Page 51 of Veiled Fate
“Did that make you feel better?” Kiel chided gently.
I sighed, not entirely sure where the outburst had come from. Was I that on edge, that nervous about what Lycaonus would announce, that I couldn’t control myself?
“Exactly. Just take deep breaths and keep to yourself. Not everyone will immediately wake up to the truth. The older someone is, the more set in their ways they are. You can’t change that. It’ll have to reach critical mass with the younger generation. Then, as they age, they’ll bring that change with them.”
“Too slow,” I growled. “Far too slow.”
“That’s why we’re here,” he said. “To give the scales a tip in the right direction. But we can’t do that if you’re busy tearing a new one into someone’s grandmother. Can we?”
“Point taken,” I said, shaking my head. “I’ll be good.”
Kiel put an arm around me, drawing me close for a side hug. I let him, comfortably resting my head on his chest, drawing strength from his presence.
“Here he comes,” someone said, the same cry echoing out through the crowd, followed by a hush that spread from the front in a visible ripple.
I wasn’t the only one on edge; that much was clear. The square was absolutely packed, shifters elbow to elbow from front to back, spilling out into the streets that also fed into the square. A good chunk of Lycaon had turned out to hear his speech, and I was sure word would spread to the rest like wildfire.
Lycaonus stood above his statue, looking down at the crowd.
“Thank you for coming,” he said without preamble, his voice pitched far and loud without shouting. The near silence of everyone in the square ensured that even those far away could hear. Wolf shifters had acute hearing. We didn’t need to be up close to hear.
“Yesterday, there was an unprecedented attack on our well-being, only several hours from the gates of this very city,” Lycaonus said, pausing to let the ripple effect of his words spread through the crowd.
“That attack did not come from enemies without. No rival empire, no ancient evil from the north. No, it came from the worst of all places.” Another dramatic pause. “It came from within.”
Hubbub spilled out at that. The Alpha let it go on for half a minute before lifting his hands and quieting the crowd.
“Yes. As terrifying as it is to admit, we have our own homegrown enemies. Those among us who wish to see the peace and tranquility of the Alphas brought crashing down in the fires of war and pestilence. There are those who would unleash death and destruction on our empire, tumbling our cities into ruin, killing with abandon. Torturing children.”
“Oh, come on,” I spat, rolling my eyes. “Does he really expect people to believe anything he says when you say something so stupid? Come on. Nobody is out there torturing children. That’s just trying to create mass hysteria. Pathetic.”
More than a few people near me seemed to agree. I’d heard several snorts of disbelief and several vocalized responses similar to mine. Lycaon was pushing it too far, too fast.
“Yesterday, these terrorists, these killers, attacked a peaceful column of shifters approaching Lycaon. Traveling with them was Arcadus, Alpha of Arcadia. Despite being horribly outnumbered and facing certain death, Arcadus stood his ground, fighting to protect the unarmed children and infants that were the true targets of these despicable rebels.”
I scoffed heartily but refrained from speaking lest I give away too much. Although I wanted to shout that Arcadus had fled with his tail between his legs like a coward, leaving his men to die, I didn’t, for obvious reasons.
“In the brutal fighting that followed, Arcadus was somehow killed. How and what sort of evil these rebels used to kill an Alpha, we don’t yet know. We may never know. But it is obvious that nobody is safe from them. Hold your children close in case they come for you next.”
Kiel leaned over to me. “He’s trying to create panic and hysteria. Prey on the emotions of parents who will fear for their children instead of questioning the ridiculousness of his claims.”
“I know,” I said. “I’m waiting for him to say that they roast and eat babies, too.”
Kiel’s nostrils flared with contempt, but I noticed several people casting looks in my direction that said they didn’t find it as outlandish as I did. There were others, though, who clearly didn’t believe a word he said either. Neither side seemed to have a majority.
“However, you won’t have much to fear for long,” Lycaonus continued, raising his voice. “For I, as your protector, have been hard at work doing what I always do. Keeping you safe. Keeping our Empire safe. And I have continued to do just that.”
Kiel and I exchanged glances.
“I have found the stronghold of these rebels! Their home has been revealed!” he crowed.
I inhaled sharply as Kiel stiffened next to me.
“No,” he whispered.
“Just this morning, in fact, a detachment of my soldiers departed to Pallas, where they will meet up with troops sent by Pallantia himself. Together, these men will burn the rebel stronghold to the ground. There will be no survivors, none who will be left to threaten you!” Lycaonus flung his hands in the air to emphasize his point.
The announcement, however, was only met with a smattering of cheers in the crowd. Even Kiel and I joined in the scoffing. There was no way Lycaonus could know of the cave complex. It had to be something else.
