chapter 38
Selene stood beside the rest of the Vyusher, desperately trying to hold her anxiety in check as she watched Ellie, Griffin, and Lila. The Louisiana clan had only allowed Svatura near them. No Vyusher. The group across the field stood connected through an interlocking network of hands in hands or on shoulders and backs. Heads were bowed and eyes were closed as they watched what Ellie had to show them, using Lila’s gift so they would know that what they were seeing was the truth. They’d been standing there a good thirty minutes so far.
“Is she showing them the entire history of the Svatura over there?” Desmond muttered in her ear.
Selene grinned. “It is a really long story,” she reminded him.
“Huh,” he grunted. “So are you finally talking to me now?”
She cast him a sideways glance. “I guess so.”
“You know nothing my father suggested was my idea, right?” he pressed.
She sighed. “Yes, Desmond. I believe you.”
Selene almost jumped when she heard Griffin’s voice. “Selene, we need you. They’re ready to let you tell your side of the story.”
“Are you sure? Is that a good idea?” Selene worried back, remaining where she was.
“Hey. Stop canoodling with Dez and trust me.”
Selene squared her shoulders and started across the field. A smile played at her lips. “Did you really just say canoodle?”
A deep chuckle sounded through their mental link, sending shivers skittering across her skin. “Technically, I thought it,” he replied.
Ellie released Griffin’s hand so Selene could join them.
“Show them exactly what you’ve showed us,” Ellie said to her. With a nod and a deep breath, Selene did exactly that.
As she concentrated through the memories and the images and feelings, Selene suddenly felt, just for a split second, as though she was the one controlling all the powers, rather than Ellie. A starburst of colors – purple, blue, red, and yellow– flashed before her eyes and quickly disappeared. Cracking open one eye, she looked over at Ellie, who was watching her closely with a frown.
“Keep going,” Ellie instructed telepathically.
Selene closed her eyes again and wrapped up the last of the memories she felt were important to share. When she was finally done, she opened her eyes and focused on Marcus.
“Did that help? Do they understand?” she thought at Ellie and Griffin.
“I’d like a moment to confer with my people,” Marcus said before they had a chance to respond.
“Of course,” Ellie and Selene both murmured. They backed away, giving the Louisiana clan some space.
Ellie put a hand on Selene’s. “Your eyes look like mine when I’m going dragon, all blue flames.” She tapped into Griffin’s telepathy and kept her comments between them in their thoughts.
“Wow! Yours are a freaky hot-pink. Is that how my eyes look when I use my powers?”
“Only when you’re doing something big, I think. But did you feel that odd moment back there? I can’t even describe it.”
“Yes. I felt something odd, but it was too fast—”
“Yeah. I wonder…”
“What’re you two doing?” Griffin interrupted.
Selene folded her hands as she returned to watching the Louisianans debate their options. “What do you think?” she asked, nodding toward them.
Griffin stuffed his hands in his pockets. “It’s hard to tell. I deliberately stayed out of their minds. I didn’t want to be accused of interfering with their true opinions.” He glanced at her briefly before turning his attention back to the group. “It’s a compelling story, Selene. And they seem to be reasonable people. Have some faith.”
Selene’s lips twisted. “Faith is not a strength of mine,” she muttered to herself.
She didn’t think anyone had heard her until Griffin edged a little closer behind her. “Are you so sure?” he whispered in her ear.
Resisting the urge to lean back just slightly, she whispered back, “What do you mean?”
“Only someone with a great deal of faith would’ve relocated herself so close to the people who had a right to hold a grudge.”
Selene wasn’t quite sure how to take that but decided to go with a positive spin. “I think that was more desperation than faith,” she responded dryly.
She straightened as Marcus turned and walked toward them. Selene went to meet him, flanked by Ellie and Griffin.
“You’ve given us a lot to think about,” he acknowledged. “But we are—”
WHAM!
The blast of an explosion coming from the direction of the castle ripped through their ranks.
In an instinctual move of self-preservation, Selene and all the other Vyusher instantly shifted into their wolf forms. As soon as their link to the pack mind kicked in, they could all hear what was happening in the castle where the rest of their pack was under attack.
A horrible growl arose from the wolves, the fur on their withers standing to attention. Marcus and his team stumbled back from them.
Selene ignored them and looked right at Desmond. “Go!”
All of the wolves took off for the castle at a full sprint.
Selene turned her stormy gaze back to Marcus and his clan. A snarl ripped from her as she bared her teeth.
Marcus held up his hands. “We had nothing to do with whatever is happening,” he insisted.
Reigning in her wolf, Selene shifted back to human. “We are under attack in there. If you have nothing to do with it, then help us.” Her voice was a low growl, her wolf still fighting for control.
Marcus glanced behind her to where Griffin and his family still stood.
“Decide,” Selene commanded.
Marcus’s face hardened with resolve. “We’ll help you,” he said. “Only about ten of us have any kind of power that’s worth a damn in a fight. But those ten are with you.”
Selene nodded. “Link up.” She turned toward her friends and placed her hand in Griffin’s.
“Charlotte, the Council’s chamber please,” she directed.