isn’t a man to be fucked with, and I’m betting he’s the one in charge. “She’s smart, this one.”
He moves through the room and Veyo jumps to his feet, bowing his head, so I know I was right. The man sits heavily on the sofa and stares at me. I stare right back. He might be powerful, but he’s still a man. “I am Amos, the great eagle, and who are you?”
Huh, so he’s an eagle shifter like Veyo. Didn’t they say an eagle sat on the council? It only confirms that the council is behind the disappearances. My question is still why? What can they gain from experimenting on humans and stealing females of different races?
“Dawn,” I reply. He raises his eyebrows as if prompting me to carry on, so naturally, I do. “Fucker upper of men, the great killer of assholes who think they rule the world because of power and money.”
“I see,” he says with disdain.
“So, Assmos, I’m going to be honest—”
“Amos,” he corrects, and I nod.
“Of course, Assmos. I get the humans. Even if it’s fucked up, you are trying to make more supernaturals. I don’t know your reasoning, but why kidnap women from different races? You didn’t think they would talk to each other, but they did and they are hunting for the perpetrator. Though they don’t seem to know to look at their own ruling body.”
“It is Amos,” he repeats with a frown, clutching his cane harder like he’s imagining smacking me with it. “But yes, I suppose I owe you somewhat of an explanation. First, Dawn, how did you become a skinwalker?”
I debate my options, but I honestly don’t really know much, so I don’t see the harm in telling him. “I was murdered and buried, I was on death’s door when I...just didn’t die. I woke up and crawled from the grave and became what I am now.”
“The thing is, Dawn, our bloodlines are weakening. Each time another is born, their blood is diluted from interhuman breeding and supernaturals losing their powers. Humans are becoming the dominant species with the original gods gone, while more and more are born with latent blood running through their veins...waiting to be activated. Essentially, we are speaking of a whole army’s worth of supernaturals trapped in a sheep’s body. I think that happened to you.”
I grit my teeth as he carries on, what a prick.
“When you woke in the ground, so close to death, you had a choice. Yes, I see it in your eyes, you remember the moment. You chose life, you chose to keep fighting, and in doing so your body changed to keep you alive, your very cells evolving until you became what you are now. But those awakened do not always have the traditional blood of their ancestors, they are adapting. Whether it be the environment or human blood, some are stronger, their powers untold...like you.”
I do remember the moment he’s talking about, where I chose rage instead of peace. I chose to come back for revenge, to hurt those who hurt me. It was then the pain started and I changed—he’s right.
“And others?”
“Others are subspecies, not human and not enough to be one of us. Abominations.”
I snort. “Wow, monsters snubbing other monsters, and here I thought only humans were such assholes.”
“Whether you like it or not, Dawn, we are evolving, we must keep the lines as pure as we can.”
I lean forward. “That’s not all, is it? To me it sounds like a last-ditch effort. You said your numbers are dwindling, the humans are dominant, and I don’t think you like that. I believe you are trying to build an army…but for what? To take over? To make those you deem worthy in charge again? It would be chaos, humans will always come out on top. We are better off sticking to the shadows, we are monsters, after all.”
He sighs. “I can see you don’t understand yet, you will, maybe with a bit of effort and pain, you will see what we are trying to do is for the best of us all.” He stands, still clutching his cane.
“Doubt it, but please try. I do enjoy a bit of torture, really gets my blood going if you know what I mean.” I wink and he turns away, then he stops before Veyo.
“Break her, I want her obedient, I have plans for her,” he instructs, and sweeps from the room.
Veyo calls out, and guards with the glowing medallions—witch magic—step into the room.