council member’s intended, which this Council has deemed as potentially dangerous.”

Loralyn purses her lips before continuing. “Your own words and actions indict you. We Council members have made a decision based on this evidence.” Loralyn rises to her full height, her gaze piercing. “Therefore, Lily Tygress, it is determined that you are to be stripped of your title, lands, and esteem. You must also forfeit your position on the Council. You are henceforth sentenced to Mount Iron Prison for a yet undetermined amount of time. The Vulture brothers will be your guards.”

Lily blinks in disbelief. “All this because of a human?” She breaks from the Hawks and lunges at me transforming into a tiger. Snarling, she says, “You’re blinded to the implications of your choice, Monroe.”

I sidestep her. A prickling sensation begins in my feet and floods my body. In a surge of power, I change into my lion form. “Back off, Lily. You wouldn’t survive a fight with me.”

“Restrain her!” Loralyn orders as the Hawks take action, pointing their staffs. “Lily, like everyone else, you know how serious the charges against you are. Hopefully, Mount Iron will give you a chance to reform. Monroe, resume human form at once!” She nods at the Hawks.

The Hawks point their staffs and a flash of blue and white light sizzles. Lily crumples.

I transform back and move aside so the guards can pick Lily’s limp body off the floor. Her body returns to her human form as they carry her out of the room.

Loralyn raps on the table, bringing us back to order. “If there are no other items of business, I hereby appoint Quin Erone next meeting’s General. Lord Erone, will you accept?”

Quin rises. “I do. The next meeting will be announced at a later date.”

“In that case,” Loralyn responds, “I declare us adjourned.”

Chairs scrape against the stone floor as the members push back from the table and begin to depart.

“Well,” Bast says, as we exit together, “it would appear you don’t have to worry about Lily for a while.”

“One can hope. I don’t believe for a minute we’ve heard the end of her.”

“Craven and Onyx will keep an eye on her. Not much gets by them,” he says.

“We shall see. I must go. I promised Sasha I’d see her tonight.”

“All right, Monroe. Have a good visit.”

At my castle, I switch from my suit into a pair of jeans and white button-down shirt. Hurrying into my den, I barely give Ayres notice before I’m through the boundaries and in Sasha’s apartment. I find her standing in the kitchen, sorting her mail.

“Monroe!” she exclaims, setting down an envelope. “You made it.”

“Did you miss me?” I wrap my arms around her waist and nuzzle her neck.

“It was rather quiet without you.”

“I came as soon as I could.”

“What’s the matter?”

“The Council is concerned about our current differences in physical form.”

Her brows knit together. “I’m not following.”

“You know I not only have a human form, but also a lion.”

“If I don’t mind, why do they?”

I lead her into the living room. She sits while I remain standing. “Either I need to join you, fully human, or you become a man-beast lioness. That is, a human with the ability to change into a lioness. Whichever choice we make will be the only way we’ll be married in every sense of the word.” Sheepishly, I slide my hands into my pockets. “I hadn’t thought of my animal side because it hasn’t been a concern in our relationship. However, Bast and the other man-beasts on the Council are right. There will come a time where I desire to mate with you in both forms. However, if you decide you’d rather not be a lioness, then I would have to become fully human.”

“What happens if I do become a lioness?”

“The night of the wedding ceremony we would go into the Third Realm and you would drink a potion to transform into a man-beast lioness.”