by Cara Wylde
Councilor Harington had a good point, and he knew it. It was the best, actually. Judging by the looks the people in the conference room gave him, they also knew it. He was patient while the councilors consulted their advisers and came up with questions. Of course, the first one was related to the offspring of a pure-blood shifter and a hybrid. How could Harington be sure the children would be one hundred per cent shifters? That was when Amelia came in, and she stood up to tell her story. She talked for twenty minutes straight, but at the end, no one was convinced. Yes, Amelia was a hybrid, but she was born that way. The child of a pure-blood vixen and a human male, she couldn’t shift and she barely had any of the abilities of a fox-shifter. Instead, she had given birth to two nine-tailed foxes, thus proving the legends were real. Amelia was a rare case. An extremely rare case, which did prove that hybrids weren’t against nature, but also reminded everyone that it was once in a thousand years that a shifter female could have children.
When Arthur Harington asked Avelyn and Max Blackmane to tell their story, the Council wasn’t pleased. Willamar asked for a break three times, and Voinom was so angry that he eventually started pacing the room. Max was his adviser, and he couldn’t believe there was more to the battle at Alma Venus, which had been three years before, and the trial after the battle. The Blackmanes had all lied then. They had refused to tell the Council that Avelyn had actually been bitten by Max’s ex-bride and had been in danger of losing her unborn baby. Harington’s cure saved her and the child, but that revealed that Harington had been working on his project and research illegally, after the Council had shut him down. It was all a mess, but Avelyn managed to make her point: if it weren’t for the antidote, she would have turned and lost her first born. Sabine Miller, Max’s ex-bride, would have attacked anyway, and Avelyn herself would have been turned against her will, which was against the peace treaty. The cure had given her and her son a solution. The only solution.
They took a break after that, then Councilor Harington asked Delyse to tell the Council how important a cure for the dragon venom was. Because she was his daughter, and a Donation, everyone listened to her carefully. It was hard not to when they were face to face with a young, beautiful, intelligent woman who was born in a wealthy family but given to Alma Venus so she would become the bride of a shifter and make a contribution to the peace. A contribution her wealth and status could have prevented her from making. Arthur Harington knew Lily would have the strongest impact on the audience. He wasn’t wrong.
“I will have children one day,” she said. “I don’t want them to see their mother grow old and die because she’s just a human. No one should go through something so terrible, and dragon-shifters have gone through it for thousands of years. It’s the reason for which so many of them have chosen to bury themselves underground and hibernate. Oblivion. After losing a mate, and then another mate, there’s nothing that can make you want to live. Immortality, or near immortality, is a burden. I can’t even begin to imagine.”
When she sat down, silence enveloped the room. No counterargument could ever be stronger than hers. Even trying to come up with one would have been an offense to this amazing woman who had come before them to take the side of a shifter faction. That was another thing which impressed them: Delyse hadn’t talked about the humans and their rights; she had talked about the dragons and their sufferings.
“In the end,” concluded Councilor Harington, “this isn’t about me, my research, my facilities, and about getting your votes so I could continue my work. This is about all of us. This is about our future. We can make it better, one step at a time. Now that I’ve proved to you that humans can be turned into hybrids with no side effects, I hope you will consider the advantages over the possible disadvantages or unpleasant consequences. It’s a risk, of course, but I believe it’s a risk worth taking.”
***
The Council decided to give the advisers a half an hour break so they could debate in peace and make a decision. Normally, the councilors would make all their decisions after consulting their advisers, but this time the situation was different. Dimitri Voinom wasn’t sure he wanted to see Karl and Max Blackmane ever again in his life. It was the second time the two werewolves were causing him huge trouble, and even more embarrassment. Amelia’s opinion was biased because she was a hybrid, and Delyse and Avelyn were her friends. The best idea was to ask all of them to kindly leave the conference room and give the councilors some time and space to think.
