King Cave (Forever Evermore, #2)(25)
Cahal’s chest expanded and slowly lowered. “What do you two know of hybrids? If they exist, we need to know everything you do since that’s where the original problem lies.”
I pressed my leg harder against Ezra’s, thanking God that Ezra was here to give me the support I needed to keep my heart rate lowered and common sense flowing.
Elder Harcourt continued tapping his fingers on the table. “Hybrids live as long as any Mystical, so it wouldn’t take many banding together to create an army of Beasts and control them with silver.” His head cocked. “A hybrid’s duel bloodline causes a reaction to occur biologically. They may have two different faction’s powers, yes, but it is the extra power within their Core that causes a slight breakdown of their reproductive system — something has to give when they’re born with more than what a Mystical’s biological make-up allows — thus allowing them to breed with a Commoner.”
“But…why would hybrids do it? Create Beasts such as that?” an Elder Elemental, another one of the four who had been speaking with the Kings earlier, whom I was guessing had also aided in the peace treaty, asked into the tense silence. “It makes no sense.”
No one spoke.
To me, the answer was obvious, so I spoke quietly, “Their nature itself would give them the perfect motive to wage war against the Mystical community, since the Executioner kills their kind just for being born. They use the Commoners’ fear to fuel their motives because the Beasts may be killing machines, but they’re not controllable and not the perfect soldier to create the destruction they want. Not like the Commoners would be.” An absent nod of my head. “The Beasts are only the pebble thrown into the center of the lake. The ripples, what disturbs the entire surface of our world, are the Commoners.” I rolled my shoulders. “Really, it’s f*cking genius retribution.”
Every single man…stared.
Elder Harcourt chuckled softly. “Fierce, beautiful, and intelligent.” He bowed his head to me. “You’re going to make one miraculous Queen.”
The Elder Shifter who had spoken before stated, “No Commoner, especially any in power, will want to believe they’re being manipulated. Their pride won’t allow it. Plus, we didn’t tell them the truth when the treaty was signed. Now that we’ve lied to them, even if unknowingly, their trust in us is diminished.” He sighed, his head of dark hair falling back onto the leather chair. “What the hell do we tell them to stop a full-fledged war?”
No one had an answer for that, myself included.
Elder Camden’s lips pinched, and he finally sat, turning his attention to Antonio and Cahal. “In light of our current situation, it would be best for your four to be whole.” Everyone understood that for what it was: the definite possibility of the coming of a second world war between the Commoners and Mysticals. “Elder Merrick and Elder Jacobs need to be here.”
Both Antonio and Cahal nodded.
“I’m assuming we’re the ones who will be speaking with the Com politicians of the world, since we collaborated the peace treaty, correct?” the Elder Shifter asked.
Elder Harcourt confirmed, “Yes, Elder Townsend. You,” he nodded to the Elemental, “Elder White,” a head tilt to a Mage, “Elder Samson,” eyes to a Vampire, “and Elder Bridges will be conducting the current political aspects and discussions with the Commoner politicians worldwide, as before. You four will keep us updated with your progress. We trust you to push for peace any way you can,” he paused, “legally.”
The Vampire, Elder Bridges, cursed quietly under his breath.
Elder Harcourt’s wicked grin reappeared. “Peace needs to be lasting, not temporary, Elder Bridges, which is all it would be if you used your power on this group of Com leaders, since the next in line will be ready for war, like the current ones are.”
Elder Bridges merely narrowed his eyes at Elder Harcourt.
“We have other information you may wish to know,” Ezra stated gradually, breaking the strained hush. Everyone turned their attention in our direction. Ezra tilted his head and rested further on his chair, comfortable in speaking in front of a portion of the most powerful Mysticals in the world without any added emotional powers helping him. “Yesterday, during our escape on the beach, we saw Elly Belford, a lion Shifter, arguing with one of the assassins who was wearing a red robe and appeared to be their leader. During their argument, he kissed her. She didn’t pull away.” He paused, letting this sink in. “From what we understand, her father is a high-ranking official in the MIA.”
A spew of oaths erupted from King Kincaid — not a surprising reaction with the fact she had been under his roof multiple times — until he calmed enough to confirm with the group that Mr Belford was, indeed, a high-ranking official within the MIA.
Ezra shrugged a jaded shoulder. “If the Com hacked our agency’s database from Mr Belford’s home system, it would explain how MIA missed this.”
As predicted, pretty much everyone wanted a piece not only of Elly but also of her father for being so careless. After a quick phone call, it was established that Elly and her parents weren’t residing inside King Cave, which didn’t lighten the mood any, since the Rulers’ anger wouldn’t have an outlet as they had hoped. But I could have told them she wasn’t here. She had to have seen us when their group charged us yesterday. She had known we had seen her. Elly wouldn’t walk into her own death willingly.