Forged in Flames

by Harper Wylde

  “That's a good thing, though, right?” I asked, clearing my throat when my voice squeaked slightly.

  “It is always an honor to be singled out by a Councilman, so make sure to treat it as such. He will probably want to know how the date went before this disaster. I still don't know how it ended up happening,” Gaspard lamented.

  I blushed, shrugging my shoulders. “I keep hearing about how both sides of a shifter should be in harmony if they're going to mate. It seemed like a good idea at the time to test the theory. Besides, the weather was nice and I don't get many chances to let my Phoenix out.” I rushed through the words, keeping my eyes glued to my hands, unable to look at Gaspard as I spoke. I just hoped he took my fidgeting and fast speech for shame, embarrassment, and discomfort, rather than dishonesty.

  “Well, whatever the case, it is done now. You need to be more careful in the future, Nix. You do not value yourself highly enough if you're willing putting yourself in risky situations. I believe from here on out, we may need to institute a policy of you having a chaperone on your dates—at least until you learn to behave yourself.”

  “I didn't misbehave, really,” I muttered.

  “Whichever word you choose. He will probably apologize for the situation, intent on remaining one of your suitors. I can understand your reluctance having been bitten, it is not a pleasant experience.” From the icy words and the far away look in his eyes, I was sure he was thinking of executions he had witnessed in his years on the Council. “However, it would most definitely behoove you to try again if you believe you can.”

  “Joshua was nice,” I admitted. “It was all an accident. I'm not mad at him about it.” If anything he should be the one who was mad at me.

  “Well, then.” He nodded sharply as we parked. “Keep that in mind when you answer any questions he may have. And remember, an apology from a Council member is incredibly rare. If that is what he has in mind, he will want it to be as private as possible.” He turned to look at me, offering a supportive smile. “You've survived one basilisk, Nix. Don't fear another.” I weakly returned his smile, hopping from the Hummer and rubbing my arms as nerves worked their way through me.

  Gaspard didn't bother looking back as he led us through the maze of rooms and hallways that was the Lodge. Rather than the main throne room, he took me to a smaller area of the Lodge, one I wasn't familiar with. “I trust some of you can find something to occupy yourselves with?” he asked, eyeing my mates. “One of you with me will suffice.” They considered each other for a moment, and Ryder stepped forward, planting himself beside Gaspard. I knew exactly what their thought process on that was, putting the healer only feet from me. They'd trust Gaspard to fight for me, and Ryder to help heal either one of us.

  We won't be far, Damien assured me through the mental link. You're near the library, we'll only be a few doors away.

  I knew better than to nod my response, so I smiled at them instead and watched them trudged down the hall, with Killian continuing to throw guarded looks over his shoulder as they went. “We're meeting him here?” I inquired softly, looking around at the hall studded with carved wooden doors and thick wool carpets that muffled our footsteps.

  “Williams has a study in this part of the Lodge, and prefers it to other areas.” He strode forward, knocking sharply on an unlabeled door.

  “Enter,” Councilman Williams called, and Gaspard shoved the door open, revealing a large, cozy office. The air was warm, warmer still with the large fire that crackled merrily in the hearth. The floors were decorated with thick rugs and comfortable chairs, and a carved wooden desk stood against the wall surrounded by dozens of bookcases, each filled to the brim. Councilman Williams stood by the fire with a book in his hand, and he smiled at us, giving us his full attention when we entered. “Gaspard, thank you for bringing her.” Ryder remained outside of the room, but his presence in the doorway was enough to reassure me. “Would you mind if I spoke to Annika alone for a few moments?”

  “Of course.” Gaspard inclined his head. “Ryder and I will wait right outside for her. Nix?” He winked as he turned away from the Councilman, and a smile danced on my lips.

  “Thank you, Gaspard. I doubt this will take very long.” Williams nodded as they left.

  “Take your time. We'll be here if you need us.” Gaspard shut the door behind him. The only sound remaining in the room was the crackle and pop of the fire.

  We're here too, Nix, don't worry, Theo soothed.

  “Would you care to take a seat?” Councilman Williams asked, setting his book on his desk and waving a hand at the soft, sapphire blue chairs that stood before the fire. “I hope it's not too warm in here for you. I tend to prefer it hotter than many of the other shifters care for.”

  My Phoenix chirped inside me, unsure of this polite man. Having spent time with Joshua in both of his forms, the scent of his basilisk was much clearer to me now, although I doubted scent would ever be one of my strongest skills. “The warmth doesn't bother me,” I said, sinking into the velvet chair as I rubbed my hands on my thighs. “I think my Phoenix enjoys it, actually.” I tried to make small talk.

  “Good, good.” He settled in the chair next to me, silence reigning for a moment as we both watched the flickering flames. “I assume you know why I called you here today?” he began softly.

  “Because of my date with Joshua?” I replied, keeping my voice as low as his. I knew Gaspard had said he wouldn't want to be heard, and despite the thickness of the walls, I was sure that Gaspard and Ryder were both listening intently outside of the door.

