Hyacinth - By Abigail Owen Page 0,48

doesn’t appear to be wrapping up any time soon. That Xavier guy just won’t lay off,” Ellie grumbled, as she pressed her face back to the tiny keyhole.

Dez gave a dry chuckle. “Yeah. That guy can be a major pain. Well, gotta run. Nice to meet you. Oh, and when she’s finally let out, tell Selene I said welcome back and I’ll see her later.” With a wink he wandered back down the hall.

“Are you looking at his butt?” Ellie squeaked.

“It’s worth looking at,” Lila replied unrepentantly. “I never could resist a surfer’s build.”

*****

Selene ignored the urge to run her hands over her face, fighting her mental and physical exhaustion. As soon as Charlotte had teleported them to the castle, Selene had called a gathering of the High Council. And had been met with immediate resistance.

“While we have permitted you to come here, that does not, by any means, give you permission to rule,” Xavier stated before the entire Council had even finished gathering.

Selene looked him directly in the eyes. “Let’s wait for all of the Council to be assembled, Xavier.”

Xavier’s mouth tightened, but he took his seat and waited in sullen silence. Once all the members had gathered, Selene stood and faced them.

“Just to make sure I understand. After essentially being disowned as untrustworthy and abandoned by my family, I am allowed to come here. I am allowed to bring my very powerful friends who defeated our entire pack, including my brother, whom not one of the Vyusher – myself included - could defeat. I assume that we are also allowed to fight for you? Defend you? Die for you? But leading you is out. Is that correct?”

For a good minute, no one in the room spoke. They were not used to their Princess being anything but polite.

“My Lady, I am sure that Xavier meant no offense,” Mireilla said, attempting to smooth over the situation.

“Then perhaps he should consider his words more carefully in the future,” Selene snapped. She paused to regain her composure. “I am here for the Vyusher. For my pack. I will never turn my back on them. I will never walk away from them. But I am no longer subject to the rulings of this Council.”

No one responded to that statement. After a few moments, Selene gracefully resumed her seat and folded her hands neatly on the table in front of her. “Now what, if anything, has been discussed so far?”

That had been twenty-seven hours ago, and still they sat there debating. Selene, for the most part, had remained relatively silent, preferring instead to see what arguments were put forth.

Xavier and Mireilla were determined that Maddox was not trying to hurt the Vyusher, but that in trying to apologize to the other tribes, he’d unwittingly stirred up the current conflict. Selene had just managed to cover her snort of disbelief with a discreet cough.

Others were still debating their options. They’d apparently already sent envoys to the tribes in an attempt to negotiate a truce. Not a single one had returned successful.

At least two of the tribes were considering declaring war.

Every time Selene had offered an opinion, she was shut down. The fire of her original outburst, stoked by impotent anger at everything in her life that had led to this moment, had burnt itself out. Her history of submission, with Gideon, with these Elders, all worked against her, despite her short bout of confidence. And the immensity of saving her people while dealing with these bureaucrats weighed heavily on her.

Even when Gideon had ruled over her life, she’d never felt as small and alone as she did at that moment.

“Council,” Oren spoke up. “I suggest that we adjourn this meeting temporarily. We all need rest, and perhaps a little distance will shed some light on our path.”

Rising gratefully, Selene hid her fatigue. Oren took her elbow and held her back so that they were the last to leave.

“I have placed the unconscious young lady in a very comfortable room near yours. While your friend Hugh says she’s somehow surviving without relieving any bodily functions, we went ahead and set up some basic medical care, like an IV. We think it’s magically induced. She’s frozen in some sort of stasis. Angelica is staying with her,” he murmured.

Selene raised her eyebrows. “I hadn’t thought of that. Angelica’s gift of soothing whomever she comes into contact with might just help the girl to wake up.”

Oren nodded as they exited the chamber. Selene was unsurprised to find Ellie and