by Harper Wylde
“Your turn.” Zanoah turned to the next girl who stumbled back a few steps.
“I don’t want to forget.” Her tone was pleading. “I want my mama.”
“It won’t hurt.” Zanoah’s voice was cool, but soft. “It feels just like going to sleep. We’ll take all the nightmares away so you can go to your new mama. They’re waiting for you just inside the next building. You’re going to be very strong, you know.” Quiet, soft words lilted toward the child, and Zanoah reached out her hands again. The girl skittered back, pressing her hands over her ears. She began rocking herself rapidly, humming as if to drown out Zanoah’s voice. I nearly fell over as I whipped towards Damien, his eyes wide and shocked as they met mine.
It’s her song. The two of us nearly shouted the words at each other at the same time. I watched in shock and horror as Zanoah’s hands met the girl’s head, the child’s cornsilk blonde curls shining in the golden glow that washed over her. Ever so slowly, the song began to fade to nothing. My heart beat a rapid tattoo in my chest. There was no way that another person should know about that song. The melodic tune of it had been haunting me for a week. Nix had been humming that same song, and now this child was humming it too. There was no way to explain it, but the only connection I had was that fucking island. If there had been any doubt that Nix and the children had been in the same place, it vanished from my mind.
The wipe must have been complete as Zanoah swayed, almost falling back.
“They’re all good. I wiped the boy when he stepped into the van.” The words were a mere murmur. “I’ll take them up to the Lodge for presentation.” In a smaller, more timid tone she added, “Try to be more careful with the next shipment. There’s no reason to terrify the children. It’s much harder to wipe them if they’re stressed out unnecessarily.” The man sneered at her in response, and she ducked her head, but even he didn’t dare contradict her given her powers. We watched them drive away, watched the humans leave Council property.
I turned to Damien, my rage so strong I was shaking. “What the fuck was that?”
I could feel the anger rolling off of him, see the elongated tips of his ears and the curve of his fingertips as the Gargoyle tried to take over, wanting to protect those children.
“They’re from the island,” I stressed, my heart ready to pound out of my chest. “That song.” I gripped my hair, pulling sharply at the purple fistfuls.
“I assume they’re some of the children being presented for adoption tonight.” His voice was gravely as though his Gargoyle was right on the edge of screeching. “They won’t be mistreated with the new families, they’ll be honored. It doesn’t make this right.”
“None of this is right. It sounded as if they’d been ripped away from their mothers.” I felt defeated. Why had it taken me years to see what had taken Nix a matter of weeks to see? The level of corruption, the questions, and the hidden secrets? Now that I knew though, I wouldn’t allow it to continue.
“We need to re-group; call a family meeting.” Damien’s words were hard, his decision final. “We need to figure out what we’re doing next. Let’s go before they find us.”
I glanced back over my shoulder, seeing the footprints of the children in the sparse snow. There had to be a reason that she knew that song, and I was going to find out what it was, no matter what it took.
Forty
Nix
Make your excuses. Family meeting. Damien’s voice rang out in my head. I almost jumped from the abrupt sound of his voice in my thought. I’d been nervous and dying for an update, praying they didn’t get caught while they investigated. I glanced around the room, considering whether I could easily step out. Most of the guys were chatting among themselves, some—including Ciarán—were even dozing off. I let myself yawn, stretching my arms before making my move.
“It was nice to meet you all.” I rose from my chair, my skirt brushing over my tired feet as I scooped up my heels. “I’m not exactly sure on the etiquette here, but I doubt I’m the only one who’s exhausted. Goodnight.” The men who were sitting rose as well, all sketching out short bows in my direction, murmuring their own goodnights as I hurried from the room.
Gaspard was waiting for me outside the door, leaning against the frame with another glass of champagne, looking disturbingly chipper. “Calling it a night my dear? You’ll have to learn to increase your stamina.” I stared at him for a moment before shaking my head.
