Page 19 of Banishing Regrets

The president laughed. “I think I would know. Their father was one of the most anti-shifter people in the world, and don’t you think, after thirty years of marriage, I would know if my wife was a shifter? Leave us, all of you.” Kas watched on as the president ordered everyone out of the Oval Office except for Jessica, Jane, Kingsley, and Isobel. “Where have you two been? You both disappeared after your father died. We’ve been worried. And how the hell did you just appear in my office? Isobel, Kingsley, there are so many bad things going on in the world, please tell me you aren’t caught up in them.” The president embraced Isobel, but when he went to shake hands with Kingsley, he reeled back when he saw the missing finger on the artist's hand. “I need answers, now.”

The president motioned for them all to take a seat, and then he sat back down on the chair behind his desk, facing them all.

“We’re sorry for worrying you,” Isobel spoke first. “We needed time after our father’s death to process what had happened and also to find our way forward. Uncle, please, we’ve come here today to beg you to stop the ill-treatment of shifters. Kingsley and I are both humans, as is Jane. Jessica is a story for another day, but you have my word she won’t hurt you. Kingsley, Jane, and I, we’re all in love with shifters. Kingsley and I are married to them. They wouldn’t hurt you or anyone else. They are kind and caring.”

Kas watched as Kingsley took over the plea.

“Shifters look after the planet, and they work ordinary jobs and live peacefully among humans. Many humans already know of their existence and do not fear them. The shifters who are causing the trouble are a minority. They are rogues who want to change the way the world views shifters. Please, we ask you to let the shifter council deal with the rogues. You need to help put in place a plan for us all to live together, side by side, in peace.”

“Shifter council?” the president questioned.

“Yes,” Kingsley continued. “It was located in the Reichstag building in Germany, the one that was destroyed recently. The rogue faction are killing their own people as well. Many senior people in the shifter world died that day. Since then, the remaining council members have been trying to get everything organized to stop them, but they just need a little more time. Please will you call for peace between the two worlds?”

Jane spoke up next.

“Mr. President, I never thought I’d have to sit here before you explaining my situation. I’ve been around shifters nearly all my life. I don’t see them as any different to you and me. Yes, they have abilities we don’t, but they don’t use them to cause harm. My husband was a shifter, a snow leopard. My son is a half-shifter, again a snow leopard. My daughter-in-law has abilities I can’t comprehend and has not lived a normal life as we know it. My grandson has the combined abilities of both his mother and father. And the man who now holds my heart is the leader of the family we are all a part of. He’s the kindest man I know. He’s never hurt anyone unless in self-defense, and only then as a last resort. He’s the complete opposite of the shifters who are trying to destroy the world we all know, even though he’s a blood relative to one of them.” Jane wiped away a tear as she finished speaking. Kas longed to hold her but appearing in the room would only cause alarm, especially with his face looking the same as Nuka’s. “All we ask is that you stop the hunting and abuse of shifters and allow us time to deal with those who are causing trouble. You can assist us in doing that by opening communication lines with the shifter council. Go through the three of us if needs be. Just give the shifters a chance. Don’t judge the majority based on the minority.”

The room fell silent.

“You all speak eloquently and passionately about the shifters and whatever other magical beings are out there.” The president looked toward Jessica as he spoke. The witch bowed her head. “I wish we could work out a situation that benefits everyone, but with the recent, serious attacks, we…I have to put things in place to protect the American people. The human American people—they are the ones who elected me to my position.”

Jane let out a wry chuckle.

“You do realize that shifters are registered to vote as American people. Most of the states where we live voted you in as a fair man. Show us we weren’t wrong.”

The president sighed heavily.

“It’s too late. With the clear and present danger being shown to us, we have no choice in the way we respond. Hopefully, in time, an accord can be found between humans and shifters, but for now, all shifters will need to be rounded up and registered. The nature of animals means they are volatile. We can’t risk the lives of humans, no matter what.”

“Please, Uncle, my husband isn’t volatile. He’s the person least likely to hurt anyone. He’s so tender and caring with me. I love him. You can’t do this,” Isobel pleaded again.

“I’m sorry. It’s no longer just my decision—it’s been agreed by all the governments of the world.” The president got to his feet. “I suggest you return to your homes now. The military will be coming soon for all shifters. Spend the little time you have left together. One day, I hope you’ll see this was the right action to take for us, for the world, even if it doesn’t feel like it now. We’re trying to keep everyone safe.”

Kas felt the sadness in the room as the president turned away from his niece and nephew. He was abandoning them. The president returned to his desk, and picking up a pen, he signed a document with a flourish.

Jane, Jessica, Kingsley, and Isobel all stood and held hands.

A few seconds later, Kas’ vision of the Oval Office vanished and everyone was back together again, standing in the woodland once more.

Eleven

Isobel walked slowlythrough the woodland. She knew Zain would be swimming at this time of the day, trying to catch fish for some of the pack's dinner. She approached where he was lying on his back in the water, playing with a fish in his paws. He must have smelled her coming because he got to his feet and bounded toward her. He stopped in front of her, and she rubbed his nose.

“Did you catch many?” she asked.

He nodded to a pile of fish in a basket before shifting back to a human.

“What’s wrong?” Zain’s face was full of worry. It was only then she realized she had tears tumbling down her cheeks. Zain was still wet from being in the lake, but he pulled her close to him and held her tightly.

“I’m sorry. I lied to you earlier when I said I was going to help Hunter’s pack settle in,” she started to explain, her head resting against Zain’s muscular chest.

He held her away from him so he could see her face. “What?”

“It’s nothing bad. Jane, Kingsley, and I went to see Kas. We asked if Jessica could take us to see the President of the United States to try and explain to him that not all shifters are bad.”

“What?!!” Zain exclaimed this time with more force. She could sense the anger in him. “Why would you do that? I hope Kas said no. It’s too dangerous.”

“Kas did say no, initially, but in the end he agreed. There’s something I’ve never told you before. My father wasn’t the only one in politics in our family. My uncle is as well. He’s the president, and we did go to see him in the Oval Office.”

---