Changed by Fire (Phoenix Rising #6) - Harper Wylde Page 0,74

before I squeezed my eyes shut. Dealing with Rune was obnoxious enough, but adding Ciarán to the mix meant I’d have a headache soon.

“Right, right.” Amused glee filled Ciarán’s words. He stepped into our line of sight, and I caught the frown on Nix’s face as she studied him. “What was it that little sister called him? Twilight Sparkle?” He laughed. “Absolutely adorable, as is she.”

“Hello, Ciarán.” Her words were as cold as the bitter arctic air, and Ciarán’s brows rose.

“Icy.” He cocked his head to study her. “Why, little sister, what ever could I have done to evoke such frosty wrath from my little firebird?”

“If we have had enough idiocy,” Rune interrupted with a growl, “I was informing Nix and her friends” —the casual disregard for our status as mates was a perfectly aimed arrow, and I could sense Theo tense beside Nix— “that they no longer have the protections of the Council and they better start watching their backs.”

“Fuck off, Rune,” Val replied wearily.

His gaze shot to the Valkyrie. “I never expected you to get in bed with Council sympathizers, Valleria. Or have your allegiances changed from Topaz to Malachite? I’m sure Victoria would not appreciate your challenge for her leadership, though if you were willing to toe the line…” He trailed off with a shrug as the Valkyrie snarled.

“Rune, you already know I can wipe your smarmy ass across this courtyard,” she warned him.

“My issue isn’t with you,” he countered stiffly. “It’s just come to my attention that no one has bothered to fill them in on the way things are done here. My family and I are not risking ourselves so that she and her little Council grown buddies here can take over and return everything to the way it was.”

“That isn’t what’s happening,” Theo told him quietly. “Nor have we ever pretended it was. We want our family. That’s it.”

Rune sneered, “Right. I’m sure that’s it exactly.” He wagged a finger at Nix. “Just remember what I said. You’d better learn quickly or it’s going to get painful for you.” He stomped away, and Nix let out a huff.

“What was that about?” she asked, her eyes searching Theo’s first, then mine. “I mean, it was really random, wasn’t it?”

Val sighed, rubbing her neck as we turned. “Not really,” she admitted. “I mean, I’m sure you’ve caught the whispers.”

Nix bit her lip, and I wasn’t sure if it was due to anxiety or to prevent the same, vile stream of thoughts that flooded my mind from pouring from her pretty lips. “Yes, of course. I just thought it was a few dissenters.”

“A few is all it takes.” Val shrugged. “I know all you want is a chance for a life with each other. I’ve spoken to my people, attempted to quash the doubts. We’re about equality for everyone, after all, even shifters who could present a challenge.” With her marked glance at the slowly blinking Ciarán, I huffed out a laugh. Val definitely had a lot to deal with having Ciarán as one of her strongest allies. “But even amongst my own people, there are always those who have to take things to extremes.” She hesitated for a moment, considering us. “I hope you know I try to quell it when I can.”

“Nothing will quell it.” Ciarán’s suddenly serious statement had my head whipping around to study him. “Differences will always present a problem, and some will always be too scared or too proud to handle that problem.” Nix’s eyes narrowed as she searched his face, but he brightened quickly. “Which is why we have to make sure you train, train, train. Wouldn’t do to have to maim anyone for hurting my family. It would cause people to think I’m not a nice guy.” He widened his eyes and fluttered his lashes.

“Did you need something, Ciarán?” Theo inquired with an edge to his tone. Theo had a hard time dealing with the mercurial male.

“Oh!” He turned to Val, making an exaggerated, snapping gesture. “I wanted to let you know that our new group of friends has reached one of the southern compounds.”

“More fighters?” she questioned excitedly.

He shook his head sadly and she swore, stamping her foot. I could understand her frustration. We needed every warrior we could get, and it had been hard when we learned they were few and far between. One of the unexpected issues we had discovered when we’d arrived here was that only a small fraction of the shifters in the rebellion