by Rachel Jonas
Among all those here, I was painfully aware of someone who wasn’t. I half-hoped Nick would have shown up, but there were clearly two members of his family missing when I spotted the others—him and Richie. I guessed he was the one who volunteered to keep searching while the rest attended the meeting.
He ran off so quickly. Before I could catch him, before anyone could catch him. And all for what? To prevent some prophecy, some legend from coming to pass? It might sound naïve to say that I didn’t believe in it, considering how many other impossibilities had come to pass lately, but… I didn’t.
Nick had to be the exception to that rule.
A hush fell over the crowd as three small figures, adorned in dark cloaks, entered and said nothing. They were definitely female, maybe even children or teens, but it was impossible to say with their faces hidden in the shadows. Behind them, five robed figures followed, but these were much taller—male, foreboding. The five sat behind a long table. Their faces were hidden just like the others and I was sure it was intentional. They didn’t speak for several seconds, but when the one in the middle opened his mouth, his voice made me tremble.
“What has taken place in Seaton Falls today is tragic,” he began, his deep baritone reverberating off the stone pillars all around us. “In addition to two of the clan’s children being killed by one of these vile beasts, several others have reported seeing mutts lurking about the woods, outside the homes of our families, near the school. And, as you can imagine, we are not taking this invasion lightly.”
You could have heard a pin drop when he paused.
“The recent events have been the result of our failure to comply with The Clan Tariff and we do not regret one bit our stance,” he clarified. “But, while we fight, while we negotiate… we cannot continue to watch our children being cut down like trees, plucked from our hands like crops.”
A distant sob from a far corner of the room rang out, followed by a symphony of tears and sniffling. These people… they were physically strong. I knew this to be a fact. But today… today they were hurting. They were broken. It became clear to me in an instant how tightly knit the clan truly was. When one hurt, they all felt it.
“So, it is with a clear, sound mind that a decision has been made. One intended to grant us the security we all desire for our children while we organize and prepare ourselves for what may turn out to be quite a lengthy battle.”
He stood and it was again obvious that, based on height and the breadth of his body, he was far from human. “All shifters, age twenty and younger are hereby ordered to be safely delivered to The Damascus Facility where they will be cared for and properly trained for battle.”
Gasps and chatter filled the room and I felt Liam’s bicep stiffen in my hand when his fist clinched.
“Settle down!” the robed man commanded. It only took a few seconds for everyone to comply. “We have to face this problem realistically,” he went on. “The Sovereign will not stop.” Those words hung over the crowd like a storm. “We have bent to his will far too long and it is high time we stood our ground. Our children will be safe and cared for while, yes, being trained for whatever may come of this stand we’ve taken, but fear not. This decision was not made because we’re expecting the worst. It was made because, in the event that the worst does indeed come to pass, our children will be poised and ready.”
No one said a word.
“Sending them away will not be easy… but it is right. We, as a clan, have become too relaxed. Complacent. And it isn’t just us here,” he went on. “Clans everywhere have allowed themselves to be lulled to sleep, handing over nearly a third of our wealth, and three of our young shifters yearly… because doing so was easier, safer, than taking a stand.” His long fingers splayed across the table when he leaned in. “And I, for one, am proud to say that we finally took our heads from the sand and said… no more.”
“And what if we refuse?” A voice rang out. “What if we refuse to let our children be carted off someplace we can’t access them? Can’t protect them?”
The robed man turned that way and, if I could have seen his face, I imagine he would have been staring at the individual who had the outburst.
“I’m glad you asked that question,” he crooned, the eerie tone of his voice sending a chill down my spine. “Let me make something clear. Children of the clan, regardless of pack, regardless of purity where lycanism is concerned, are exactly that. Children of the clan,” he announced, sending the room into an uncomfortable silence once more. “These children ensure the continuation of our people and are, therefore, only under your command within reason.” My skin crawled at his next words, and I imagined it had the same effect on the others as well. “You’re only in charge of them as long as we, The Elders, permit it.”
My hands slid down the length of Liam’s arm until I found his fingers, locking mine between his when a healthy dose of fear set in.
“So, if there are no further questions, no further… rebuttals… you may consider yourselves dismissed.”
The Elder turned to depart from the crowd, but not before one last question was asked. “How long? How long do we have before they’re ripped away from us?”
The question came from a tearful mother.
The Elder looked her way and, with zero feeling or remorse in his tone, gave his answer. “Forty-eight-hours.”
Chaos ensued right after. Protests were shouted at the backs of The Elders as they exited, offering no further explanation than that. It was over. The fate of Seaton Falls’ young shifters was sealed.
Liam glanced at me from over his shoulder, squeezing my fingers even tighter.
“Don’t be afraid,” he whispered.
I glanced around, at all the distraught families. Families that would soon be ripped apart without them having any say-so in the matter.
“They can’t do this,” I whispered back, letting the words disappear in Liam’s bicep as I leaned into him. Shaking my head, I felt the sadness creep in. “I can’t imagine what I’d do if I had to leave my parents like that.”
