by Anna Edwards
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Kas placed the phone back down on the table. The cacophony of infuriated noises from behind him silenced, leaving the air in the room thick with tension. One of their own was being tortured, held against his will, and cut up like a lab rat. He was struggling to keep a lid on the anger surging through his veins. The black taste of retribution on his tongue.
“Brayden,” he growled.
“Kas.”
“Get the council leaders assembled. I want to address them.”
Brayden coughed to clear his throat. It irritated him.
“They’re already in sitting, discussing our situation. I was about to tell you before the call came in.”
He spun around to face his beta.
“They’re sitting without us? Discussing our issues without us being present?”
“Pretty much.”
Kas slowly nodded his head and got to his feet. He looked at Tyler and Scott. “Are the women and babies safe?”
“Teagan and Jessica are protecting Jane, Emma, Molly, and Selene. Ethern was with them until he was called into the meeting,” Tyler answered.
“Good,” Kas replied, his mind forming a plan. The door opened, Emma, Teagan, and Jessica walked in.
“What are you doing here?” Scott frowned at his mate and her two friends. “Who’s with the twins?”
“They’re safe, don’t stress. Selene, Molly, and Jane are watching them.” Emma came to her partner’s side, and Scott wrapped his arm around her.
“You need to go back and look after them.”
“You go and look after them.” Emma looked first at Scott with a raised eyebrow then switched to an intense stare. “I may be out of practice, but I’m still the best fighter in Glacial Blood. One of ours is taken, and I’m not going to sit back and watch when I can help.”
“Emma…” Scott started, but Kas cut him off.
“Brayden, is Selene able to protect Zahara and Morocco with everything happening to her in pregnancy?” he asked.
“Anyone tries to come near those kids and, in Selene’s current condition, there won’t be much left of them. My kid seems to have a built-in protection monitor for Zahara and Morocco as well as for his mother. I blame the crying: the constant crying.” Brayden smirked with pride at the child growing within his mate.
“Emma, your help will be invaluable. Before we go, though, I have to clear this with the Council. There’s the risk of us all being discovered. At present, they only have one shifter. With several, it will compromise any chance the Council has of keeping this quiet.”
“You think they’re going to say yes, just like that?” Jessica asked.
“Probably not, but I don’t really have a choice.”
They all got to their feet from where they were lounging: in one of the meeting rooms hidden in the heart of the Reichstag. In no time at all, they were outside the council chamber. The red light was on, signaling a meeting was underway. Without bothering to knock, Kas opened the door and marched into the center of the room. Flanked by Tyler, Teagan, Scott, Emma, Jessica, and Brayden, they looked a formidable force.
“Kaskae?” Ethern, who’d been mid-speech, queried their appearance with a knowing smirk on his face. The councilman had always been on their side, and it was nice to know that despite the dire situation it would continue.
“I heard the capture of one of my pack, and the exposure of another, was being discussed. I thought, as it involved my people, it was only fair I came along to listen to what you all decide should happen.” He turned to face the other members of the Council, those he specifically knew were against him and most likely in Nuka’s pocket. “And, then, tell you what I’m going to do about it.”
“Mr. Lincoln.” A particularly unpleasant human member of the board, named Samuel, stood and slammed his fist on the table in front of him. “Your presence here is not required. Your pack members have done enough damage to the Council already. I’d advise you to return from wherever you came and wait until we make a decision on how we’ll proceed with trying to neutralize the harm caused.”
“I think, Samuel, you’ll find Mr. Lincoln is well within his rights to sit in on this meeting,” Ethern responded while getting to his feet and leaning over his desk with confidence.
“I agree with Ethern. Kas should be allowed to join our discussion.” Hunter Windsor, a wolf alpha from another pack and a confidant of Kas’, lent his support. The polar bear hadn’t seen the wolf since an incident involving Teagan and the wolf’s bitch of a former wife. He looked well following the divorce, which was a complicated procedure in the shifter world. Kas bowed his head in a gesture of thanks for the support.
“Well, there’s a surprise,” Samuel moaned.
“We’ll vote on it,” Ethern announced. “A show of hands for Mr. Lincoln and his pack members to remain.”
Kas looked around. Well over half of the hands rose. He’d always been well respected in the Council. It was the minority causing the problems for him.
“Mr. Lincoln, would you and your pack care to take a seat?” Ethern smiled.
“Thank you.” They all found empty seats and pulled them around into a circle in the center of the room. If they were going to stay, they were going to make sure they did it as the focus of attention.
“As I was saying,” Ethern continued, “The Glacial Blood main pack members will be housed here until it’s safe for them to return home. Should any other members of the pack from their lands wish to seek refuge, they’ll be accommodated also. We’re already in the process of disproving the video of Selene Dillon as a hoax. Several leading news companies have released edited footage showing it as fake news, and the worry over shifters is subsiding already. The main issue we now have is the task force, which Miss Isobel Ross provided us with information on. We believe these are the people holding Zain Thornton and Kingsley Ross hostage. Mr. Ross is an associate of the Glacial Blood pack; he has become involved in this matter through his friendship with them and because his father, Senator Ross, is the head of the task force. I think our first priority should be to recover Mr. Thornton and Mr. Ross. The longer they’re with the task force, the more risk there is of information being discovered about shifters that we can’t suppress as fake news.”