“I really hope that wasn’t a double entendre. If so, I’m going to bleach my brain. If not, then it just proves I need sleep. Is there anything I need to do formally before I can head to my bed?” I let all the weariness I felt in my body seep into my voice.
Gaspard chuckled. “No, my dear. Formalities occur at the beginning of the event. It is expected that people will trickle out and head for their homes at different times. You simply need to find an escort. I will remain here as I’m assuming one of your friends will take you.” He winked at Hiro as he stepped up beside me.
“I’ve got her, sir.” Hiro was like a refreshing drink of water after the long night I’d had. He looked just as stunning in his dark tux as he had at the beginning of the night. Even his black hair was still styled perfectly in place. I wanted to lean into him, but held myself back, worried about the Council’s watchful eyes. Hiro indicated with his head across the hall. “I’ve definitely had enough for the night. Molly and her mother just left as well. I’m sure you want to see Theo since you’ve been away from him all day.” I smiled at Hiro’s thoughtfulness.
“I’ve missed all of you, but yes, I do want to see him,” I admitted, waving at Gaspard as Hiro led me away.
Think they found anything? I tossed the thought to Hiro, smiling and waving at people I recognized as we rushed to leave.
No idea. I haven’t seen Damien or Ryder in quite awhile. Hiro’s mental voice was irritated, and I could understand why. I knew it irked him to be left behind yet again, the same way it irked me.
Ryder avoiding Ahmya and her groupies ended up being the perfect cover, I hope he had time to get what he needed to do finished. I still wished I could go back in and tear her eyes out. I winced as I stubbed my toe on the elaborate, jutting corner of a wall. Hiro smiled as he scooped me up, cradling me against his warm chest.
“Allow me.” His murmur was husky as I breathed in his woodsy scent, stretching out the cramps in my toes as I relaxed into his arms.
“Don’t you two look cozy.” Theo’s voice probably would have startled me if the rocking motion of Hiro’s arms hadn’t nearly lulled me to sleep. “Probably not your best idea, Hiro, considering we’re surrounded by potential witnesses. Though I suppose you could play it off as being a gentleman to a higher level shifter.” I groaned and threw my shoes at Theo one by one, and he easily snatched them from the air, tossing me a saucy grin. “Mom took my car. Damien, Killian, and Ryder are waiting for us outside the side door near the residence quarters with their car so we don’t have to walk the gauntlet.” Hiro nodded, increasing his pace as he trailed after Theo.
The cold air was a slap to my face and I groaned, burying my head into Hiro’s jacket. At least they got to wear layers; I was in flimsy silk. I called to my Phoenix, letting her heat pour over me and warm my limbs that had been shocked by the cold. Hiro murmured his approval, holding me closer against him as we climbed into the truck. Killian’s fingers beat a steady rhythm on the wheel, as he impatiently waited for all of us to settle. “Let’s go,” he snapped, hitting the accelerator and winding down side roads. “I can’t believe you two took so fucking long.”
Not here. Damien’s voice was sharp in our heads. Keep it light. I don’t know who could be listening. We all nodded.
“Ahmya’s gang was annoying me,” Ryder chipped in, rolling his eyes. “I needed air.”
“Understandable.” Despite being cozy in Hiro’s arms, my voice was a little more alert as the adrenaline woke me up, the tone of it not quite as husky now.
Head out to the coast. We’re goin
g on a little ride. Damien shot a look at Theo, who nodded his understanding. Killian drove down the gravel road, and I let myself sink back into Hiro as he stroked my hair, humming to myself a little as I dozed back off. The jolting of the Hummer as doors were tossed open and the cold air that flowed in woke me and, apparently Hiro as well, if his yawns were any indication.
“You’re a very good little heater,” he murmured in my ear as he lifted me out. “I don’t want you walking out here without shoes.” My heels lay neglected in the vehicle, and I was too comfortable to insist on them. Theo was already stripping out of this tuxedo, and he caught my eyes tracking his every movement, tossing me a sexy wink as he flicked the buttons of his shirt open to reveal a swath of toned, golden skin.