  “He was quite taken with you, you know,” the Councilman murmured, his eyes not leaving the dancing flames. “Spoke very highly of you. Still does. He’s devastated to have caused you injury.”

  “I know,” I admitted. I couldn't make Joshua out to be the bad guy here, there was simply no way to do it—not that I even wanted to. “It was all just an accident, I knew he didn't mean it. Our alters got agitated. I'm not used to being in my Phoenix form...” I trailed off with a wince. As much as I didn't want the Councilman blaming Joshua and causing any harm to him, I didn't want harm to come to me either.

  “I'm glad you see it that way.” Councilman Williams shifted in his chair. “Basilisk have gotten a bad name in the past, you see, and it's not a stigma I want associated with my son. Others may not be quite as forgiving as you are. Joshua is a good boy, he has a very promising future in front of him. If word of this were to get out, to anyone...” He trailed off. “I'm sure some of it has leaked amongst your friends already, but I'm hoping we are able to contain it there. They don't associate with many of the other shifters, and Damien is well aware of what any kind of rumors may do to someone with political aspirations.”

  “I told them it was an accident,” I hurried to say. “I was unaware of how my Phoenix’s natural behavior would agitate Joshua’s Basilisk. I'm still learning all of this… the ins and outs of the shifter world.” I hoped he would take that into account as I let the half-truth slip from my lips, working to keep my expression believable and not guilt-ridden.

  “As is Joshua, as hard as that may be for you to believe. He spent his life among our family, removed from the others. In many ways, he is as new to this as you are.” He tapped his fingers against his thighs. “I don't expect, however, that you will keep your silence for free. It isn't as though this was a bad date or an inconvenience. We are lucky beyond words that your healing abilities surpass our venom. I'm sure it was agony.”

  I winced as the memory of the pain flared through me, making my Phoenix hiss. “It was quite painful.” The words I spoke were soft, more to myself than to him, but he sighed.

  “I have heard so, though you are the first to ever survive and tell me. I can't begin to tell you how sorry I am. We are not all animals, I promise you. There is far more to us than that. Joshua is a good boy, I promise. He would be a caring mate. In some ways, your ability to overcome his venom is an asset and a strength, not that I expect he would ever att
ack you again. It will be a very long time, I suspect, until he is comfortable shifting around anyone again. I ask that you not immediately dismiss him from your choices.” My heart ached at the pain I’d put Joshua through with all of this and I sighed, opening my mouth to accept the Councilman’s request when he held up a hand to stop me. “I understand that it will be a big choice for you, and will require an act of faith and trust that you may not be comfortable with. I'm sure Gaspard has advised you to accept, no matter what your emotions are at the moment. I truly hope that any fear that remains will dissipate as you spend more time with him. To help speed that comfort along, I'd like to offer you some... compensation.”

  “But I—” My head was spinning as I struggled for words. “I don't know if I can put a price on a resurrection.” I stumbled over the words, unsure where he was going with this. The last thing I wanted was to set a precedent allowing Council members to kill me and pay me off for it.

  “A favor,” he said, turning to face me, his face set in stern lines. “A favor from me, for you, without strings. You can use it now, if you wish. Anything that is in my power to give I will. Or, you may hold it for the future. There isn't a time limit on it.”

  “A favor?” I repeated, shaking slightly as I tried to think it over. A favor from a Council member could go a long way for us. It could be the defining difference between being allowed to have my mates in the future or having to run. “You would give it to me due to this... accident? It wouldn't be conditional on me choosing your son?”

  Councilman Williams sighed. “No, it would not be conditional. If you and Joshua do not fit as a pairing, as much as I hope you would end up choosing each other since I believe it would suit both of you, the favor will remain. I merely ask that you try again with him, and put this incident behind you.” My mind was reeling, my heart pounding in my chest.

  It's your choice, Nix, Damien said quietly. It would be a wise one, being owed a favor from a Councilman, but I won't force you into it.

  “I won't say no to a favor,” I told him, my words slow and soft. “I will say that I think Joshua is a good person, and I'm not doing this because I'm afraid of him.”

  “All the better,” Councilman Williams replied, and a surprisingly soft smile flitted over his lips, reminding me of Joshua. “Then it's not truly bribery, it is simply an apology. I believe we're set then. I appreciate you coming to visit me.”

  “Thank you, Councilman.” I pushed up from my seat, ready to go home again.

  “One more thing, actually.” He stood with me, crossing to his desk and opening a drawer. “I'd like you to take this with you. It doesn't relate to this issue, I promise.”

  I took the envelope he offered, nearly dropping it when I looked inside and saw dozens of hundred dollar bills. “What?” I gasped. “I can't accept your money.” I tried to hand him the envelope back. I had no idea why he'd be handing me cash, but it felt far more like a bribe than the favor had.

  “It's not from me,” he explained, arching a brow. “Or not just me, at least,” he clarified when I could only stare at him. “You still don't understand how all of this works. You're a rare shifter under our care. The Council is more than just a governing body, and we have pull outside of the shifter community as well as inside of it. You dropped your classes, resigning from your studies to focus on becoming a part of our world. You began fulfilling your duties to the shifter community by dating Joshua and starting activities with other suitors who are part of your courtship.”

