Shards of Hope

by Nalini Singh

  They lay in silence so long that the village noises changed, became those of people going off to work or to school. Fine lines formed between Aden's eyebrows toward the end. Reaching out, she rubbed them away. "Tell me what you've been obsessing over since you woke from the surgery." She'd sensed that he needed time to think about it, had given it to him.

  Placing one of his legs, hot and muscled once more over her thighs, he absently massaged her nape. "The Consortium made us all dance to their tune." The hairs on his leg caused a delicious ripple of sensation down her body as he moved slightly. "We survived not because we were prepared, but because we were lucky."

  Zaira scowled. "It wasn't luck--people talked to one another."

  "But piecemeal." Rolling onto his back, Aden put an arm over his forehead. "What if Lucas had never said anything to me? What if Bo hadn't trusted me with the incidents that had affected the Alliance?"

  She saw his point. "So, what are you going to do about it?" Aden always did something; that was who he was.

  Glancing at her, he began to speak, laying out what he'd come up with over the past week of silent thinking. By the time he was done, Zaira knew that Aden's name would one day be written in history books, connected to a pivotal event that had forever changed the world.

  "Let's do it," she said, her hand linked to his. "I'll watch your back."

  His eyes met hers, his mind entwined with her own. "I know."

  Chapter 82

  BEFORE INITIATING THE plan that had grown inside him strand by strand, Aden spoke to his senior people, even his parents. The latter remained leery of contact with "outsiders," as they termed anyone beyond the squad, but they agreed with his viewpoint. As a result, he now stood in the communications hub of Central Command.

  On the viewscreens in front of him were the faces of the Ruling Coalition, but one also showed that of Lucas Hunter. The DarkRiver alpha had been nominated by multiple changeling groups, including SnowDancer, to represent changelings at this first meeting.

  Aden had been surprised the alphas had agreed to have anyone represent them as a group--they tended to be laws unto themselves. He'd heard Judd say that alphas "did not play well together." However, it appeared the changelings had set up an informal data network some time past, for much the same reasons as the ones that had led Aden here today, though the changeling network was limited to the packs.

  On the screen next to Lucas was Devraj Santos, representative of the Forgotten; beside him, Bowen Knight for the Alliance. Another human--a silver-haired woman named Lizbeth Schafer--was on the second-to-last screen. She was the head of a large humanitarian group that had provided major assistance in dealing with the aftermath of the Pure Psy bombings; the group had also helped when the Net infection had driven so many Psy mad, leaving people of all three races traumatized.

  While human, Schafer did not ally herself or the organization she represented, Hope Light, to any one race, despite the fact that the membership was largely human with a scattering of changelings. Hope Light's motto was to assist where assistance was necessary and, post-Silence, they worked in close contact with the empaths. It was Ivy who'd suggested the organization be included in this meeting.

  "She represents people who don't trust anyone else," Ivy had said. "Her group on its own is also a quiet but powerful force."

  On the final screen was Miane Leveque. Technically, since Lucas was in attendance, she didn't need to be here, but Lucas himself had asked she attend. "BlackSea is unique," he'd said to Aden. "The fact that they cover the globe means they have a viewpoint other changelings don't."

  Meeting the eyes of each of the attendees in turn, Aden began to speak. "It appears a group called the Consortium has come together to fill what they view as a void created by the fall of the Council and of Silence. The membership is composed of Psy, humans, and changelings."

  Several people frowned but no one interrupted him as he shared the data the squad had been able to extract from the shooter Zaira had taken down, as well as the CEO still in their custody. "BlackSea has given me leave to share the fact that six of their people--five adults and a child--were abducted by this Consortium."

  What Miane had been insistent he not share with everyone was that at least twenty-one more of her people remained among the missing. With no current knowledge of their situation, she didn't want to risk spooking their captors.

  "Better to let the Consortium believe we haven't noticed the vanishings," the BlackSea alpha had said, her voice dark as the depths of the ocean that was her home. "Let the bastards think we're satisfied with the rescue of Persephone, Olivia, and the two other captives. It'll keep them from looking over their shoulders, make them complacent."