“You’re welcome to keep watching.” His voice was husky and warm, the icy cold not seeming to bother him in the slightest as he stripped down to his boxers. “We don’t have time to play right now though.” I pouted for a moment before remembering we’d been called here for a reason.
Now can we talk about it? I called to all of them, and was only answered with shakes of the head. Theo dove into the water, and I cursed myself for getting distracted and missing the view. His Kraken emerged after a moment, cruising close to the edge. He picked each of us up in tentacles, carrying them—and me—onto his back in smooth, controlled moves, his colors glowing in pulsing patterns under the water, lighting the dark.
Although I sensed he was trying to avoid it, he still got some water on us, causing chills as the icy drops hit bare skin or soaked through clothing. “Aren’t you cold?” I couldn’t resist asking as I stroked a hand down his tentacle. From the way it twitched I assumed I tickled him. “All of you?” I continued, glancing one by one.
“Theo is used to the cold. His Kraken prefers deep water, and the temperatures there—even in Australia—are incredibly cold since no light reaches that far, though he will come out to bathe in the sun if he’s in a remote enough area.” Damien stretched his arms over his head, shaking out his shoulders. “I don’t mind the cold at all. It’s a gargoyle perk.”
“Yuk it up,” Ryder muttered. “Not all of us are impervious, Nix. I really don’t like the cold. Killian isn’t a fan, but can deal longer than I can. Hiro doesn’t really like it either, though he can handle it better in his shifted form.” I met Hiro’s eyes and he nodded, his smile sweet. I could already feel his skin cooling under me from the icy wind and the drops of water. I knew it was just going to get colder once Theo started moving.
“This is silly.” I pushed out of Hiro’s arms.
“It provides privacy.” Damien’s voice was cool, but he scratched a hand over the back of his neck. I knew he didn’t want any of us uncomfortable or even hurting in this cold, but his reasons had to be important or he wouldn’t have done it.
“Killian, Ryder, come over here. Theo, you can start moving to wherever the hell we’re going.” I held out my hands for Killian and Ryder, pulling them close against me so that I was enclosed by all three men. Killian wrapped his arms around my waist, pressing close to my back as I started to push waves of heat off my body and onto theirs—careful to control the temperature so as not to accidentally burn anyone. It wasn’t perfect, but I could warm them quite a bit and help to counteract the flakes of snow that were now flecking out against us. I turned the heat up some more, raising it into the air to act as a shield so that flakes melted and went to steam before sticking to our skin. I grimaced slightly at the discomfort. It was more difficult to extend my heat away from myself and direct it than I would have thought, though it could simply be because I was tired.
Theo’s Kraken let out a rumbling mutter and a keening noise. “He wants to know what you’re doing,” Damien murmured. “He can feel warmth on him.”
I froze for a moment, considering what I was doing. “I’m not hurting him am I?” After the last time I’d used my heating trick around him, I worried I’d scald him once more. I could probably try and channel the heat away from my feet so it didn’t hurt him if I was making him uncomfortable. This skill was going to take work, I realized.
I’m not uncomfortable. Theo’s amused voice was in my head as Damien widened the link. It’s a unique sensation to have a pinpoint of heat in this cold. I’m used to them riding me; we’ve done this for years if we wanted privacy or just to come out and swim.
We’ve been riding you, huh Theo? Ryder’s laughter was clear in my head. I would have thought you’d enjoy that. I know Nix sure does. He winked at me, tapping the tip of his tongue against his lips. I pursed my lips, trying to contain a bubble of a laugh threatening to break free.
Well, as long as I’m not hurting you. Still, I attempted to lessen the heat coming off of my feet so I wouldn’t burn Theo—doing that once had been enough even though it had been an accident.
I kept the blanket of heat over us as we moved further into the icy darkness. “I think we’re far enough,” Damien commented, glancing around us. “Ryder and I got into the medical building. Nix was right, they did give her something.” Killian swore, Hiro grimaced, and Theo’s Kraken let out a deep noise that I assumed conveyed his own anger. “That’s not all though.” He waited, apparently expecting Ryder to step in and continue the story.
