The Dragon King
Chapter 9 ~ Hoisted By Your Own Petard

Aurora’s POV ~

It feels good having a pack link. That saying you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone is truer than I realized. I dressed in black dress slacks and a navy blue silk cami with a small floral print. Tossing on a black blazer and heels.. I was out the door for breakfast. I left my hair loose, but pulled the sides away from my face.

I told everyone good morning.. and Albert came over “Ms. Heartsong, council emailed that your motion for continuance has been approved. However, Moon Hollow Pack filed a grievance against us for water rights.”

I smiled at him “Thank you, Albert. We will take a look at the paperwork when we get in. Sit down and enjoy your breakfast for now.” I sat and Adrian asked “You always dress to impress for work?” I nod.. and grin “Are ya impressed? But, yes, I do. I represent Draconium Pack now.. and in the course of any day, I don’t know who I may encounter. No way would I ever not be presentable”

He laughed “Hellz yeah! I’m impressed! You look high class! Like we some important people here!” Draco chuckled “Stop, Adrian! You do look beautiful, Aurora.. but please, ignore my Beta!”

I worked the morning away.. filing all the necessary paperwork for the appropriate cases. Until I came upon a lawsuit filed by us.. against a weyr of dragons, and particularly against the Alpha.. crimes against humanity. Searching through the file.. there’s no more information. Whoever filed it, didn’t follow through. I linked Draco, asking if he was busy. He said in his office and to come see him.

I walked in and he was sitting with Adrian and Culver, doing paperwork. I smiled “I am sorry to bother you.. I do fear it may happen a few more times, over the coming weeks while I clear my office.”

He looked up, grinning “This? You? Not an interruption.. a pleasant reprieve! How can I help?” I sat and opened a file.. “I need to know why we filed a crimes against humanity on one Alpha Michaelson of the Lightning Weyr.”

The room got so still.. so thick with tension, I felt like I was gasping for air. He sighed “Well, as you know, I am a dragon/wolf hybrid.. and the Dragon King.” I jumped up and loudly said “What? Wait! No, I didn’t. I didn’t know. Why was that pertinent information not given to me?” He laughed and said “I’m sorry. I thought that had been covered in your interview?”

Again, I am shaking my head “No interview. I wasn’t interviewed by anyone. Your proposition was handed to me, along with twenty two others by the council.. a week before my graduation.”

Adrian laughed “Damn, brother! We made the cut out of twenty three! That’s cause we’re just awesome like that!” I curled my lip at him “It’s because I was told you had close ties to a dragon weyr up here.. and I have always felt most discrimination is targeted toward dragons and I wanted to help! Not because Alpha Draco is King! Shit! Shit Shit Shit!”

Draco laughs again “Deep breath, Aurora. What do you need from me?” I did as he said.. took several deep breaths, actually.. and asked “Why was this case not pursued? And what crimes are being committed against the people?”

Culver punched a few keys on his laptop and turned it to me. I saw pictures of five different people, in human form. Varying degrees of wounds and bruises.. then, their dragon counterparts. Culver pointed to the dragons.. “Look! See here? Here.. and here?” At my nod, he says “Michaelson abuses his people.. we’re talking torture.. beatings.. shit like that. But this? See the notches in the wings?” I nod again.. he continues “Those injuries are not only to cause pain.. they take a long time to heal.. and the placement of them prevents flight.”

Isla growls “He hobbles his people? Grounds them? So they what? Can’t escape?” Draco nods. I mutter mother fucker! Then, I ask.. “Why was the lawsuit not pursued?”

Adrian tells me “When the process server had gone to deliver the summons, Michaelson had moved the Weyr. The entire weyr of two hundred.. just vanished.”

I sat back down, deflated “Are we looking? Have efforts continued to replace this piece of shit? And where are these five people who came forward? Safe, I hope!” Draco smiled at me “The five are indeed safe. They are members of the pack. Search teams are in the sky, every day.. no luck, so far. The case can’t move forward, until Michaelson is located.”

I looked directly into his eyes and told him “May I pursue it? With sworn testimony of the victims, I can move forward to convict in absentia!”

Adrian asks “What the fuck does that even mean? Absentia?” I grin “I don’t need a defendant in a courtroom, in the face of overwhelming evidence! If the victims are willing to swear statements and testify, I can win this! Then, he becomes a wanted fugitive from justice.. as opposed to a person of interest!”

Draco leans back in his chair “What do you need?” Nodding, I let him know “I need to interview the victims.. take their statements. Transcribe them and submit them as evidence, to the council. Then, we issue a blanket notice that this is going to trial. If Michaelson doesn’t show up.. at the appointed date and time of the hearing, he forfeits his right to defense. Done deal!”

Culver asks “And if he shows up?” I reply, “then I depose him.. and he gives his side of the story. Either way.. he would have to come out of hiding.. leaving an opportunity to discover his weyr?”

Draco asks “How soon? We lost contact with Michaelson six months ago. Our previous attorney told us there was nothing we could do until he was located.”

That didn’t ring true with me.. something’s not right. “How long ago did your attorney leave? And what was his reason?” Adrian responded “He left a little over five months ago. His reason was an illness in his family, and he was needed home.. somewhere south.”

I smirked “And nobody found it suspect that this lawsuit was filed with the shifter’s commission.. Michaelson disappeared before he could be served, and the attorney leaves? It didn’t seem too coincidental? How did the Alpha know to move his weyr?”

Draco leans his elbows on his desk.. holding his chin “Son of a fucking bitch! That bastard betrayed us! I want him found and brought to me! Goddess damn it! Aurora! Carte Blanche! Do what you need! No matter the cost! We step up efforts! Find that weyr! I want those people safe!”

I stood up “On it, Boss! For the record, I believe the threat of absentia conviction will flush Michaelson out of hiding!” Culver grins “Finally! I like you, girl! Your no-nonsense approach is going to make such a difference! Why can’t all lawyers look like you!?”

I asked “What? What the hell do looks have to do with it?” Adrian grins and said “That’s his way of getting into your pants!” I laughed “Yup! Never gonna happen, Spiffy! These pants stay on, until I replace my second chance! So, don’t waste your time.. I’m immune!”

Draco laughed and told him “Hoisted by your own petard!”