  It was a sound approach. Even if it hadn't been, Aden wouldn't have overridden her decision--such arrogance would create a fatal fracture in what he was trying to build. "I believe the water changelings were abducted and abused into compliance because BlackSea's people have the ability to covertly infiltrate territories across the world."

  Miane's lips were a thin line, her eyes chips of obsidian rather than the translucent hazel he'd seen during less emotionally fraught moments, but she held her silence.

  "Others, including owners of small businesses, have been coerced into the conspiracy without knowing who it was they served." Hashri Smith was a broken man, his business crumbling around him now that his powerful "allies" had discarded him. "The Consortium believes the world is fertile for chaos and sly destruction."

  "In their minds," Ivy added, her voice clear and passionate, "the Psy are already in a state of chaos because of the fall of Silence and the ensuing hiccups as we try to forge a new path into the future. They want to push changelings and humans into the same state." A curl of her hair escaped her ponytail to kiss her cheek as she met his gaze again. "Is that a good summation, Aden?"

  "Yes. All indications are that the Consortium is behind the incidents we've all logged that attempt to set one group against another."

  Lucas's green eyes glinted panther-bright. "Identify them and we'd be happy to help you take out the trash."

  "I agree with Hunter," Krychek said from his Moscow home. "We need to tear this organization to pieces before it ever takes root."

  "That's the issue." Aden already had a team following every tendril of data they'd recovered from the shooter and the captured CEO, but so far, nothing. "Our captives confirm that the Consortium leadership learned from watching the disintegration of the Council and of Pure Psy--even the members don't know one another's identities."

  He met the eyes of each attendee in turn. "Signs point to the Consortium having gone under until the heat dies down. I don't intend to allow the pressure to ease. The squad will continue to be vigilant and we'll alert each of you at any sign that they've reemerged."

  "You want us all to keep watch, too," Lizbeth Schafer guessed, fine lines spreading out from her dark gray eyes as she frowned in concentration.

  Aden nodded. "The Consortium works by creating divisions along existing fault lines. By working together, we deprive them of their major weapon."

  "I'll make sure to pass on the message through the terrestrial and aerial packs," Lucas said, folding his arms. "Miane, I assume you've already warned your people?"

  "Yes. The news should reach even our most remote packmates within the next month." Miane's hair blew back in the wind where she stood, her comm panel apparently placed on an outdoor wall, since Aden could see waves behind her and her image moved in time with the motion of the sea. "The Consortium's tactics are dishonorable and cowardly and BlackSea has no argument with working with everyone to cut off their heads."

  "The Alliance will also alert its network," Bo said, his flint-hard gaze turning to connect with Miane's. "We've lost a small number of people recently--they were hired away on plum contracts before disappearing from sight."

  Miane's expression grew even more grim. "We should pool our data."

  "Let's talk after this."

  Lizbeth
Schafer had a troubled look on her face. "We've been working with a human settlement in Kenya that lost ten of its older teenagers six months ago," she said, her English flawless and accented with the rhythms of her native tongue--German. "The teens left saying they were heading out to join a group that would make the world 'a better place.' No trace has ever been found of them."

  It fit the Consortium's MO, but it could as easily be a small guerrilla or mercenary organization that had seduced the teens. "We have to be careful not to see a conspiracy at every turn," he said. "That could hamstring us."

  "Yes, I understand."

  "If you wish," Aden added, "I'll send in a team to track the teenagers."

  Clear relief on her face. "I would very much appreciate that. Many of their families are distraught."

  The entire group spoke for over an hour, putting together more troubling facts that meant nothing on their own, but together painted a disturbing picture.

  "I have a proposal," Aden said toward the end.

  Once he set out that proposal, the discussion was vigorous, rough details hammered out so the various attendees could go back to those they represented to ask for feedback.

  Switching off the system after the last person signed out, he turned to the woman who'd watched from the shadows. "It could take years."

  "You'll do it." Absolute, unflinching faith from his mate.

  "If we can hold the connections, forge them ever deeper," Aden said, "the world could become a fully functioning triumvirate again."