Delyse, Amelia, and Avelyn couldn’t be more pleased with the arrangement. Even though they were nervous about the votes, they immediately brightened up when they found themselves alone in the café downstairs, on the ground floor. Max had kissed Avelyn’s nose and told her to take the girls and have a coffee, and Eric had assured Delyse they would call them when it would be time to hear the votes. Amelia’s husband wasn’t there to watch her every step, and she was rather content to be on her own in London, her two children home, in Alaska, with Seth. She was also the only one who wasn’t just a shifter-bride anymore. She was the Alpha of Clan Sylfur now, a position she had earned through her devotion to Blake, who had been the initial Alpha, and through giving birth to the legendary nine-tailed foxes. Avelyn and Delyse did envy her a bit, but they both had their own achievements to be proud of. One thing was for sure: the Alma Venus brides rocked. It didn’t matter whom they were sold to, they always came up on top.
“I can’t believe you two already have children!” said Delyse. She studied Avelyn’s full curves, then Amelia’s more slender body. Her friends looked amazing.
“You must visit Schloss Blackmane,” said Avelyn as she sipped her coffee. “The boys are dying to meet my infamous friends.”
“Three boys… I don’t know how you’re still sane.” Amelia shook her head. “I have a girl and a boy, and they both drive me crazy.”
“Hey! You two better not scare me with your stories, because I want to have more than three children, okay?”
Amelia thought for a second. “Well, you might be the luckiest of us. Shifter pups have different personalities. My little foxes are so hyperactive and they ask so many questions about everything and anything, that I’m wiped most of the time. How about yours, Avelyn?”
“Wolf cubs are just as hyperactive, but they’re not very interested in asking questions. They just break stuff, experiment on everything… We had to change the TV in their room twice because they tried to see how it works.”
Delyse laughed. “And what makes you think baby dragons would be easier to deal with?”
“I don’t know…” Amelia shrugged. “Dragon-shifters are supposed to be noble and all. Maybe your children will be calmer, more patient, and less destructive.”
“Oh!” intervened Avelyn. “And once they learn how to fly, I doubt they’ll be interested in anything on the ground anymore. Your children will not break your TV, trust me.”
“They’ll probably break some windows, though,” Delyse pouted.
They all laughed out loud. Three years ago, they couldn’t have imagined meeting like this and talking about children. The conversation shifted easily to their husbands and their new friends. Delyse didn’t have much to tell them, and she wasn’t sure if it was a good idea to start talking about Viggo and how she couldn’t get him out of her head even when Eric behaved nicely. Claudia was the only one who knew. If the Council decided to give her father’s project a go, then maybe she would become one of them… a hybrid… and she’d be independent enough to visit her friends whenever she wanted, and build a social life outside of Clan Drekinn. Maybe she was mistaken… she didn’t know. But she had this clear impression that Avelyn and Amelia were equal to their Alpha husbands because they were half shifters. Having the strength and keen senses of a shifter helped. They didn’t need their husbands to protect them at all times, and Max and Seth had no reason to obsess over spending every breathing moment with them because they were only humans and their time would be up at some point. To Delyse, finding a cure
to the dragon-shifter venom was like finding the Holy Grail.
They had five minutes left, but Avelyn decided there was enough time for apple pie, and Amelia didn’t contradict her. Delyse did throw a glance at her ridiculously expensive wrist watch, concerned Eric might get mad if they were late. Then she scolded herself for putting him first before her friends, and ordered pie. The conversation had died down, not because they didn’t have any more things to talk about, but because they had too many and there just wasn’t time to start on one.
“I miss Claudia,” Delyse said.
Avelyn and Amelia nodded, suddenly losing a bit of their appetite.
“I can’t believe no one has bought her yet!” said Amelia, slightly infuriated. “Claudia is such a wonderful woman. I mean… she’s always been better than any of us.” She looked at Delyse and thought for a moment. “Well, maybe not better than you. You’ve always been so calm and calculated. But definitely better than me and Miss Bitchy here.”
