Page 7 of Phoenix Falling
He said the words as if they were true. Unfortunately, whether the psychs desired to do so or not, joining our clan was their only option. Returning to the human world left them vulnerable to another Anigma attack, to further imprisonment. Here they would be safe. It had not been easy for them to accept—how could it be when they had been raised human, still thought of themselves as human?—but the human world believed them to be dead. Here, among the Archai, they could find a new life, learn to handle their gifts without damage to their bodies and minds, perhaps even find mates and build families of their own. It was the best we could offer them.
The news offered hope to our males, especially. Many went through life with the knowledge that they would never mate. Females were too rare; our people birthed many more males, for reasons we did not understand. I could see the tension enter the bodies of the shifters surrounding me. It was one of the reasons Grim and I had decided to keep the psychs secluded for a time. They had been traumatized enough; I refused to allow them to be watched, maybe even stalked by hopeful males now that they were finally safe. I had already discussed the issue with the Council, and we were putting a plan in place before the clan met the females.
As precious as these females were, there was more to discuss.
“In regard to the Anigma, we have been gathering intel. The group we fought here, led by what we’ve learned was the Anigma general for the Southeastern United States, has been scattered for now. But they are not the only contingent. And that will not be our only battle. The Anigma have slowly built their power over the past 1200 years in secret. We must know what their intentions are, who leads them. We know from the compound we discovered that they are converting males to become shifters in their army—”
More talking as that news registered among my people.
“How can they hide that many deaths?” Cyra asked, shock filtering through her words. All Archai knew that humans could be converted, but only at great risk. Eighty percent of those who attempted the complex blood ritual did not survive, and for those who did, there was no guarantee that they would possess an animal form or shifting ability. In fact, the ritual was so rare that Grim, our Aomai, had only attempted it once in his nine hundred years of practice.
“Cremation, more than likely. We believe they are conscripting primarily the homeless, those who are least likely to arouse notice with a disappearance.” There was certainly plenty of fodder in that area. “We are still gathering more intel, both for how the Anigma work and what their ultimate plans are. There is no doubt they will come after us. Whether their plans include overtaking humans as well, we are not yet certain.”
I gave my clan a few minutes to digest that news before proceeding. Raising my voice above the crowd, I continued. “My people, this has been a night of revelations, of shock and surprises. It is not easy for any of us to accept.”Our king included.“But there are things that must be decided. Our future must be protected. Ignoring the enemy will not make them disappear, nor will it protect those whom the Anigma are targeting now, before their plans are fully in place.”
“And does our king agree?” Cato, another elder, was the one who asked. Known for his close alliance with Solomon, he looked less than happy that I was the one on the dais and not his leader.
I stared him down. “We have been blessed with many years to thrive, to enjoy our peace, to protect our species without threat to our survival. That time has passed. If we wish to ensure a similar future for our children, we must act now.”
I could tell the shifter wanted to argue, but now was not the time.
“We will take a day to allow our minds to accept this news, the shift in our reality,” I stated firmly. “Tomorrow we will meet again, and we will decide what must be done. What future we will choose—for each of us individually, for our people, and for the continuation of our species. Good night to you all.”
As our warriors had done earlier, I slapped my fist against my heart and bowed my head to the clan. Then, with a quick shift on my combat boots, I turned and made my way down from the dais and out of the room.
ChapterFour
DEMETRI
The hallway was dotted with groups of Archai discussing the prince’s meeting. And the king’s refusal to speak. In whispered words they wondered if Solomon was declining, if their future was rocky for more reasons than simply the return of the Anigma.
They had plenty of reason to worry. In my opinion Solomon was on the downhill slide, and his refusal to face what was happening would only hasten the fall. But Sun was ready to step up; of that I had no doubt.
Beyond the main corridor lay a multitude of shadowy passages leading in all directions of the compass. I took one at random, then another, then another. After fifteen minutes and the assurance that no one followed me, I hastened north, to the section of the lair that had been blockaded against intrusion. The section that was reserved for the new psychs rescued from Maddox’s clutches.
Only members of the Warrior’s Council had been privileged with the information about the new females. Waiting now at the entrance was Cale, his white-blond hair gleaming in the miniscule light inside the passage. Amber eyes watched me approach, and I felt Cale’s griffin rise beneath his skin. The animal was strong, as was the male, which was why he’d been invited to join the council despite his relatively young age of 500 years. The fact that he was a renowned playboy was frequently overlooked, though it had come in handy a time or two.
“Cale.”
“Demetri.” He shifted to look behind me. “How did it go?”
“Not great, but then we hadn’t expected much else.”
“The clan will come around,” Cale said confidently.
I wished I had his confidence. “But the king will not. He left the meeting after refusing to speak.”
“Well, damn.”
“Indeed.” I gave my fellow warrior a congenial slap on the shoulder as I passed.
Down the passage a small way was a split, and I took the left fork. Shortly beyond, I turned into the cavern that housed the new females dorm-style. They’d preferred not to be separated after their rescue, a decision that spoke as much of their solidarity as it did their fear. We took turns guarding both the route here and inside, but horror like these psychs had experienced did not go away overnight. It had taken weeks for my own rage at what had been done to them to burn away, and still my animal stirred restlessly within me when memories of those first few horrible days surfaced. Of females shrinking back from me in terror, accidentally unleashing psych power because they had not been taught to safely control their gifts. A child comatose and cold, refusing to return to the world. Gaunt hunger and stark anxiety staring out of faces meant to be at peace.
And then there were more recent memories that stirred my dragon for a far different reason.
My twin sister, Lyris, leaned against the wall just inside the room, her gaze watchful as the females mingled before her. Affection surged inside me, and my dragon chuffed behind my breastbone in greeting. “Evening, Sis.”
My beloved twin turned toward me, and I felt her mind reaching for mine, connecting in that way we’d had since we were children. And that was a long time ago—we nearly matched Solomon in age and had served the Warrior’s Council for as many years as he had been king. Our parents had been lost to us for several centuries now, and no other siblings existed. This long life had gifted neither of us with a mate. As the years had dragged on, it was my connection to my twin that had kept me alive, kept me sane. Nothing meant more to me than Lyris. I hadn’t thought anything could ever grow to rival her in my affections.
