Page 6 of Above Cursed Winds

“What else was taken?”

Zia’s attention refocused on the intimidating Raeth across from her. Zeke had lived sixteen centuries and was the oldest being in the room. The oppressive aura of power around him assured no one would mistake his expansive abilities.

Clearing her throat, she answered, and was proud that her voice didn’t shake.

“A handful of documents concerning our own clan’s security measures. We’ve already adjusted to ensure our processes are not vulnerable and any gaps have been covered. However, we’re unsure if they accessed the virtual Accords documents. Our technopath ran out of steam before she could verify.”

“How did this happen?” Gideon, the Elemental monarch, asked. “We were assured this information would be safeguarded.”

Nero shifted uneasily beside her. “It should have been impossible to steal. The computer wasn’t connected to the internet, was password and fingerprint protected, and was only accessible from inside Zia’s office in the heart of my own territory. It would’ve been easier to steal a Van Gogh than waltz into my clan lands, bypass four hundred obsessively protective Raeths, and download it under our very noses.”

The sentiment was seemingly echoed on the faces of those opposite them. Only one person outright sneered at her.

From his energy, he was clearly an Elemental, but they’d never been introduced. Knowing what she did of the other breed, she’d take a guess and say he was Jeremiah.

If Zia looked past his scowl, she’d classify him as handsome. His strong jaw was shadowed by a somewhat ill-kept scruff, as if he’d gone a few days without trimming it. Tempting lips, hidden beneath the russet stubble, turned down at the corners as he regarded her, as if he’d had better things to do today than listen to the processes of the immortal nations’ security.

Arrestingly blue eyes were locked on hers, and within seconds, Zia couldn’t help but look away. Too much pain seemed to swell within their depths. Even this far away, his turmoil battered against her without cessation. Shoulder-length red hair had been tied at the back of his head, though a strand or two had freed themselves and framed a face too alluring to resist.

And then he opened his mouth. “Since when did we allow such negligence in safeguarding our most crucial information?”

Beside her, Nero’s gruff sound conveyed just what he thought of the charges. He shifted as if to respond, but she had never let him fight her battles.

“The fault was mine. I thought we had done everything in our power to ensure security for the sensitive information” Zia replied, guilt welling behind her words.

“Except it was stolen regardless,” he snapped back. “Seems to me that, despite your confidence, all you have are convenient excuses.”

Zia swallowed her pride. “I’ve already admitted fault. We’re here to fix the issue before it can snowball.”

Scoffing once more, Jeremiah linked his fingers and cupped them behind his head while maintaining unrelenting eye contact. “There’s no fixing this, Raeth. The Citizens have the list, and they’ll use it; there’s no way to undo it. Your ineptitude may very well cause the deaths of scores of children and vulnerable immortals.”

Zia blinked away the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes. Everything he was saying was true, and it’d been echoing in her mind since she’d discovered the breach. No matter which way the story was spun, the reality of the situation remained: losing the list equaled an unparalleled threat.

She clenched her fists as fine tremors shook her arms. The same despair she’d been battling all morning swiftly rose up once more, like icy fingers around her throat.

When her voice failed to find purchase, Nero spoke instead. “We’re well aware of the consequences, Jeremiah. Instead of pointing fingers, let’s collaborate on how to protect the innocent.”

Which didn’t include her, Zia’s mind offered.

“We strategize our defense on the basis of what they’ve done in the past,” Zeke said. “They attempted a physical breach with ground forces, and then escalated to experiments with air poisoning. If anything, we attempt to safeguard our homes against both threats.”

Heads nodded around the circle, solemn faces accompanying the description. Isaiah asked, “Which addresses were listed?”

“Every vampire House that we’ve collected data on so far had physical addresses listed. Blaede and Osé clan lands had street addresses, too. The Danada and Sylth clans had only the states of Ontario and Utah listed, respectively, and only general locations were noted for the werewolf dens, with several exceptions. Paracel was the final listing, as Lucius’ new House was yet unlisted by his own request.”

“And thank fates for that,” came Lucius’ dark reply. “I can’t move my House again.”

“We’ve got a hundred Houses on that list,” Drake began. “If Kane, Rona, Luc, and I split up, we can meet with every leader within the next few weeks. Given the fact that we’ve no idea how we were hacked, I’m hesitant to send emails or speak over the phone.”

“Valid,” Nina replied.

Aidan spoke quietly with Nova before announcing, “The alphas and I will manage the dens. Though Remmus has already gone through our tech, I’ll have Nova’s team split up and run through the security onsite at each location.”

“We will take precautions to ensure our own safety,” Drake said, “but that won’t address the breach on your territory, Nero. If we’re to trust the confidentiality and security of our Accords documents, then we need to rectify it.”

“Agreed,” he sighed, “but our technopath is still suffering from energy drought post birth, and checking the download nearly overloaded her. She won’t be able to assist.”

“The same with ours,” Isaiah confirmed from across the room.

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