I felt Liam’s body go rigid as we stood close. His eyes found mine and, when my name fell from his lips, it was laced with pity. “Evangeline… you… you have to go, too,” he breathed.
My eyes were wild as I searched his, leaning away while I tried to understand what he’d just said to me. “I… what? I’m not… I’m not one of them.”
He took a breath and turned to face me. His tone was surprisingly calm when he explained, but it did nothing to slow my racing heart. “You’re half lycan. You’re, technically, part of their clan. Whether they were on your radar or not… I can assure you, you were definitely on theirs.”
His gaze lowered. “And I haven’t quite figured it out yet, but… I’ve been suspicious for a while now that you were brought here intentionally. Ever since I discovered the size of the clan in this town. I have no idea why or whose doing it was, but… there are just too many coincidences.”
“My… parents,” I sputtered. “I can’t… I can’t leave them here… I…”
Liam took my hands when they fluttered up to my hair, bringing them back down to my sides. “They’ll be safe. They’re human, which means they’re not a target.” However, he added one word that sobered me instantly. “Yet.”
My brow tensed. “What do you mean?”
He eyed the crowd briefly before speaking low. “If you refuse to leave… there will be consequences,” he explained. “For you. For them.”
I was spiraling on the inside. It was impossible to wrap my head around having to leave in two days. “What am I… how am I supposed to explain this to them?”
Liam shook his head. “If I know the Council, they’ve already got the escape plan mapped out for minimal exposure. All you’ll have to do is pack your bags and be wherever they tell you to be when they tell you to be there.”
A tear slipped down my cheek and Liam’s thumb swiped it away within a nanosecond. “You have to be strong, Evangeline. Strong lik
e I know you are.”
But, that’s the thing. I wasn’t the Evangeline he knew from long ago. I was just Evie… a girl who made mistakes often, couldn’t cook to save her life, and still needed her parents. I wasn’t who he thought. I wasn’t brave, wasn’t regal.
I was just me.
His palms were warm against my cheeks when he turned my face toward his, silencing my thoughts with a look.
“And you won’t be alone,” he went on, stalling my heart when he added, “because… I’m coming with you.”
To be continued…
Keep scrolling for an excerpt from the next installment,
DARK SIDE OF THE MOON (The Lost Royals Saga, #2).
Preorder today to have book two delivered to your device January 8th, 2018!
—
An Excerpt From Book Two—
—Chapter One—
Liam
Every large clan kept a few witches around. They were pets, mostly, but every now and then they were let loose to torture someone if an Elder deemed them a threat.
Today, I was that someone.
If the three holding me hostage in my own home were any indication, the coven allied with the lycans of Seaton Falls were a nasty bunch.
A small fist slammed the right side of my face, proving my point. I spat blood to the floor and she loved it—the one who looked to be about twelve, although I suspected all three were at least a few hundred years old. Most were. Some were far older.
Their magic paralyzed me, binding me to the chair they dragged in from the kitchen. No rope or chains necessary. The only thing I could do was speak, but that didn’t matter much because they weren’t here to reason. Their master gave a command and they followed that command blindly.
Like pets.
I first spotted them at this afternoon’s meeting—three deceivingly frail figures cloaked in dark garbs, posted beside the Elders. The moment they entered the crowded chamber hidden beneath the library, I knew what purpose they served. They were sort of a supernatural version of the secret service, a failsafe should the assembly between the clan and Council get out of hand. After it was announced that the young shifters of Seaton Falls were being taken against their parents’ will, it wasn’t hard to understand why the witches’ presence was necessary.
Fortunately for the clan, they avoided tasting the wrath these three were capable of raining down.
Too bad I couldn’t say the same for myself.
Heavy steps approached from behind and the wood slats creaked with each. So far, all The Elder had done was watch his minions beat me bloody, but now, it appeared he was ready to talk.
A dark shadow blocked light from the window to my left and I peered up, unable to lift my head. I swear, if it hadn’t been for the witches holding me hostage in my seat, I would’ve snapped this guy’s neck on sight. He wouldn’t be the first Elder I killed. Probably wouldn’t be the last. They had a tendency to think they were invincible.
I kinda liked showing them they weren’t.
His face was hidden in the shadow of his hood, but I could feel him staring as he came into view. He stopped at my feet. I breathed hard and heavy. I didn’t trust him. It seemed he couldn’t have cared less about his own clan, so what was to stop him from taking advantage of the paralysis and ending me right now?
“Speak, dragon.” The Elder’s voice was slow and deep, trembling with the same unearthly vibrato as every other. “What business do you have here in Seaton Falls?”
Before I could answer, another spray of blood left my mouth when the small one took a second jab. My eyes cut toward her as I panted. I wanted her throat beneath my boot so badly it was almost unbearable.
“Settle down, Scarlet. Let him speak,” the Elder commanded.
She, the one I’d let the life out of first chance I got, backed away with a grin.
My eyes went to the Elder again. “Wouldn’t it have been more efficient to ask questions first?”
