Redeeming the Broken Dragon

Chapter 2. The Debate

The soft golden hues of dawn cascaded over the vast horizon, making the sky a canvas of pastel colors. Birds chirped in the distance, and the world seemed to be coming alive.

Solstace was a silhouette against the soft morning glow, his breath visible in the cool morning air as he slowed down from his run. The rhythm of his heartbeat and the sound of his shoes against the gravel had been therapeutic, but the thoughts of Crimson continued to linger. Her sudden and unexpected appearance in the Moondance Pack territory bothered him for unknown reasons. Much to Solstace's unease, his dreams were filled with images of her.

Solstace headed to his quarters for a quick shower before the Council of Allies' meeting about the integration of Crimson in their mission.

As he entered his shower, Solstace clenched his fists, his frustration boiling. 'A girl, for f**k's sake,' he muttered under his breath, the words laced with exasperation.

Her quirky yet annoying smile haunted him. Or taunted him? Since he didn't have time to indulge his mind or body, he switched the water to cold and quickly got out.

After getting dressed, he absentmindedly walked to the Alpha's dining room, where they had set up their base of operations. The weight of the upcoming decision pressed down on him like a heavy cloak.

Lost in thought, he didn't see the two figures ahead of him until he almost ran into them.

"Whoa, easy there, speedy!" Matthew exclaimed, barely managing to keep his balance while holding onto the box full of maps and scrolls.

Beside him, Thomas gave a hearty laugh, trying to steady the box of books in his arms. "Looks like he was lost in his thoughts. I saw you go out early this morning. Anything on your mind, Solstace?"

Some pack members learned to tolerate Solstace after Lila's petition to have him join their quest to capture Zoltan.

Because of his loyalty to Lila and his relationship with Eliza, Thomas was one of Solstace's friendliest pack members. He also knew Eliza still felt guilty for what she did to Lila. And while Solstace was not coerced as Eliza was, he was still under the influence of the prophecy curse.

Solstace rolled his eyes, avoiding the question. "What are you two up to this early? Who's moving? And where?"

"We're relocating," Thomas said, nodding towards the boxes. "Gabriel has decided he misses dining without tripping over maps and planning tools. So, we're moving our base of operations to the conference room."

Matthew rolled his eyes. "The man just can't appreciate a good map as a tablecloth."

Thomas scoffed. "That and something about having technology accessible in the conference room. Such a diva!"

They both laughed heartily.

Solstace chuckled. "Well, the conference room seems better for a base anyway. And... speaking of it," he paused, trying to connect, "today is the day the Council of Allies will decide if I'll have a girl to take care of while I search for and capture Zoltan."

Thomas raised an eyebrow while Matthew smirked, "What is this about a little girl? You are talking in riddles, dude!"

Solstace groaned. "You'll see soon enough." He sighed, peeking into the dining room. "Let me grab some boxes, and I'll head to the conference room with you."

The three men headed towards the conference room, the morning light casting a warm glow around them.

As Solstace approached the conference room, his unease bore down on him. He couldn't shake the nagging thoughts about Crimson that had plagued him since her unexpected appearance. His footsteps echoed through the corridor, each one a reminder of the impending decision he had no control over.

He frowned, his brow furrowing as he considered Crimson. The memory of her quirky yet annoying smile tugged at the corners of his mind. He couldn't quite understand why her presence bothered him so much. Was it the unpredictability of working with someone unfamiliar, let alone a girl, on such a critical mission? Or was there something else beneath the surface that he couldn't decipher?

Solstace's jaw clenched, and he quickened his pace, trying to outrun the turmoil in his thoughts. The prospect of being responsible for Crimson's safety while hunting down Zoltan gnawed at him. He wondered if she was capable and could hold her own in the face of danger. And, more importantly, could he trust her?

As he approached the conference room door, his heart pounded, and he couldn't help but hope that the Council of Allies would see things his way. But deep down, he knew that the decision was out of his hands, and that thought only added to his inner conflict.

The conference room was a grand space with tall, arched windows that let in the morning light, illuminating the intricate carvings on the wooden walls. As the door swung open, Lila looked up, her eyes darting to the boxes in the men's hands. Her dark hair was pulled back in a messy bun, and there was a smudge of ink on her cheek, hinting at the work she'd been doing.

"Ah, you've brought the rest," she said with relief, moving towards them. "Place the maps on that table over there."

Eliza was hunched over a desk, diligently sorting through various notes and documents. She gave a brief nod of her head without looking up. As soon as Thomas set down the boxes he held, he was behind Eliza, snaking his arms around her waist.

"You sure you want to stand like this, enchantress?" Thomas whispered. "Night might get some naughty thoughts."

