Whirlwind Revolution (7 page)

“You have it on my honor as the heir royal of the felines,” Torr agreed immediately.

She didn’t even hesitate. “Then without a doubt I would choose you, Prince Torrance.” I really liked that woman.

“Thank you, Samantha. Everyone here need not agree with her and there will be no consequence for that other than stepping out of the room for the next part of the discussion or being detained for the next few hours. I promise. However, if you’re caught lying to me now, when the stakes are thus high, I cannot trust you and
that
will not be forgotten.”

Everyone nodded and started answering down the table. One by one they voted for Torr. Each affirmation in his favor seemed to lift some of the weight he was carrying on his shoulders. As someone who already cared for him, I was grateful for that.

And as someone who wanted all of us to survive the shit ahead, I was thankful for that. There couldn’t be dissention among the ranks.

“No one was lying, Director, and they all
very much
want the Prince to lead them,” I confirmed when all was said and done.

“Good,” he sighed. “The PP will fall before dawn. They knew of the human plot and have been maneuvering all paranormals to be easier victims for the plan, taking out strong leaders, and grouping species together in weaker groups. Your grace, the drive does not contain that proof as it was found out after I met with the malamute family I received it from. But they were detained when they brought it before the PP, confirming they knew by their lack of surprise to the news.”

“Director Woodrow, you do not need to convince me of the PP’s corruption,” Torr declared. “I have long known the lengths they would go to if it meant saving their own asses.”

“So what do we do now, your grace?” Samantha asked quietly. “How do we help our people?”

“For one, we inform all leaders of the programs your team came up with. If you could explain what we found, you know the technical aspects better than I do.”

“Of course. Director Woodrow, Director Fabian, I’m Samantha Grayson, securities and technology advisor to Prince Torrance.” They greeted each other, and she took a deep breath before continuing. “His grace was given reason by his father to suspect we were under surveillance about six months ago. He brought it to my attention, thinking it was his father’s doing in the King’s paranoid mind to get in front of a potential uprising.

“But it was true. We found wiretaps in place, tracking signatures on our electronic communications, and extra holds on our accounts as if someone was keeping track of assets. That last part makes more sense now that it’s the human government and not the King. We developed an emergency system for communication, plan
Box
, so that the Prince could communicate with all the different feline leaders if the time should ever arise.

“We also developed a software program to record normal conversations of our phone calls and splice them so more, false calls could be made on those same numbers being watched while any true communications we wanted kept quiet could be made by alternative means.”

“Would the felines be willing to share that software with others?” Director Fabian inquired, his tone cautious. “That has been our biggest setback so far. How not to alert the humans we know and keep up appearances.”

“We would.” Torr stared down the people in the room gaping at him. “Our allies warned us immediately to the threat, making sure to send a protector with an escape plan for the feline court. As such, we will do
whatever
we can to aid others to show our gratitude. Director Fabian, how many people can this stronghold hold that we’re being sent to?”

“I’d say a hundred thousand comfortably, more if we push it, but given this is probably a move for good, not pushing the numbers might be important. And we appreciate the aid, your grace. I knew it wise that you were a priority to protect. Your knowledge of the PP and instinctual grasp of the situation would be crucial.”

“And as heir I automatically get my father’s elder seat and can name other elders,” Torr drawled. “Cut the shit, Daniel. There’s too much at stake.”

There was a pause on the line before Director Fabian cleared his throat. “I’m sorry, could you repeat that?”

Torr’s head snapped to the phone as if he could really see the man. “You didn’t know?”

“That you can name elders? No. No, I didn’t know that,” he muttered. “I wanted the felines safe and without chaos in their ranks because you are some of the best fighters we have as paranormals and feline blood is very strong for my kind. And in the coming days that will be crucial for the survival of the vampires.”

“Then I apologize. I thought you knew.” Torr pinched the bridge of his nose and leaned his other hand on the table, the weariness of the situation already affecting him.

Hey, it was
epically big shit
after all.

“I don’t know this rule either, your grace. How does that work?” my director hedged.

Torr rubbed the back of his neck and hung his head as Samantha winced. Apparently they’d just given away something big.

“There are five PP elder positions that are automatic assigns in the event of an elder’s demise, any of the paranormals with royal families.”

“Meaning felines, elves, merfolk, belis, and trolls,” Director Fabian clarified.

“Yes. Our seats are automatic. If say the vampire elder is killed by whatever means, accidental or otherwise, the other remaining elders vote on the next elder as long as the crystal agrees and shines. In the event of a total PP annihilation, the five heirs chose the next elders with the gods blessing via the crystals.”

