Page 81 of Across Shadowed Paths

Shifting uncomfortably at the weighty looks cast in his direction, Kaien said nothing. Blair, however, was more than relaxed beneath the probing stares. Taking up the discourse, his mate cleared her voice and began.

“Once I was healed, Kaien, Remmus, and I returned to Torrin’s office. After we dug through his technology, we identified the threat to Lucius’ House. Kaien confronted Torrin about the attack—”

“—And nearly died in the aftermath,” Nero provided, his strong features conveying his displeasure. “TheCitizenshad found a way to charge the air with silver molecules. Poisoning was imminent as soon as he arrived in Torrin’s home.”

Aidan’s low growl from the chair next to him was a supernatural warning that set Kaien on edge. Like Raeths, werewolves had inherited the silver allergy from their Raeth ancestor and were just as susceptible to the poisoning that Kaien experienced.

“How long did it take to affect you, Kaien?” Isaiah’s dark, almond shaped eyes narrowed in concentration as the Raeth sovereign studied him. For once, there was no indignation in the other man’s gaze.

“At most,” Kaien recalled, “it took five minutes to completely disarm me to the point where I couldn’t teleport or manifest weaponry.”

Curses followed his statement, the distinct bite of malcontent reverberating among the delegates. There had been no easy way to tell them, and now that it was out there, Kaien felt the weight of the room.

“From what Torrin explained, it was automatically triggered as soon as I entered his space,” he continued. “To my knowledge, the silver was dispersed through the AC system in Torrin’s penthouse, and I unknowingly breathed them in. Torrin had no idea I was in his space until I made myself known.”

“An automatic release?” Ezekiel’s features pinched in agitation. “How is that possible?”

“I don’t know, and what’s worse is that it puts every known location at risk of an attack,” Drake admitted. “Perhaps this is what they were referring to when they spoke of a ‘choke’ after Lucius was held.”

“If they find a way to adapt the automatic dispenser to sunlight, or if they’ve already done so, the vampire nation would also be in danger,” Kane added.

Beside Kane, Nova’s hand tightened on her mate’s knee. Mated nearly a year and a half ago, the pair had been inseparable, attached at the hip. Kaien only now understood why.

“How do we combat this?”

Silence spread over the room, every immortal struggling to find a solution. As Kaien thought through different tactics and challenges that presented themselves with the onset of the new weapon, a seldom-heard voice breached the hush.

“Air is my element.” The red-haired Elemental named Jeremiah spoke, his face solemn. “If they’ve found a way to poison it, I can cleanse it from either silver or sunlight particles. I have little doubt I’d be able to succeed in such a thing.”

Tempered relief surged through Kaien’s veins. “Silver and sunlight molecules would not negatively affect Elementals?”

“We’re the only ones that are immune,” Gideon confirmed. “But we only have so many air Elementals that would be capable of what Jeremiah speaks of, and we would need a Raeth to teleport us to the location that was affected.”

“It’s a better play than anything we have so far.” Pondering the statement, Nina leaned against the wall next to where Kaien and Blair were seated. “How big an area could you cleanse at any one time, Jeremiah?”

“Should they strike through a ventilation system, few indoor areas would pose a problem. Depending on the dilution of the molecules, I could probably clean the air in less than a half hour.”

“Even skyscrapers?”

The question, posed by Drake, was clearly one of significance. Given that Drake’s House in New York City was a known location to theCitizens, it could easily be targeted for their attacks should they decide to.

“I can create a F5 tornado in five seconds flat, Drake,” came the reply, tainted with a hint of aggravation that Kaien knew was uncharacteristic of the other male. “Cleansing the air of finite molecules inside a restricted space is child’s play.”

“Glad to hear it, but let us hope it doesn’t come to that,” Drake replied, studying Jeremiah.

Drake’s mate, Toni, was an Elemental who’d been in training with her mentor, Gideon, for several years. The pair had frequented Paracel every few weeks and grown to be good friends with the Elementals at the facility, Jeremiah included.

“We can all agree on that,” Aidan growled in response to Drake’s words. “The fallout from such an event would be catastrophic, especially if it were a high-profile location like yours, Drake. It seems theCitizensis always one step ahead of us.”

“Torrin has a Raeth at his command,” Blair interjected to the shock of those around her. “Perhaps the immortal is feeding theCitizens’information on us in some way.”

“A Raeth?” Ezekiel’s brow furrowed. “How can you be certain?”

Blair shared a look with Nero. “During the battle at Luc’s House, we saw the unknown immortal teleport Torrin to safety when things got dicey. There was no mistaking it.”

“I was unable to identify him by sight, and neither was Remmus.” A tick worked in Nero’s jaw. “Now that we know Torrin has secured supernatural assistance, this is a whole new level of gameplay. One where we can’t anticipate their moves.”

“When have we ever been able to anticipate their moves?” Lucius scowled. “I lost thirteen people—goodpeople—to their assault. Now, my House’s location is compromised, and my people have lost everything. I’ve lost more to theCitizensthan any one person, and it’s got to stop. I don’t care what it costs, Torrin and his people need to be removed from the equation.”

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