Page 7 of Above Cursed Winds

All eyes shifted to Nina, but for the first time, her expression remained guarded. “While I understand that technopaths are rare, my address was one that was compromised, and we’ve children to protect.” She shook her head apologetically. “I can’t afford to lose Remmus. Not now.”

Zeke added, “There has to be someone else we can send. An impartial party that can verify the validity of the threat, secure your network, and confirm what else they could’ve possibly stolen. You and Zia may believe everything was buttoned up, Nero, but bringing in someone who’s unbiased might help identify the error—and prove your innocence.”

Something in Zia’s chest clenched at the word.

“If they’ve somehow accessed the Accords treaty texts themselves, we could be in trouble,” Drake added. “The language we used within them could indicate any manner of weakness they could wield against us.”

Nero nodded. “Agreed. We must make it a priority, but we can’t alert the masses; a panic would ensue if they were to learn of our vulnerability.”

“Is there anyone else who could dig that deeply into security and technology?” Zia asked. “If the vampires and werewolves need all their resources, and the technopaths are unavailable, then …”

A pop sound echoed across the room. Instantly, Zia’s attention jerked to the red-haired Elemental blowing yet another gum bubble as she scowled at him. His obnoxious yellow shirt only called attention to the fact that he couldn’t be bothered to care.

Narrowing her eyes at the irritating man, she glanced around the curiously quiet room, finding that gazes were centered on one man … Jeremiah.

No.

Little could convince her the irksome Elemental would be someone she could work with. He’d cast sarcasm and spite her way from the moment he’d entered, but everything he had claimed was true.

“Paracel has been a known location for years,” Gideon said, “and we’ve already secured our borders. Jeremiah has a background in tech and runs our security—plus, he’s got contacts in high places. He’d make a good impartial party.”

Nothing about Jeremiah looked impartial to Zia.

Nero, on the other hand, seemed amenable. “I’d be happy for the help. It’d be good to have a second—or third—set of eyes on it.”

“Are we certain this was the Citizens?”

Everyone froze at Isaiah’s question. If Zia hadn’t been holding herself so stiffly, she might’ve gasped. Beside her, Nero sat up taller.

“Are you accusing my clan of something, Isaiah?”

“No one has mentioned the possibility that this could be someone other than the humans.” Isaiah shrugged. “While I agree that they are the most likely culprits, we shouldn’t blind ourselves to every other option.”

Resignation stole through Zia, and she could sense it deep within her sovereign. While he grappled with ramifications of the charge, she said, “It’s a valid point. Nero and I—and whomever this delegation elects to send to us as an impartial party—will exhaust every avenue.”

It appeared to appease most of the officials present.

“Assuming it is the Citizens,” Nina started, “has Key seen anything that would tip us off toward what they’ll do with the list, Nero?”

He shook his head no, adding, “But Key doesn’t always share her foresight with me. There’s a method to her madness, and I trust her.”

He looked as though he wanted to say more, but ultimately, he held his tongue. And that was, perhaps, for the best. Key’s foresight was both potent and intoxicatingly alluring, at least when it didn’t involve death and destruction. In Zia’s case, it had held both.

“If we find that it was the Citizens, when could we expect them to launch an offensive play?” Quiet as a mouse, Lucius’ mate, Circe, questioned the room. “Timing would affect all of us, but many of the affected locations have children to think about.”

Time stood still as blank gazes met hers from around the room, no one able to hazard a guess.

Until Gideon spoke. “It was about a year after they’d discovered Paracel that they delivered their message.”

At the sentiment, more than a few among them shifted uncomfortably in their chairs. It went unsaid that the casualty there had been Gideon himself, nearly assassinated while saving the lives of innumerable people.

Only a miracle had brought him back.

Zia couldn’t imagine watching her sovereign die. Sure, she’d seen him challenged for his right to rule their clan, but Nero was one of the most powerful people on the planet. She’d never witnessed him struggle to win.

Her eyes sliced toward Jeremiah once more. The air Elemental was staring at his hands, his expression equal parts furious and forlorn. For a fleeting moment, she almost felt sorry for him.

As if sensing her gaze, arrestingly blue eyes glared bullets through her, and all sense of empathy disappeared. Jeremiah was definitely not a man to be pitied.

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