Scarlet wound her finger in a slow circle from a few feet away and another jolt of pain ricocheted off my skull. It seemed to irritate her that she couldn’t get a reaction out of me other than gritting my teeth.
“Lilith? Marin? Take your sister outside until she learns to behave herself.”
The witches responded to the Elder’s harshly spoken words without question. The screen door slammed when they were gone and it was just the two of us now.
“Answer the question, dragon. Why are you here?”
I didn’t speak right away. It was important to weigh my words carefully to protect the only person on this planet who mattered to me—Evangeline. Not responding at all would have made him end me right here and now. While death had never been something I feared, dying would mean she’d be alone and defenseless. Seeing as how today revealed who and what she needed protection from, I had to stay alive.
For her.
“I’ve only got so much patience,” he grumbled, strolling around my chair in a slow circle.
There was only one answer I was willing to give. “I’m here to protect a common interest.”
He didn’t speak right away and the only sound in the room was his steady ambling behind my seat. I didn’t like not having a visual on him.
“A common interest.” The phrase seemed to amuse him. “You must mean the girl.”
I had to tread lightly. There was a possibility he was unaware of Evangeline’s true identity, the reason she was so important to their race and mine. So, the only confirmation I gave was my silence.
“Hm.” Linking his hands behind his back, he paced again. “We were told she wouldn’t be any trouble.” He stopped in front of me, adding, “But you, dragon… you certainly look like trouble.”
I didn’t reply, only watched the sway of the dark-burgundy robe he hid beneath.
“She was supposed to be the only one,” he went on. “And had it not been for her also being half lycan, there would have been no convincing the others to allow it.” His steps continued to echo. “The only thing that proved to be a more difficult challenge, was convincing them she even was a lycan. It’s nearly impossible to trace our scent beneath that god-awful smoke.”
That’d always been true about her. Yes, she was both—lycan and dragon—but even in the past, her dragon was stronger than her wolf. I believe because she favored the gifts of one over the other.
“Who sent you and what’s your mission?” Apparently, he had no plans to let the vague answer I gave slide.
“I have no mission, because no one sent me.”
At the sound of my voice, he stopped in his tracks and, while I couldn’t see his expression beneath the shadow, I was sure he was furious now.
“I’m supposed to believe it’s a coincidence that not one, but two bloodthirsty dragons—a species most are fortunate to go centuries without ever crossing one’s path—just so happened to waltz through Seaton Falls amid such a monumental… rough patch… for our people?” He nodded slowly. “Interesting.”
This was going nowhere and I didn’t like being stuck here while Evangeline was God-knows-where. Who’s to say he hadn’t sent someone to interrogate her as well? Yes, she was, technically, a member of his clan, but only by default. Only because she lived here.
But she wasn’t like the others who’d been born and raised under their leadership, wasn’t regarded as ‘one of them’. I knew this because she spoke many times of feeling like an outsider. There was only one she seemed to connect with, but that, like everything else, wasn’t quite what it seemed.
“If you tell me who sent her here, I may be able to explain things better,” I reasoned.
If I understood how Evangeline ended up in Seaton Falls, alive after dying centuries ago, if I knew whether her regeneration somehow put her in danger, I could better gage who to trust. But until that happened, I wouldn’t risk saying too much.
I sighed when he ignored my first inquiry, but didn’t let that stop me from making another.
“If this is about me crashing
your Council meeting today, I only wanted answers. If I was going to hurt somebody, I would’ve done it already. I’ve been living here for months.”
He seemed to only hear one part of my explanation and repeated it as a question. “Answers?”
I was able to nod, which meant the witch’s spell was beginning to wear off. “In case you hadn’t noticed, a gang of mutts showed up on my property earlier. Seeing as how there’s been a problem with them lately, I knew your meeting was where I’d find more information, like why they were sent.”
My clothes were still caked with those things’ black blood and dark fur. The result of a human bitten by a lycan was a complete and total abomination. No, all didn’t turn into these disgusting beasts, but for the majority who did? Ugliest thing you’ve ever seen.
“And… did you fend off these mutts alone?”
I wasn’t sure why that mattered, but shared anyway. Whatever it took to get him to call off his pets so I could check in with Evangeline. “No. There were others here.”
I envisioned the four lycans who fought at our side.
“Like whom?” he asked next.
It didn’t take long to figure out where his line of questioning was headed or why he was here. It had nothing to do with the Council meeting. Those lycans snitched, the ones who helped with the mutts. I ran their brother, Nick, off my property after discovering he was no ordinary, run-of-the-mill wolf.
His true nature was terrible and sinister regardless of his outer appearance, regardless of whether he realized his purpose. His destiny was to become the Liberator… a living, breathing weapon with one mission: to liberate Evangeline’s soul from her body.
His ability to hear her heartbeat across a crowded room, his excessive strength, his speed… it all increased his chances of ending her life. It all made him the ultimate predator.
So, why did I let him get away? Why was he still breathing, you ask?
Because the one girl capable of changing my mind insisted on it. As fate would have it, with neither having initial knowledge of how one’s future impacted the other’s … they were friends.