Avelyn stuck her tongue out at Amelia, but didn’t contradict her. Instead, she finished her apple pie and pushed the small plate away so she could place her elbows on the table and eye Amelia and Delyse mysteriously.
“I have a plan for Claudia.”
Delyse cocked an eyebrow and Amelia rolled her eyes when Avelyn paused too long for drama.
“Spill it out already.”
Delyse checked her watch again. “Yeah. Or tell us on our way up to the conference room.”
Avelyn waved them off. “I’m thinking of my brother-in-law, Karl.”
“But he’s a wolf and Claudia is an Ursi bride,” noted Amelia.
“So what? You’re the only one who actually ended up with the shifter faction you were raised for. I was a Vulpes bride and I married a wolf. Delyse was an Aquilae bride, raised as a Lupi bride, and married a dragon. Really, that’s the last thing that matters. Besides, if I convince Karl to buy Claudia, she’ll be part of Clan Blackmane and I can take her under my wing and teach her all she needs to know about werewolves.”
“Did you tell him?” asked Delyse.
“Not yet. I discussed my idea with Max and he told me Karl is kinda’ not looking for a bride.”
“Why not?” Amelia was confused. “Aren’t wolf-shifters all about mates and lots of pups?”
“Yeah… No, this particular wolf-shifter is different. He’s gone through some ugly stuff during the war…” She didn’t want to mention Karl Blackmane had started the madness with Max’s ex-bride. Water under the bridge. She just wished he’d be able to move on like everybody else.
“I have faith in Claudia,” said Amelia as she stood up and smoothed her short, black skirt. “Convince the guy to take her out of Alma Venus, and she’ll take care of his poor, wounded soul.”
Avelyn smiled, but she wasn’t so sure. Max was a complicated man, and she had learned to deal with him, but Karl was even more complicated. Damaged. That was the word. Karl Blackmane was damaged.
“It’s on me.” Amelia took out her credit card and paid. “Next time… lunch in Norway, am I right?”
“Absolutely!” chirped Delyse.
They left the café and headed upstairs. They were late, of course, and everyone was waiting for them in the conference room.
***
Delyse took her seat next to Eric, who glared at her. She raised her eyebrows and pursed her lips at him, giving him an expression that was supposed to mean “not my fault”. Just as she had thought, her husband was easily annoyed.
Avelyn sat down between Max and Karl, and Max simply took her hand and kissed it gently. He really didn’t care Avelyn had just made them all wait. He knew it was in her nature, and he had gotten used to her chaotic behavior years ago.
Amelia threw Blake a questioning look, and Blake’s simple nod let her know everything was fine. She took her own seat next to her friend, having the other fox adviser, Jane, at her left. It was weird. Currently, the fox faction was represented by a woman who had pretended all her life to be a man so she could fight her psycho uncles, and said woman councilor had chosen two other women as her advisers. In a world where shape-shifters usually looked down on women, be they humans or shifters, progress was being made. The thought helped Amelia relax in her leather chair and wait on the votes with a light heart.
Councilor Harington had been locked up with his colleagues for the past half hour, and he looked tired. He had explained his reasoning and reinforced his arguments, and all he wanted was for everything to be over already. He had no idea what the result would be. He couldn’t vote for his own project, which left five councilors to decide its fate. He knew Blake Sylfur and Calder Grimmr would vote for, but he couldn’t be sure about Dimitri Voinom, Zachary Willamar, and Christian Kwahu. Voinom was still angry at him and at the Blackmanes, and Willamar had been awfully silent during the closed debate, which was never a good sign in his case. Bear-shifters tended to be grumpy, but Willamar was overdoing it. He was the master of grumpy. Kwahu had worked on his doodles and nodded with a smile every time someone told him something. The eagle-shifter was usually an easy-going guy, but Harington didn’t want to put all his faith in this and end up disappointed. So, he waited impatiently, the tight tie around his neck bothering him to no end.
