The Council (Darkness #5)(28)

“It’s just,” I started, trying to throw a little dirt in the grave I’d just dug. “Humans think back to those times in fear, too. Power corrupts all, not just humans. A great many independent-thinking women died in those witch burnings. Wars are terrible, and most of us hate them, but I think you people, out of everyone, can understand how out-of-whack things can get. I mean, your whole system is built on violence. Yet, we’re the bad guys? I mean, I’m a woman, and we are always viewed as lesser, even when we’re supposed to be equal—you don’t see me bitching about it…”

I stopped myself again and let my words trail away. That wasn’t much better. I needed to just stop talking.

A delighted glint infused Rudy’s green eyes. As if he’d just found a cookie among bananas. He glanced to a fierce-looking guy to his right. “Remove this human.”

Tingles worked up my back. I’d given him a reason to take me away, and I didn’t think that would be so I could get bathed in champagne and roses.

As five men pushed away from the wall, Tim said, “She is a pack friend. She stays with us.”

I could feel movement. Stefan was coming closer.

“I agree with Rudy,” some sandy-haired man said seated beside Mage Marius. “The human does not belong in this meeting, regardless who she has chosen as friends.”

“If she goes, we go,” Tim stated in a barely-suppressed growl. A warm hand found my lower back. Stefan was ready if something went down.

“Then this meeting will be in vain, since we cannot hope to work with a group of animals that cannot maintain the minimal level of respect,” an older man said from a chair at the front of the table. He wore the white robe signifying a Council member.

I stabbed Cato with my gaze, imploring some order. I figured that since he sat at the head of the table, was the oldest person in the room, and had started the meeting, he was the leader. The problem was, as the turmoil mounted, his eyes stayed unfocused and distant. Sometimes his gaze moved to a speaker, but most of the time he was vaguely looking at the wall. He seemed as calm as tranquil waters while all around him a storm gathered.

“Is this a council meeting, or a public hearing?” I demanded of him, surprising myself with the force in my voice.

The light blue eyes slowly drifted to my face.

Rudy stood. “That is no way to address a superior. Remove her!”

Those five men were in action again, moving around and through people, trying to get to the front where I stood.

“Wait a minute!” Kallias stood as he spoke. “I would like to hear how she fits with the Mata. Keep her in this room!”

“She speaks the truth, Cato,” a white-robed female with salt-and-pepper hair threw in. “These are valid points she has. And moreover, if we section ourselves off from humans as we do, half the magic in the world will all dry up as we make ourselves extinct. We can breed with them while keeping magic intact. This has been proven. Why have we not sought to cross this divide? Tessa in Arizona is trying just that with her human. She’s hopeful.”

“Who leads this Council, Cato? You or him?” someone else shouted.

“Get that filthy human out of here!”

“Breeding with humans? Disgusting!” someone roared.

“What is so wrong with humans?”

“Why are we meeting with animals?”

“Disgrace!”

“Remove them all!”

Shouting blasted through the room. Arguments flew. Half the table was standing, screaming at the other half. Red faces and spittle, screams and shouts.

Stefan’s hand moved to my hip. Pressure had me stepping toward the door. We wouldn’t be going back to our room, we’d be leaving the premises. Probably with half this room on our heels.

“Get ready,” Tim said to his shifters in a low tone.

From the back of the room, I heard my name shouted out. It sounded like Dominicous but I couldn’t be sure.

The Mata drew in close to me, ready for an attack. Green magic started pooling around them, tingling my skin. I opened up to the elements, feeling the sweet rush. I felt Stefan’s magic balancing and leveling, and then coaxing a bit more. Another rush of energy entered the link. Probably Charles. Then another—Jonas. Stefan was pooling the resources so I could unleash hell.

“Here they come, baby. Get ready.” Stefan’s voice was low and anxious.

Those five guys, hard-eyed and determined, pushed their way through the crowd. Vicious gazes scanned my protection unit, two focusing on Tim. The other two picked out other shifters. One only had eyes for me.

Keep the protection busy while one guy makes the grab. Sounded logical. Thank God they weren’t experienced enough to notice Stefan and Jonas huddled close. Not that I’d need them, though.

I drew in the elements and pieced together three attack spells of Toa’s devising. I stitched them together, tweaked some of the elements to make them extremely volatile, and dared anyone to try and pick them apart.

The room seethed. Like a beehive after a bear, action and noise reigned. The lead attacker pushed aside a yelling woman and grabbed at me. Jonas pushed forward and delivered a hard punch with magic. He followed it up with a ripping hand. The other guys didn’t even baulk at their buddy fighting the air. They swarmed around as sparks of green lighted up around the shifters.

“Let it fly!” Stefan said urgently, two hands on me. Ready to rip me away from this room.