Eliza almost choked. Her cheeks were flushed. "What will I ever do with you, child?" she murmured seductively.

"There's only one thing to do. Punish me. Hard."

"Get a room," Matthew complained while emptying the boxes as instructed by Lila.

Thomas shouted over Eliza's head, "You seem to forget how lovey-dovey you were when you found your mate. And I have to make up for lost time."

Amara was engrossed in an old book, her fingers tracing over the ancient scripts. She didn't want to mention this, but she was trying to find anything that could bring solace to Solstace. There had to be a way for him to ensure the survival of his species.

Gabriel stood at the head of the room, organizing a series of artifacts on a raised platform. He looked up, his piercing blue eyes resting on Solstace momentarily. "Glad you could join us. We have a lot to discuss today. And a lot concerns you and the quest to bring Zoltan to justice."

Before Solstace could reply, the door swung open again, revealing Charles -the Royal vampire prince and his father, King Vlad, with Markus, Gabriel's father.

"Greetings," King Vlad rumbled, his deep voice filling the room. "Good morning, Alpha Gabriel, Daughter. We have an important decision to make today."

Markus nodded in agreement, his keen eyes surveying the room. "You've moved everything from the dining room, I see. We'll be more comfortable here."

With the pleasantries out of the way, everyone quickly fell into a rhythm, helping to arrange the materials and connect the technology. Maps were spread out on the walls, and notes were attached to them. Quickly, the room began to transform into a hub of activity.

Amidst the busyness, Solstace approached Gabriel. "Alpha," he began hesitantly, "when are we discussing the... uh, the girl who's supposed to accompany me?"

Gabriel raised an eyebrow, amusement glinting in his eyes. "Who are you talking about?"

Solstace's cheeks reddened slightly. "I ran into King Vlad's spy yesterday. She's quite..." he paused, and his eyebrows furrowed when he tried to describe her. Cute? Annoying? Annoyingly cute? Solstace's thoughts wandered. What is wrong with me?

Lila overheard and chimed in, "Peculiar?"

Solstace shrugged. "That's to say the least. Honestly, I don't want to be taking care of a girl while on this quest. If you could back me up…"

Markus approached them and chuckled, "You might be barking up the wrong tree there, Solstace. Gabriel doesn't tend to be swayed easily."

Solstace sighed, "I guess I'll have to wait and see how the vote goes."

Markus clapped him on the back, "Don't worry. At the very least, it'll entertain the rest of us."

Lila tried to stifle a laugh.

"Solstace, I'm sure you can find a way to collaborate with this woman," Lila said, raising her eyebrows.

Solstace nodded. It was difficult to refuse her or argue with the one person who entrusted him with this mission.

At that moment, William and Cassandra entered the conference room. "Apologies for being the last to the party," William said to Gabriel and Lila.

"No worries, Aunty." Lila walked up to them and hugged her aunt.

The hustle and bustle in the room gradually subsided as everyone took their seats around the massive wooden table. Gabriel took a deep breath and clapped his hands together, signaling the beginning of the meeting.

"Thank you all for helping us set up the base of operation this morning," Gabriel began, his voice steady and authoritative. "Our sole focus today is to discuss the integration of King Vlad's spy into our group of allies. We must decide if this person would be an asset in our quest to capture and bring Zoltan to justice."

Gabriel continued, "King Vlad, you have suggested we integrate this person. Can you tell us more about this spy of yours and why you think this person would be an asset?"

Gabriel looked around the table. "We will not make this decision lightly. Nor will we go into the decision in bad faith." He raised an eyebrow, looking at Solstace drumming his fingers nervously on the tabletop.

King Vlad nodded as he stood up. He had an imposing figure and presence. "I implore you to keep the information you will learn to yourselves. I ask this for her security."

King Vlad scanned the room, receiving nods of approval and understanding.

"Crimson has been a spy for me for many years. Although she misstepped or took a miscalculated step last night when she encountered Solstace in the dining room, her abilities have proven invaluable to my court. While she might seem... unconventional," he said with a slight smirk, "her skills are unparalleled."

All eyes turned to Solstace.

"I was working while you all were drinking beer. That girl came in looking for King Vlad." He shrugged. Why do I feel the need to defend myself? I didn't do anything wrong. Did I?

King Vlad sat down, taking in a long breath. "Some of my royal guards found Crimson when she was a young child." His eyes looked at the horizon while he remembered that day.

"We don't know how it happened. But the guards found her in the royal gardens. Somebody snuck her in. We hypothesize that they intended to save her… but I can't be entirely sure from whom or from what." King Vlad scanned the room.

"We know that she is vampire, although sometimes I wonder if she could be more."