Changed by Fire (Phoenix Rising #6) - Harper Wylde Page 0,38

low, as soon as the Council leaves, they call the guards to protect the Lodge. We thought it would be easier to break through their defenses and steal some boats if we could draw the Council out. We let the news of our meeting leak.”

“Why the fuck didn’t you let the news leak and then get the hell out of dodge yourselves?” I asked incredulously, my face easily portraying anger that could be misinterpreted as fury at this guy’s transgressions against the Council rather than his indignant lack of care for his own life.

“Because our people needed time to organize, overtake, and seize the boats, and that’s not considering how long it will take them to reach the wards and cross through them as unnoticed as possible. The Council likes to draw out their killings. We calculated about how much time everyone would need and each of us volunteered.” The prisoner grew quiet, and I knew that was all he planned on saying. My head was spinning, my brain railing against the fucked up world I lived in. How did things get this bad this quickly? Deep down, I knew, but I had trouble wrapping my head around it.

Everything had changed the night Nix killed Khan. It escalated the war. Though it was the Council who’d waged the first blow by killing Damien’s father... she’d more than ended that battle.

“I don’t think I’m going to be able to save you from this,” I told him under my breath.

He just nodded once, the movement so indiscernible no one but me caught it.

“What’s your name?” I needed to know. I wouldn’t let the memory of this shifter be forgotten, just another nameless body buried in the brutality of war. I’d remember him and what he’d done to save both his loved ones and strangers alike.

“Kyle, Councilman.”

“Well, Kyle, given your actions against the Council, do not think what you’ve done will go unnoticed...” I hoped he picked up on my subtle message as I locked my gaze onto Maldonado, Ishida, Stepanov, and Rahal, and added, “Nor will such actions go unpunished.”

Nine

Joshua

By the time we got back to the Lodge, my feet hurt and my heart was destroyed, but my resolve was also set. I wouldn’t let the sacrifice these men were making be in vain. If they needed more time, then I’d help make sure they had just that.

“Chain them up in the throne room,” I ordered, passing Kyle off to a servant who bowed and led them away.

“Ah, thinking like a Councilman. That’s what I like to see,” Stepanov praised, and I offered him a small bow. “Tao,” he called to my friend, who I just realized was standing resolutely in the shadows of the hallway. “Put out the announcement. Their deaths will be our entertainment this evening.” Stepanov was already halfway down the hallway as he bellowed his orders, strolling towards his chambers to change for his performance.

My stomach wouldn’t settle, and I only picked at my dinner that night, the thought of more death, more carnage, twisting like a tornado inside me and making me nauseous. Slithering through my mind, my Basilisk was ready to strike and put an end to the madness. I placed a metaphysical leash on him, reminding him that our ultimate goal was to make it out of this hell alive. Striking against the Council now would be as reckless as what the animal shifters had done this afternoon. I couldn’t do my part for the rebellion or protect Nix if I was dead. Unlike her, I wouldn’t rise again.

Instead, I swallowed down some of my humanity and took a deep breath to steady myself. When we all filed into the throne room packed full of mythologicals ready to kiss the Council members’ asses and watch the deadly show, I shoved my hands in my pockets to hide the tremors.

I’d no sooner sat down in my newly dubbed throne before Ishida came up with a leering smirk.

“Ah, young Councilman Williams,” Stepanov said from just behind Ishida as he stepped up onto the dais. “I approve of your idea to make this a public viewing to show them the consequences of challenging the Council.” His voice was loud enough to carry, and the crowd beyond began to quiet.

“It seemed like a good opportunity to remind our people of the importance of loyalty.” The veiled meaning behind my words was something only a handful of people within this room would understand—my loyalty to Nix, my loyalty to the