Councilman Lacroix stepped forward, an air of disappointment in his posture, a small resigned smile on his lips. “Justice has been enacted. Our laws upheld. Go in peace, friends.” He lifted his hands in a gentle gesture of farewell and returned to the dais. The crowd happily obliged his instructions, slowly streaming out, a laughing, chattering, cheerful mob who acted as though a life hadn’t just been ended right before their eyes.
“Annika,” He motioned for me to come forward, which meant we all went because the guys wouldn’t leave my side—for which I was grateful. I gritted my teeth, upset and ready to go home, but I forced my legs to move, avoiding looking in the dead part-blood’s direction. I swallowed down the bile that had risen, worried about what they could want with me now and confused about Damien’s proclamation just minutes earlier. I needed to get him out of here before all hell broke loose. I was mad, upset, confused, and scared out of my damn mind as I stood before the imposing Council seated on their thrones. Damien’s father turned his attention in our direction, and I made sure my wall was in place to block him from picking up on my distrust. I felt Damien tense—nearly shaking—as he stood an inch behind me near my right shoulder. I just needed to get through this and get us out of this room—away from this island. “The Council has spoken regarding your living arrangements.” We all tensed more than we already had been—if that was even possible. I hadn’t expected them to have convened so quickly about the matter. I thought I might have months, or at least weeks before they called me back to talk about this again. Panic swirled inside of me as I waited for this last slap across the face. “We have decided to let you remain with Damien, Hiro, Ryder, Theo, and Killian.” Relief swamped me, and I gave them as serene a nod as I could. I wanted to pat myself on the back for my acting skills—amateur as they may be. It was the best I could manage given everything that had already taken place within this room. “However, changes must be made to ensure your safety going forward. This threat may be passed—this fire snuffed out—but there are always others lurking in the smoke.” My mouth was drawn tight as I nodded again, wondering if he could be one of them. I tamped down the thought immediately. Not only did I not want to risk the Council finding out about my traitorous thoughts, but I didn’t want Damien to pick up on them either. Not now.
However, it was Councilman Williams who spoke next, his voice hard, demanding that we listen and heed his orders. “The boys have, to this point, refused help in creating barriers around their house. If you will consent to a barrier and continued use of extra protection for you, the Council will consent to Annika staying in your home. She is under your protection.” He eyed each one of the guys, and I shivered from the threat his eyes posed. I’d seen him kill with those very eyes. The proof was lying in a crumpled heap just a few feet behind me and to my left.
“We consent,” Damien spoke for the group.
“If anything happens to her, it will be on your heads.” Councilman Rahal’s words were clipped as he let their weight settle in. “She is not only a rare mythological shifter, but she is also a female of breeding age. As she is the only phoenix shifter we know about, she is extremely valuable to our society. We try to keep shifters from going extinct, and your species is precariously close to that edge… Do you understand what I am saying Nix?” I appreciated his use of my preferred name, but I hated the words coming out of his mouth. I nodded my agreement though because there wasn’t any other choice.
“With that in mind, we would like to extend an invitation to Nix to be our guest at our upcoming Gala to be held in a few weeks. Your attendance is required—all of you.” Williams waited for our agreement. I wasn’t sure what was so crucial about the Gala, but luckily I’d have time to ask the guys. I’d get to stay with them. We had time. As the Council dismissed us, I turned the wrong way and caught sight of Michael.
“Let’s go home.” Hiro’s voice was soft in my ear. I pulled my attention back to my guys, away from the body that was sprawled like a broken mannequin on the floor. Killian and Ryder framed Damien, their touch on his shoulder and back a light, but solid presence. Theo and Hiro mimicked the posture, framing me as we withdrew from the room.
I reached out to take Damien’s hand, our fingers intertwined as I met each of their eyes one by one. “Yes, let’s go home.” I wasn’t sure what our next step would be, what Damien had seen, or how I felt about being part of a world that revelled in death; whatever would happen next, though, would happen together, and that’s what mattered. I would keep our family strong, no matter what the cost.
Author’s Note
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