Kas was impressed with the way Ethern handled the assembled councilmen. He’d always been a natural speaker, since the first time the polar bear had met him. Here, in this room, he appeared to be in his element.
“I disagree.” Samuel stood again. From behind him, Kas heard Teagan mutter ‘asshole’. He turned and silenced her with a wink. Samuel and Teagan didn’t get along. They were both on the task force to explore prejudice between the packs, and Samuel constantly undermined the tenacious wild dog. “I think to go after Mr. Thornton would be suicide for those involved. We know nothing about this task force apart from what has been revealed to us by Miss Ross. A woman who just happens to be the daughter of the leader of the squad. Is she leading us into a trap. We know nothing of this Kingsley Ross either and have seen no evidence he’s being held against his will. For all we know, he could be involved. It’s too big a risk for us, as the Council, to extend for just one person. I suspect this task force is after more shifters to prove to the world they exist. As much as I hate to say it, I think we need to let events play out on this one. Zain Thornton is not bigger than the entire shifter world. His fate must now lie in the hands of those who have him. Who agrees with me?”
“You can’t be serious?” Ethern’s words were spoken with the same fury, which threatened to explode from Kas’ own mouth.
“Wait, Ethern.” Another member of the Council stood. “I’m afraid I’m inclined to agree with Samuel. We know nothing of this, and I fear Miss Ross is sending us into a trap.”
“Miss Ross is the girlfriend of Zain Thornton. She wants him rescued as much as I do. She doesn’t, in any way, condone what her father’s doing.” Ethern added to his argument. Kas looked around the room. He could see the way this fight
was going to go just by the looks on the faces of those on the board. The majority had families, so it wasn’t just Zain at risk. It was those they cared most deeply about. They were making a decision that affected not only Glacial Blood but the future of the shifters on planet Earth. Jessica tutted behind him. She knew what the outcome was going to be as well.
“Zain Thornton and Isobel Ross had been estranged until recently. Mr. Thornton walked out on her after taking her virginity, it would seem, and she didn’t see him for five years. I’m not sure about the rest of you, but this sounds like the perfect case of a woman scorned to me. I wouldn’t believe a word that comes out of Isobel Ross’s mouth. In fact, I think we should have her imprisoned in the dungeons at once. She’s a danger, and the Glacial Blood have brought her into our sanctuary.” Samuel continued his diatribe, which was designed to inflict as much damage as possible in the minds of those still uncertain on how to proceed.
“I agree.”
“And I.” More and more voices condemned Isobel without even allowing her the opportunity to tell her and Zain’s story. She was being sentenced without judge and jury.
“Send someone to transfer Miss Ross to the new dungeon.” Ethern reluctantly ordered. Kas’ eyes flicked to Jessica, and without even needing to be asked, the witch withdrew into her mind. Her body remained still, and it looked, for all intents and purposes, like she was in the room. In reality, she was transporting Isobel to somewhere safe where they’d meet her as soon as they could. Zain trusted Isobel with his life, which was proof enough for Kas to believe that he needed to protect her as well.
“May I speak?” He stood.
“If you’re going to defend Miss Ross, then you can form a case when we bring her to trial.” Samuel glared at him.
“I’m not here to talk about Miss Ross. I’m listening to you saying you won’t send someone to rescue a member of my pack. I know the Council has its own squadron for just this very thing, but I’m not going to ask you to use them. Zain Thornton is a member of my pack therefore I will rescue him along with those who choose to assist me of their own free will.”
“Not possible. We’ve said nobody is to go, and that means you also,” Samuel ordered, but Kas wasn’t about to listen.
“You can order me all you wish, but this is my pack and my rules. One of my own is in danger. I’ve just had a call from Senator Ross in which I watched a doctor cut flesh from Zain for testing. A large chunk of it that left him in extreme pain. He’s strapped to a bed with a cannula in his arm, electrodes stuck to his chest, and his body prepared for experimentation. I won’t allow this.” Kas stood, and the scraping of chairs echoed behind him as his pack formed a powerful union with him.
“Sit down, Mr. Lincoln,” Samuel warned. “You’re showing too much of your grandfather’s willful spirit, and it got him killed.”
“Samuel. This is not the time or place,” Ethern berated the human councilman.
“No, it’s exactly the right time and place. We’re here because of his pack. There’s already been one attempt on Kas’ life as a consequence of him flaunting our rules, and we all know what happened there, or have you forgotten Heath Dillon already?” Kas froze. He could feel the heat of temper rising from Brayden who, as his beta, always stood at his side.
“Nobody knows what happened to my father. If you speak of him again, then a shifter will be known for killing a human because I’ll have your blood all over my hands,” Brayden growled.
“Nobody knows, really? Is that what your alpha tells you?” Samuel teased. Brayden took a step forward, but Kas put his hand out in front of him to stop him from going any farther.