  “But, why does that mean I get money?” I asked, confused.

  “This is a return of the money you spent for your tuition, your housing, even your travel. You don't have much savings, and we want to do what we can to help you, no matter what you may think. It is a gift, part of our duty to you, no strings attached. Think of it as a goodwill gesture from us.”

  “Even as a goodwill gesture, that's a lot of money,” I pointed out. “If I were to follow your decision for me, I'd be finding a mate, bearing children.”

  He sighed, crossing his arms over his chest. “Yes, you would. That doesn't mean you would be subservient to any mate you have. Speak to Gaspard, to your friends. You will probably rank above anyone whom you would mate or bear children with. It's not like the human world, Annika. You will have help with any children, with your expenses, with your mates even. You can still have goals, dreams, plans for your life outside of bearing children. Just because we want you to focus on this for the moment, doesn't mean you need to give up your dreams for yourself altogether.”

  I gaped at him, unable to process what he was telling me. “I-I don't...” I trailed off inelegantly, truly at a loss for words.

  “I'm not asking for you to respond. I'm just saying that it's easier to see what we're doing for our people if you're one-on-one with us, actually studying our culture and our traditions, rather than viewing us from the outside and only when you're forced to see us at our most intense.” He frowned as he added, “I know you've had a lot of negative associations with us since you became aware of your heritage. There are many things about our world that are not pretty or appealing in any way. There are those of us who really do want you to be happy, though. Who want to see you content and successful in this life.”

  “Thank you, and I'll think on what you’ve said.” I slid the cash into my pocket. I wasn't willing to say more to him, unsure if this was a plan by the other Council members to see what I thought of the Council. I wouldn't put it past them to try and get me to confess to something by disarming me with cash.

  “Of course.” He motioned to the door, and I headed for the exit, pulling it open to find Gaspard and Ryder waiting for me. Ryder's lips were pressed tightly together, the only outward betrayal of his stress.

  “Ready?” Gaspard asked with a smile. I nodded, allowing him to lead me down the maze of hallways. Damien, Theo, and Killian were quick to join us. As we twisted down the halls and headed for the front door, I froze for a moment, unable to look away from the throne room. I recognized the very spot the lion shifter fell, now clean, leaving no trace of the incident behind. Still, I shivered as the memory flashed through my mind, making my stomach churn all over again.

  Picking up on my inner turmoil and the memories haunting me, Damien inched closer, his body warming my back as he offered me silent comfort without physically touching me. After I’d woken up for the second time following my rebirth, I’d told the guys about what I’d witnessed, and their anger over Maldonado and Stepanov’s actions was just as prevalent as mine. It was just one more positive to having completed the rebellion’s second challenge, each completed step bringing us closer to the change we were all so desperate for.

  Now, Damien was reliving the memories with me as I let the horror of the lion shifter’s death plague my mind.

  Come on, sweetheart, Damien pressed, and I felt his desire to wrap his arm around me. I reciprocated his need, but neither one of us reached for the other, maintaining our friendship status while we were still in view of the Council and anyone lurking within the Lodge. Instead, I forced my gaze away from the throne room floor to follow after the guys as they led the way out of the Lodge so we could leave. We had a lot to talk about, and I was more than ready to go home.

  Twenty-Three

  Nix

  I popped another strawberry in my mouth, enjoying the fresh taste of a summer berry at the start of winter, while I carefully turned the page in the small romance book I was reading. After having regenerated and gone through the meeting with Councilman Williams, the guys had been insistent that I rest, banning me to the couch until my energy fully returned. Without classes to attend, I’d spent the last three days reading books and trying to decipher the reason behind the tower of dog-eared paperbacks that Rini had shoved at me.

  I was buried in a sexy moment when a wolf claimed his mate for the first time, scenting her and burying his teeth in her shoulder so she would bear his mark for the world to see. I pressed my thighs together as the scene grew ste
amier, trying not to writhe on the couch. Another unfortunate side effect of rebirth was the amount of time the guys declared me celibate, refusing to touch me sexually until I was back to normal. My sexual frustration was at an all time high, and I squirmed with need the sex scene was inspiring in me, knowing full well that I was simply torturing myself.

  The guys had been keeping busy all day as well, slipping in and out of the house for classes, and some project they were working on that they’d all been rather tight lipped about. Right now, the only person who was home with me was Theo.

  The Kraken strolled downstairs, pausing on the bottom step to inhale deeply. Tipping my head back, I smiled at him as he groaned lowly. “Nix, I can scent your arousal from here. What are you reading?”

  I grinned, not the least bit sorry about my state or the way it was affecting him. Wordlessly, I held up the book, letting him see the bodice ripper cover while I popped another strawberry into my mouth.

  “I didn’t realize you were into erotic novels.” Theo straightened his glasses and adjusted himself as discreetly as possible, before heading off toward the kitchen with his empty coffee mug in hand, this one with the saying ‘I hug ships too hard.’