“That song you’ve been humming.” Ryder glanced at me, and I shook my head in confusion. I tended to hum mindlessly, especially when I was tired. “I knew that song.” A glance at Killian and Hiro showed they were as confused as I was. “My sister used to sing me that song.” Both males stilled beside me. “My mother made it up. No one else should ever have known that song. Yet, here you are humming it, note for note.”
“Ryder, are you sure?” Hiro’s voice was gentle as he reached out and softly touched the Ceraptor’s arm. “It’s been years since you heard that song. Maybe it’s just something similar?”
Ryder shook his head, emphatic. “No. I’ve never heard a song similar to it, not in all these years. I sing that song to myself every night, every time I’m stressed or upset.” He flushed a little as he glanced at me. “It kept them close to me, even after all of these years.” I nodded, reaching a hand out to stroke down his chest. I could feel how tight his muscles were as he spoke of his past. “Damien and I got the file, but I wanted to look around some more. See if there was anything else we missed. You had said you were near the building, and we were there anyhow.”
“I don’t understand, what does this have to do with the song?” I knew I was interrupting him, but I couldn’t resist asking the question.
“Some of the children being presented for adoption tonight were over by the medical building. They were being handed off by humans. They’re from the island.” The words came out in a rush, as if he couldn’t get them out fast enough.
I nearly fell over at that statement. “The island? They one you rescued me from?”
Damien and Ryder nodded, their eyes cold. “They mentioned the island. The kids were crying.” Damien turned his eyes to the others. “Zanoah wiped them.”
Theo’s Kraken let out an eerie screech that echoed through the water. Zanoah was there? What was she doing to those children?
“She wiped them. Said they were important and would meet their new mamas.” Ryder spat the words. “The Council is stealing children and wiping them so that they can’t object or fight back.”
“Nix.” Damien’s voice was hoarse, his hands clenched as he locked his gaze to mine. “It wasn’t just your medical records we found. There were hundreds. Regular shifters and mythologicals; some with names, some with just numbers.” Damien pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose as if trying to hold off a headache. “We took pictures. We weren’t going to risk taking the actual copy.”
“Can I see it?” Dread pooled in my stomach, knotting and churning like the waves we currently rode. I was nauseated, shaking at what could cause him to warn me this way, when this had been our goal all along.
“When we’re back on land. I don’t want to risk my phone since it’
s not backed up,” Damien admitted. “We glanced at it when we took the pictures. We weren’t trying to invade…” He trailed off, looking desperately at Ryder.
“Nix, the file was clear.” There was no warmth in Ryder’s tone at all—icy anger and disgust dripped from every word. “Like we said, you were right; they did give you something. I didn’t read it fully, that’s yours to do. I saw enough to know it was something about fertility.” I swayed, suddenly unable to breathe.
I balled my hands into fists. I had been right about the children, right about my heat, right about the Council. “I told you.” I couldn’t prevent the words that fell from my lips. “I knew from the very beginning that something was wrong with that damn Council. There’s never any reason for people to create that much strife and division, or to glorify in death unless there’s something wrong underneath it all.” My Phoenix squawked her agreement. At least now they had all the proof they needed, and despite the hurt I could see on Damien’s face at the idea of his family’s involvement, I knew he would support whatever we were going to do. “So, now what?” The question was empty, almost hollow, as I spoke it into the freezing air.
If we were to do anything against the Council or try to change the way things were done, it would mean risking everything. It had been one thing to make plans to investigate the island, to assume the Council was in some way involved. Now, to actually know it was true… My men all had high status ranks, money in their bank accounts, respect. They had families, some of whom were actively involved on the Council or surrounding it. Theo’s little sister was looking for mates and solidifying her spot in their culture. Would they be willing to leave all of that? Would they be willing to try and change things and take the risks that may befall us in the process?