“Enough,” Ethern shouted. “Heath Dillon’s death is a mystery, and all of the historical documents say that. Nobody, but the culprit and Heath himself, knows what happened that day. Dragging it up here is not the time or the place. You’re looking to further your own malevolent needs, Samuel, when we should be focusing on the fact one of us is being held and tortured.”
Brayden turned and looked at Kas. The polar bear kept his face stoic. It was a long practiced expression. He’d promised Jane the young snow-leopard would never find out about that day, and he wouldn’t break his vow now.
“What does he mean?” Brayden asked.
“It means he’s confirmed something I’ve suspected for a long while: Samuel is a confidant of my brother. He’s been spun lies to weave him into my brother’s web. Your father’s death is a mystery, which I’ve searched endlessly to solve but have resolved nothing,” he whispered while Ethern and Samuel continued to trade insults at each other.
“You promise me?”
Brayden held his hand out. Kas took it without any hesitation. He was destined for hell anyway; one more lie wouldn’t damage his cause.
“Yes.”
Brayden stepped back into line.
“I don’t have time for this,” Kas shouted, and the room went silent. “Yes, an attempt was made on my life. I won’t deny that, but it was unsuccessful and made me all the more determined to make sure my pack is protected from people who do not understand us. I’m the alpha of the only pack where the members are from different breeds; all we have is each other. Zain would come for me, and I will rescue him. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have an important matter to attend to while you all fight amongst yourselves.”
Kas turned on his heels and headed for the door.
“If you do this, you won’t have the protection of the Council from this task force hunting you,” Samuel called after him.
The polar bear spun back around and stood up to his full imposing height.
“So be it. I’ve lost faith in what this Council represents anyway. Too many of you are drawn to a world that I do not want to be a part of. I seek freedom between races, but the majority of you want dominance over the humans.” He stared straight at Samuel when he spoke. “Traitors are in your midst, worming their way into your minds. I’m done with you. I’ll do this my way and protect my own. My family isn’t always blood, which is the first and only thing you’ll ever need to know about me.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
As soon as Jessica appeared in front of her as a ghostly apparition, Isobel knew something was wrong. The witch held her hand, and she took it at precisely the same time as the door was kicked in and several large guards pounced toward her. They missed, however, as Jessica’s phantom spirited her away to safety. That safety being the top of a very high mountain surrounded by nothing.
“Hello?” she called, but no one answered except the bristling air around her. Jessica had disappeared, and Isobel suddenly felt very nervous. She rubbed her hands over her arms to warm herself up. She wasn’t exactly dressed for such a location. There was snow all over the ground, and she was wearing boots, jeans, and a jumper, but no coat, hat, or gloves. “Jessica,” she called again. What the hell was going on? Why had she been brought here? Someone would hopefully come at some point and let her know. Kas had been angry at her for getting Zain caught, but he wouldn’t send her to the top of a mountain and abandon her, would he? A sudden, terrifying thought hit her. What if it hadn’t been Jessica? What if it were someone else? She wasn’t the only witch, was she? No, the man who’d come with Nuka was a druid. Her heart rate started to accelerate. What if this was a trap? Her eyes darted around looking for signs of people approaching her, but there was nothing. She wrapped her arms farther around her middle to stop the shivering, which was partly due to the cold and partly due to fear.
Forever seemed to pass before she heard footsteps crunching in the snow behind her. She spun around to see Kas standing behind her. Or at least who she thought was Kas. Why would he come alone? He’d need Jessica to bring him here, right? She stepped back and put her hands up in a fighting position, ready to defend herself if needed.
“Isobel?”
“Are you Kas?” she demanded.
“Of course.”
“Prove it.” Her nose curled up when she snarled her retort.
�
�You think I’m Nuka.”
“I don’t know what to think anymore. For some reason, I was dropped into the middle of nowhere and left to freeze.”
“Yes, I know. Jessica was told to make you safe, but I didn’t realize she’d bring you here. I guess it was the safest place she could think of, at the time.” Kas, Nuka, whoever he was, shrugged, but she wasn’t going to let her guard down.
“Enough talk. Give me proof.”
“Of course,” the polar bear shifter in front of her silenced for a few moments. “Zain is our common ground. I’ll go with something about him, namely one of his tattoos.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“What about them?”
“I’m sure I’m right in saying you’ve seen it because none of the male members of my pack seem to be able to keep their appendages in their pants; Zain has a tattoo next to his. A honeypot shaped one.”
She lowered one of her arms but kept the other up.
“Yes, he does.” She’d burst out laughing the first time she’d seen it. It wasn’t big, and you had to be close to that part of his body to see it. She was trying to think of a reason why Nuka or Kas would be close to Zain’s cock. The visions swirling in her head warmed her up a bit with the wrong kind of heat.
“I can assure you that’s not how I know about it.” Kas winked. “I know because I was there when Zain lost the bet to Scott and had to get it done.”
“Kas.” She lowered her other arm.
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry for making you do that.”
“No, you’re very sensible. I’m sorry for you being left here without an explanation.”
“What happened? Do you have Zain back yet?”