hunters to interrupt me. No sense in waiting.
"Actually," I say, stealing a glance at the others, "that can't be our top priority, Theo." As much as I might want it to be.
"Oh?" Theo raises his eyebrows. "And why should my fellow hybrid not want her magic back?"
"I do want it back," I reply, "but it's more complicated than that. You need to know the real reason we came here, and it wasn't only because we were trying to escape from the humans." I take a shaky breath, steeling myself. If this pisses him off, makes him think twice about hosting us, then we'll be right back to where we started. "The girl who gave me my witch abilities," I say carefully, "she isn't on our side. She works for Hawthorne and the U.K. Academy. She's...actually the reason I lost my magic in the first place."
"Mm," says Theo, his pale eyes frustratingly unreadable. "Go on."
"She and some other agents have been sweeping the country, looking for shifter communities just like this one," I explain. "We have it on good authority that your commune is at the top of her list, Theo. And if we're right, then you guys are next. All of you."
Chapter 15
Theo’s expression is frightfully stoic as he takes this in, his brow furrowed and his fingers steepled at his chin. “I see,” he says at last. “And may I ask just who this ‘good authority’ is?”
I glance unsurely over my shoulder. “A siren shifter and a dragon shifter,” I begin.
“We don’t know much about them, other than that their names are Jennifer and Owen, and they live in Central London,” Silas puts in.
“Why would two shifters want anything to do with the desolation of our community?” Theo asks, and although his expression is stony as ever, there’s a nonchalance creeping into his posture that’s worrying me.
“The same reason Edith would,” Hunter speaks up. “They don’t see a problem with what the humans are doing. If anything, they’ve probably been promised something in return for handing over shifters like us. It’s—”
“It’s unfortunate,” Theo says slowly, “that there are such unscrupulous members of our kind still out in the world. It’s also unfortunate that a group as savvy as yourselves would take such two-faced liars at their word.”
“I had them under my siren song,” protests Landon. “They couldn’t have lied. It would have been next to impossible.”
“Next to?” Theo asks, turning to him, and my heart sinks. No, no, no. This is going all wrong.
Landon retreats a little. “I mean… I guess there are some people who can resist…”
“Owen was the one who gave us this location,” Shade mutters, sounding frustrated.
“So he wasn’t coerced,” says Theo, leaning back in his chair. “I appreciate what you are trying to do,” he says, his white eyes lingering on me for a moment, “but I’m afraid that I can’t act on information this tenuous.”
“Look,” I plead, beginning to feel desperate, “I know it’s a lot to take in. But she’s going to have people with her, strong people, and if this community isn’t ready for them, it will be a bloodbath. We’ve seen it before, in Boston.”
“I’m sorry,” Theo says, “I truly am. But you have to understand the position I’m in. I am responsible for the lives of everyone in my care. I can’t uproot them—some of these people have families, children. And if this attack is happening as soon as you claim, I doubt there would be sufficient time to relocate.”
“Then fight,” Shade protests, taking a step forward. “Spend whatever time you have organizing. Getting your people ready. They don’t know that we know. Why not use it to our advantage?”
“There are more than a hundred shifters living in this building,” Theo replies coolly. “Many are powerful, and all will do whatever it takes to protect this group. We are safe here, Mr. Ivis. As much as you refuse to believe it.”
“This is a mistake,” Silas says quietly. “There were plenty of shifters at the Boston convention, and they got taken out by a bunch of humans with weapons and armor. Shifters aren’t invincible, Theo. We need to strategise.”
“Thank you for that advice, Mr. Aconyte,” Theo replies, “but I’ve made my decision. I understand your disappointment, but I have to think about what’s best for this community. Should anything happen, I have the utmost faith in the abilities of my people.”
“But-” I protest.
“That will be all,” he says, cutting me off. “Thank you for coming out with me today, Millie. You’ve