Changed by Fire (Phoenix Rising #6) - Harper Wylde Page 0,182
mental abilities, only a small number had the capability to search minds. “God… This is going to break her. She had to go through so many minds, so many shifters.” He sighed, his shoulders drooping.
“Kill him!” a voice from the crowd yelled angrily.
“Yeah!” another chimed in. “He would have gone to the Council, he deserves it.” Other voices raised and chattered, debating what the price of his betrayal should be.
“He didn’t belong to a faction,” Rune commented idly. “He can’t be punished by one of the leaders. We’ll have to reach an agreement. God help you.”
Forty-Five
Nix
My brain was whirling as I held my arms open for Theo, tugging him into a tight hug. “It’s okay,” I whispered. “It’s okay.”
What the hell are we going to do? Killian’s words were a roar even in my head. This bloody bastard.
We can’t let them kill him, Hiro objected. No matter what he planned to do with that.
Can’t we at least beat him up? Theo inquired sulkily, and I shuddered at the darkness in his voice. He was using my sister. I pressed a soft kiss to his lips, hoping to draw out my sweet, sensitive Kraken. Risa, Leo, Valleria, and Rune were all arguing back and forth, the noise a buzz in my ears as their voices rose. Valleria wanted Hawthorne to be held, Rio voted for him to have his powers and his mind stripped, and Rune and Risa were firmly in the execution category.
“No.” Damien’s voice cut through the noise, and everyone turned to look at him. His shoulders were back, his eyes blazing as he repeated himself. “No.”
“No?” Risa snapped. “What makes you have any say?”
“And why do you think you do?” I asked, my tone sharp. “I am the leader of Faction Opal now. I will listen to your concerns, but that does not mean you get the final say.” I thought I saw a hint of a dark smile on Ciarán’s face as I stared down the other female.
“We’ve got to come up with something.” Valleria threw her arms in the air. “We can’t just let him go.”
“There has been enough bloodshed.” Damien’s voice didn’t shake or crack, but each word was filled with emotion. “Enough death.”
“Damien,” Valleria murmured softly. “We all understand that mindset, but this is a war.”
“I’m not an imbecile,” Damien responded, inclining his head. “In an actual battle, yes, there will be death. I, myself, am sure, will be forced to kill someone. That doesn’t mean we need to kill an idiot.”
“Hey!” Hawthorne objected out of habit, and I glared at the man.
“He’s a boy still. He’s afraid. He’s an idiot for trusting the Council, but that doesn’t mean he needs to die for what he didn’t even get a chance to do.”
“I agree,” I interjected, stepping up to beside him with my head held high. “Hawthorne has never been privy to any private information. Damien will make sure of it.” I glanced at my mate who nodded. I could feel my other mates edging in around us, reaching out to comfort us, to show their allegiance as they pressed in. “Take away the flash drive. Turn him out into the field with some supplies, ensure he has no memories that could be used against us, and send word to all rebellion members that he will never be allowed back amongst us again. Even if he goes to the Council, they will just kill him for not completing his job.”
Tao sucked in a deep breath, considering me. “That’s brilliant.”
My smile was a little sad as I looked at Damien. “My mate always is.” I reached for his hand, clasping my fingers around his. Light flared around us, gold edged in red, burning my retinas as a shriek tore through the room. I blinked rapidly, trying to clear my eyes. Where Tao had stood was now a creature I had never seen before.
“What… what the heck happened to Tao?” I squeaked in shock. I could barely describe the creature in front of me. It looked like some mutated form of a unicorn. The body was similar to a horse or a deer with deep green fur with the legs and back fading to jade and gold. A flowing mane of red and gold was spread around its neck and matched the luxurious tail. A long, flowing mustache of jade green—that would have made Groucho Marx jealous—decorated his face, and it set off the single, twisted, branched deer-like horn on