Page 13 of Phoenix Falling
“Tell us how you really feel, Lyris,” James said, grinning. The modern words sounded peculiar on the shifter’s ancient lips.
“I am.” She stood up. “Can you imagine how it feels to have been attacked out of nowhere, your life completely changed, and to know that you are surrounded by males much like the ones who attacked you, with no way to even hope to defend yourself against their strength?”
Jacob growled as if offended. “They don’t need defense from us.”
Lyris narrowed blazing eyes on him. “You say that, but we also haven’t had an influx of new females in a long time. Rape is rare among our kind, yes, but it does happen.”
“We are doing our best to keep the females safe, Lyris,” I reminded her.
“It’s not the same thing as being able to defend themselves. To have some semblance of control.”
James’s response was gentle. “They cannot effectively defend themselves; you know that. They aren’t strong enough against our animals.”
“They cannot defeat you,” Lyris agreed, “but they can give themselves a chance to get away.” She straightened her shoulders. “However, fight training isn’t all I want to discuss.”
“Continue,” I encouraged her.
Lyris paused as if considering her words. Tension crept into my spine.
“First, I’d like to add the females to the current training classes or bring in a trainer specifically for them.”
“I agree,” Demetri said. “I will volunteer as trainer.”
I eyed the warrior and sensed the sincerity of his response. “That is acceptable.”
“And I want sexual harassment training for our males,” Lyris added.
A burst of laughter floated around the room.
I leaned forward in my seat, planting my elbows on the table. “Silence.”
Lyris stared her fellow warriors down. “We have long been taught that women should learn to defend themselves, be alert, be vigilant. In the human world, women are expected to carry weapons if they wish to remain safe.”
“We know this. But we are not human men that would savage a woman,” Basile pointed out.
“Again, Basile,” Lyris said, her voice going low with sorrow, “rape is not unheard of or we would not have a word for it.”
Silence settled. The males surrounding the table looked to me.
“Lyris is correct,” I said firmly. “We trust our men as if there has never been an exception. Maddox, for instance.” One of my closest childhood friends, who had been both a rapist and a murderer. “History has taught us that Anigma traitors even hide among us occasionally. Though this training will not changetheirminds, it will help us learn how to police our own.”
Someone snorted his opinion of that idea. Several others shifted uneasily. Vanessa stood.
“Sir, I’ve heard the arguments, but I have to agree with Lyris. Times are changing, even among the humans, and for the better. We have to stop laying the responsibility of rape and other sexual crimes on our females and begin to lay it on the males who would perpetrate them. Monitor your own kind, teach the males not only what constitutes rape but what constitutes harassment. What constitutes consent. No means no, always. This is especially important as we introduce females who may come to be mates of the males they meet. The males must be responsible for not scaring their mates, and however sincere, they may do so unknowingly. Training gives them the knowledge they need to properly approach a potential mate.”
Basile cleared his throat, drawing the attention of the others. “You are right, young Vanessa. I apologize for not carefully thinking this through. We become complacent over time, assuming we know all we need to know with the passage of the years, but that needs to change.” He turned to me. “I agree with the females.”
I looked to Lyris. “Who would lead this training?”
“Nala has all the skills,” she said, “but would prefer that a male stand with her. Some males will only listen to one of their own.”
James lifted a hand. “I will do this, Lyris.”
James had the age and wisdom to speak with authority. “So be it. Lyris, set up both trainings.”
Lyris took her seat just as the door to the chamber opened and Azrael entered, pushing a chained shifter ahead of him. The tension curling inside me rose another notch. The difficult tasks continued to come. I had a fleeting thought of Rissa, her warm brown hair curling around her gentle face, and wished I was a simple male free to meet with the female of his choice. But I was not, nor would I ever be.
Pushing her from my mind, I gestured to the chair set to the left, some distance from the table. “Baer, please join us.”
