as a conference room from when the hotel had been used previously. Knowing many of my mates disliked the cold, I concentrated for a second, bringing the intricate stone fireplace in the corner roaring to life. The waves of heat settled over all of us as Joshua and Drake both sighed, their shoulders relaxing in unison as the heat hit them. It had to be so hard for basilisks to live in this climate.
That’s probably one of the reasons they kept him here. Theo’s thought stroked across my mind. The cold weakens him, makes him more malleable, and prevents him from shifting for long periods of the year—it would be exactly what Stepanov and Maldonado would want from a basilisk, a way to keep it under their control.
Well, fuck. That thought hadn’t even crossed my mind, but I wondered if it could be true. I considered my mates, assessing them the way I had in the training session. Out of all of them, Theo and Damien were the only two who actually handled the cold well. Theo’s alter, however, prevented him from shifting on land and gaining the advantage of his Kraken’s size and strength. Ryder, Killian, Joshua, and Hiro were all sensitive to the cold to the point where the extreme Alaskan temperatures could incapacitate them. I’d known it, but the thought hadn’t really processed before.
Guys, how many types of shifters do well in the cold? I questioned, studying them.
Few, Damien admitted. Those of us with the genetic background for it are fairly rare, and those who are tend to be less powerful or have other issues because of it, like Theo being limited in his shifting on land despite his ability to handle frigid temperatures. Others of us are simply impervious to the cold despite our genetics.
Let me guess, I remarked dryly. Stepanov and Maldonado are both impervious to it.
For the most part, Joshua admitted. Koschei are of Russian origin, and they can handle the extreme cold well. Manananggal seem to be resistant to the temperature fluctuations, much the way Damien is. Out loud, he added, “Please, Dad, take a seat.” He waved at a chair directly in front of the fireplace, and Drake slumped into it gratefully, a heavy sigh leaving his lips.
So the Council built up power in an area where, say, ninety percent of shifters will be weakened for a solid chunk of the year. Why do I think that’s not a coincidence? My Phoenix hissed her agreement.
“Dad, what are you doing here?” Joshua asked gently. “I mean, I knew you might come back, but I’m honestly surprised to see you…” He trailed off, shaking his head as he shrugged helplessly.
“I came to help,” Drake whispered, staring down at his hands. “I tried to recruit after I left you, tried to find other basilisks to help us, just like I promised, but most turned me away. Called it suicide and merely begged me to bring you to our islands, to bring you and your mates home.” He grimaced, rubbing at the back of his neck. “I thought… I thought I’d have more to offer, but it appears I was wrong.” Straightening, he stared at his son with tears filling his eyes. “I don’t have your strength, Joshua, your ability to draw those around you together. My name, my image, is too tainted by years under the Council’s hands. But there is one thing I can offer. I can offer information. I can offer the truth.” His eyes met mine now, unflinching even as tears streamed down his cheeks. “I can tell you who you are, Annika.”
Sixteen
Nix
“What?” The word was a whisper, but it echoed in the silent room as I stared at the man in front of me.
“I have information. Not just about you, but about the Council itself. I was on it long enough,” he admitted with a grimace. “Damien already told me about the gauntlet Stepanov threw down for you. I’ll provide any information I can.”
“At what cost?” Killian’s growled from behind me.
“Kill—” Hiro began, but Killian cut him off with a harsh slash of his hand.
“It’s a fair question.” Theo’s blue eyes were flat, his mouth pressed into a grim line as he nodded at Killian. “If he’s attempting to place himself back into a Council seat at the end of this, we need to make it clear that’s not going to happen.” His eyes met Joshua’s and softened fractionally behind his frames. “I love you, little brother, and I don’t easily