  Zaira wove her fingers into his. "It'll happen. This is your destiny, Aden." Her kiss was fire and love and primal possessiveness. "Your parents dreamed too small when they wanted you to become the leader of the squad. You're about to lead the entire world out into a new dawn."

  "My dream," he said, "is right here in my arms."

  Firelight traveling through their bond, a psychic kiss from his dangerous, beautiful, perfect commander.

  PSYNET BEACON: BREAKING NEWS

  An unexpected new cooperation agreement, the Trinity Accord, has been negotiated and agreed upon between major elements of all three races. The aims of this agreement are to foster and maintain stability, both in world markets and for the personal safety of individuals. It has also been termed the first step toward creating a permanent United Earth Federation.

  The Trinity Accord allows for the rapid sharing of data across signatory groups, and for the formation of mixed teams to deal with issues that affect more than one race. It is, however, more than an emergency network such as that managed by Silver Mercant. According to the papers released to the Beacon, Silver Mercant's network falls under the much wider umbrella of this "proto-Federation" agreement.

  When asked for comment, Nikita Duncan, member of the Ruling Coalition, had this to say: "The Trinity Accord isn't only a political agreement, but one that opens up economic opportunities for all the signatories by breaking down the walls that previously hindered smooth and fast communication. Businesses no longer need be limited--an innovative Psy company can tap into the changeling or the human market and vice versa."

  Nikita Duncan's interpretation of the Trinity Accord is one that is popular among the larger Psy families polled for this article. All came out in strong support of the Ruling Coalition for opening up new avenues of business as well as stabilizing the economic climate. "This is what our rulers are meant to do," stated Jen Liu, head of the Liu Group. "Not to isolate us, but to open up opportunities."

  To check the efficacy of the cooperation agreement, the Beacon reached out through the listed liaisons for comment from a number of other parties. Responses were received from all, including one of the notoriously terse predatory changeling alphas.

  "This agreement isn't a magic bullet," stated Hawke Snow, alpha of the influential and deadly SnowDancer wolves. "It's not going to fix the divisions in the world, but if everyone pulls their weight and no one attempts to subvert Trinity to their own ends, then it has the potential to eventually link the entire world together in a strong, functioning unit."

  Bowen Knight, leader of the Human Alliance, was even more pragmatic. "The Trinity Accord is currently on probation--the formation of the Federation itself will take years of work because while the Alliance has had little friction with changelings, it has had significant issues with Psy. It remains an open question whether we can work together."

  Kaleb Krychek, inarguably the most powerful Psy in the world, stated that he is a businessman and that the Trinity Accord is good for business. "Only idiots or those with blinkered vision will oppose it."

  At time of press, the signatories to the Trinity Accord were as follows:

  The Ruling Coalition.

  The Arrow Squad.

  The Empathic Collective.

  Over one hundred predatory and nonpredatory changeling packs, including the SnowDancer wolves, the DarkRiver leopards, the BlackSea changelings, the StoneWater bears, the BlackEdge wolves, the SunGrass grazers, the IceRidge foxes, the DawnSky deer, the WindHaven falcons, the AzureSun leopards, the DesertRain lions, and the WaterSky eagles. Further signatories are expected.

  The Human Alliance.

  The Shine Foundation, as representatives of those who self-identify as part of the Forgotten population.

  Hope Light, a nonpartisan humanitarian organization.

  For the first time in Beacon history, the squad has responded to a request for comment, though in a way that fits its operating protocol. The following statement was remotely added to this article three minutes before we pushed Publish, confirmation of its authenticity provided by a psychic seal sent through the executive editor's highly complex shields.

  Aden Kai had this to say:

  "The Trinity Accord is a test. For the United Earth Federation to come into being as more than an idea, we must first pass this test. That responsibility lies with every man, woman, and child in the world.

  "We can decide to remain in our isolated bunkers, becoming more and more obsessed with looking inward instead of outward, or we can decide to be great together. We can decide to stagnate, or we can decide to grow. We can decide to settle for the status quo, or we can decide to reach for the stars.

  "Choose."

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