“We’re always going to want you too.” Ryder moved closer, and the serious look in his eyes took my breath away. He was already committed, and I couldn’t help but feel the same way. Being paraded around last night had only solidified my connection to my guys. None of the other men who had sought my attention could come close to stacking up to even one of my males. It might be soon to want to claim them as my own, but the connection to them was bone-deep, ingrained in my soul. My Phoenix rose in jubilation.
“So what you were thinking last night is true. You want to claim us?” The hope in Killian’s voice made my heart squeeze in my chest. He hopped up from the couch where he had lounged and rounded on me, locking eyes with mine. I wanted him to know how wanted he was. I was angry at the damn upper echelon of shifter society making people feel like they were less because they weren’t rare enough, or powerful enough. The whole idea that just because you shifted into a normal animal versus some form of mythological being put you into the dregs of society was stupid. Killian was enough. He always would be, no matter what he shifted into or how powerful or consistent his psychic visions were.
The powerful sound that escaped his lips as he rushed at me made me flinch as he scooped me up, but I quickly got my heart rate under control. “What the hell did I do to deserve you?” He spun me around the room, and I threw my head back and laughed, thanking Damien for letting Killian feel my conviction about the matter. Never, in my entire life, had I been more happy, than in this moment. The other guys all beamed at us.
“To answer your question, yeah, I think I’ll keep you.” I looked around. “All of you.”
The eyes all around me shifted, pushing the unnatural glow of their creatures into their irises as primal sounds rumbled through the room. The alpha vibes from their reaction to my claim prickled over my skin, and I felt the magic around us grow to unbearable levels. My Phoenix spread her wings, the surge of her power and strength pushing against my skin as my eyes glowed with golden fire. It wasn’t official; I’m sure their world had plenty of pomp and ceremony over matings. After Ahmya had marched her bitchy ass into our house and spewed her venom, I’d been plagued with worry about whether the Council would even let us mate should we choose to. However, I tried to push those concerns away. That was a hurdle for another day. This moment was more important than any of that, and I wouldn’t give the Council the power to taint it. This was me, standing in front of my group of guys, claiming them as mine. I wanted them to know that I was all in.
Killian set me on my feet and proceeded to kiss me softly, cradling my face between his calloused hands. Each of the guys came in for a kiss, and I was thoroughly dizzy by the end of their attention, careening toward wanting a repeat of last night.
“Now that can be arranged.” Ryder let his eyes travel over my body appreciatively.
Theo walked over and placed a hot cup of coffee in my hands, warming me up; the aroma teasing me while I waited for it to cool until I could take a sip.
Damien ushered me to the dining room table and placed a steaming plate of eggs and bacon in front of me, and I ate heartily as Hiro sat next to me, reading some news article on his phone as he absently stroked his fingers over the arm I had propped on the table.
Killian laughed from the other room, watching some silly cartoon while Theo lounged in the chair next to the sectional. He was reading a paperback, his glasses perched on this nose as his eyes scanned the pages rapidly. With his brain, it was no surprise that he read quickly.
Ryder propped himself up behind Killian with another glass of orange juice, watching the show and smiling happily.
This right here, it felt like everything. I loved having all of us together. A family.
The ringing of a cell phone brought me back down to earth, and I watched Damien slip onto the porch as he answered the call. A gust of cold air blew over me from the brief moment the door had opened and shut, and I downed my coffee to warm myself from the inside out. I was going to need some more sweaters and thicker socks. I had a sinking feeling that the weather would get much colder before it started its ascent again.
I was smiling, bantering back and forth with Hiro about his news article, when my Gargoyle stepped back into the room, a somber look pinching his face.
“We’ve been summoned by the Council. They’re expecting us there in four hours.”
And just like that, the calm, happy bubble that had formed was popped as stress and adrenaline battled for space inside of me.
Thirty-Four
Nix
I highly doubted that a mandatory audience with the Council could be anything good. Although my guys assured me that events large and small frequently happened in the throne room so that the Council could show their power, my Phoenix was hissing and flapping inside of me, clearly agitated. The doors that we were escorted to were even larger than the doors to the meeting room in which I had been introduced. These were etched with intricate carvings of hundreds of different kinds of mythological creatures, each one life-like and writhing as they twined amongst each other. I could have studied that door for hours, finding something new in it each time. The doors were swung wide to reveal a room edged in gilt, filled nearly to overflowing with people. I instantly froze, not wanting to step a foot into the writhing mass of people so reminiscent of the carvings on the door.
It’s alright, Nix. Hiro’s face betrayed no sign that he was soothing me through our connection. It can be overwhelming at first, but we’re with you.
The crowd parted as we walked through, the faces ranging from excited, to curious, to furious. I spotted Ahmya with a small group of men and women who looked to be about our age. Every face was hostile as they glared at our group moving through the room. As we neared the center, the room opened up enough to allow me to see the seven carved and gilt-edged thrones placed on a raised dais. The carvings mimicked the ones that made up the entryway. The mythologicals on the thrones, however, looked far more imposing. Each ornate creature was emphasized with gilt leaf and what appeared to be gemstones. Every throne held one of the Councilmen, dressed in elegant, severe black and white tuxedos.
You’ve got to be freaking kidding me, what is this? Some twisted monarchy?
Walls, Nix. Damien’s mental voice was amused. I’m working to keep you in our connection, but if you shout like that, I can’t guarantee who else might pick up on your sarcasm. I could sense the underlying concern in his statement. Respect was so important to the Council, what would they do if they knew I viewed them with scorn and contempt?
Don’t fool yourself, Annie girl. They know that most of us hate them. They don’t care. As long as we continue to show them that they’re powerful, what we honestly think of them doesn’t matter. They don’t need to be adored—they just want the power being on the Council gives them.
Councilman Lacroix stepped from his throne, striding forward with a smile to grasp his son’s arm. “Damien. Good. I knew you would respond quickly.”
“Councilman.” Damien’s voice was stern, but I could see the smile twisting at the edge of his lips. I hadn’t realized he would address him formally in a group setting.
Councilman Lacroix turned to me, his smile still in place. “Nix. Thank you for coming. You’ve never answered a call before, so I’m sure this is a little confusing for you.”
Councilman Stepanov also rose from his throne, brushing a hand down the sharp lines of his tuxedo—as if it would dare wrinkle. “Always remember that response to a call from this Council is not optional. Now, if Councilman Ishida will bring in the prisoner so we can get this over with?”
Prisoner? What the hell was going on? Theo shifted at my back, reaching a hand out to rub across the back of my neck, wanting to help ease my tension.