“All right,” Calder Grimmr broke the silence. “I’ll start. Personally, I’m all for Arthur Harington’s research. His arguments have convinced me, and I truly believe the antidotes will only solidify the bond between our factions.”
Harington smiled and nodded respectfully. It was a good thing the dragon councilor had been the one to speak first. He was ancient and wise. All the others looked up to him even if they refused to admit it.
“I vote in favor of the project,” said Blake, her voice steady and confident.
Christian Kwahu finally put his pencil down and closed his daily planner. “In favor.”
Harington could breathe easier, but not quite. Even though he had the majority, if both Voinom and Willamar decided to vote against, they were such strong and resourceful Alphas that this little victory might not matter at all.
Councilor Voinom looked around the room, then fixed his eyes on Willamar for a second. Finally, he turned to the side of the table occupied by the Blackmanes, who had thought it would be wise to sit as far from him as possible.
“In favor,” he said, his voice low and not sounding necessarily pleased.
Avelyn could have jumped and happy-danced around the room, but she settled for squeezing Max’s hand, who squeezed back.
Councilor Willamar was the last one to give his vote. He leaned over the table and fixed Arthur Harington with his deep, black eyes.
“I too am going to vote in favor, this time. Starting today, Harington Pharmaceuticals is free to continue its research and experiments with the goal of finding antidotes to the remaining types of shifter venom. However, its activities will be closely monitored by the Council of the Six Factions, and each experiment will need to be approved before it happens. The Council will be informed about the progress regularly. Those who want to receive the cure will have to apply for it first, and explain the reason why they want to become hybrids. For now, only those who were turned against their will and the shifter-brides who are bought from boarding schools will be eligible.”
“Fair enough,” murmured Harington. He had won a great battle, and he wasn’t about to argue that all humans should be offered the choice to become hybrids. In truth, he wasn’t sure it would be a good idea either.
If anyone had asked Delyse how she felt, she wouldn’t have found the right words. She was happy, relieved, ecstatic. But, more than anything, she felt like she had managed to keep her promise to Eric. If things hadn’t worked out so well, she would have forever felt guilty for having forced Eric to wake up from his hibernation and start a new life with her only to know death would separate them at some point. It would take time to find the cure for the dragon venom, but she was sure her father, her brother, and their scientists would move faster than they h
ad with the cure for the wolf venom, now that they had the Council’s support.
Details needed to be taken care of, so everyone who wasn’t part of the Council was invited to leave the conference room. The councilors and their advisers had to decide on a good system through which to regulate and control the distribution of the antidotes to the right people. Amelia was stuck with Blake, so she waved when Delyse and Avelyn left the room. The two friends talked a bit more in the hallway, but then Eric showed up and asked Delyse if she was hungry. She understood the message: it was time to leave. She and Avelyn made promises to stay in touch and, maybe, visit each other, then hugged for long minutes and parted with heavy hearts.
CHAPTER EIGHT
When Dragons Share…
In Norway, life went back to its normal course. Delyse spent most of her time alone, with Astrid, or with Avelyn on the phone. The time zone difference made it difficult to keep in touch with Amelia, and Amelia was way busier than Avelyn, given that she was the Alpha of her own clan. Eric and Viggo were making plans to wake up the other dragons. They had to wait until the next solar eclipse, though, but it was fine because they had a lot of things to take care of. Eric’s return had been a pleasant surprise for the entire dragon faction, which meant that Delyse’s husband was usually stuck with old friends, clients, or business partners. Meetings, parties, cocktails. Three weeks after the council meeting, and Delyse was already growing tired of new dresses, high heels, and the smile she was always supposed to plaster on her face. Being a shifter-bride was hard work. She had learned that at Alma Venus, but she had dismissed it then. How could parties and courtesy visits be a chore? Now she knew exactly how.