“We haven’t even gotten as far as thinking about naming the next elders to be honest, your grace,” Director Woodrow admitted. “This all just came to pass.”

“I understand, especially now, but it is part of what I’ve been brought up to know as my duty to my people and all paranormals. And it is essential in my rough plan for survival.”

“We’re all ears because so far all we have is getting my coven, Director Woodrow’s flock, and your court to my stronghold,” Director Fabian confessed, sounding exhausted.

“Each species brings a special aspect of survival to the table, are we in agreement on that point?” Torr ventured. He took a deep breath when they both agreed. “The vampires have the ability to cloak any stronghold while traveling undetected, but they need blood. We can provide that along with some of the best fighters, as you already said, Director Fabian. The owls have their flight, vision, and additional gifts other shifters do not possess.”

“Agreed. We would be well-prepared for any fight by combining,” Director Woodrow agreed.

“But not for the long haul and I believe we can do better. Elves and fae can affect plant life even indoors. We will need food in the days to come and farming will be out of the question. Casters’ magic is remarkable and will aid us as well. Merfolk or aquatic shifters could fish or carry messages when the sky might be out of bounds. Even gopher shifters can tunnel and—”

“You’re suggesting having one group of each kind at each escape stronghold?” Director Woodrow exclaimed. “That’s
ingenious
. I’m not sure they’d all agree or be able to get along since there’s a reason some stay separate. And which Alpha would—”

Torr interrupted, having a plan for that too apparently. He really was impressive. “There would be a new elder at each location to be the overall authority but each leader would still be in charge of their people.
Everyone
would have to give up freedoms to survive. They have to acknowledge and agree to that before being allowed into the safety of the respective community.

“But if governments like North and South Korea or the Middle Eastern nations and the US can all play nice enough together to kill us then there’s no reason we can’t figure out a way. I think in the name of survival any petty issues can be put aside or people can be left out in the cold to fight this threat on their own.”

“Agreed,” Director Fabian declared as everyone in the room nodded. “I simply can’t fathom how to implement the plan. We would need dozens of strongholds around the world and they just aren’t there, your grace.”

“But they could be. We need Emrys.”

“He’s a myth,” Director Woodrow groaned. “There’s no caster strong enough to use their magic to build a fortress as we would need and—”

“He’s
very
real, and I know where he is,” Torr countered. “The PP knows this which is why they’re such cowards for helping the humans. The humans might not take much stock in casters, thinking they’re fakes or one warlock who can give someone warts, but the PP might have told them otherwise. That’s why we also need to keep him safe.”

“You’re saying he’ll be at the top of the target list?” I clarified. Torr nodded but didn’t spare me even a glance.

“Yes. I know my father did everything in his power to keep Emrys his friend because he said no one would survive being the caster’s enemy. Emrys wiped his hands of politics and all the paranormal squabbles long, long ago. He’s a warrior, not a diplomat, and chooses not to lead. We
need
him and I for one know that the stronghold that has him within their walls will be the safest place on the planet. I’d like that to be ours.”

“Fuck yeah,” Director Fabian chuckled. “What do you need to make this happen?”

“Time.”

“We don’t have much of that, your grace,” Samantha worried as they shared a look.

“Which is why the moment this call is over I ask more than I should of you, my friend,” he rasped, rubbing his chest. “I need you to shift and run, find him, and bring him here. Your cheetah is the fastest we have and we need her now.”

“It will be done, your grace. I know the way to his home. I won’t fail you or our people in this.” Then she focused on me. “You protect our Prince while I’m gone or so fucking help me, owl, I will track you down and gut you.”

“With my life if that is what is required to keep him safe. You have my word,” I swore.

“And Hadley won’t break his word even if it means torture of the worst kind,” Director Woodrow offered. “I’ve seen proof of it.”

I tried not to flinch as all eyes were on me, questioning gazes wondering what he meant. Yeah, they could keep wondering. Some pains were too deep to ever share.

And words could never fully explain them either.

4

There was a catch of light in the corner of the room, and in a flash, I pushed Torr behind me as my hands shifted to talons. “Protect the Prince!”

“What’s happening?” Director Fabian bellowed.

“All my years of staying invisible in a room and no one has ever seen the reflection,” a man chuckled as he suddenly appeared. “Then again, I’ve not spent much time among owls. Very impressive, young warrior.”

“Glad you’re amused. Now who the fuck are you and why are you here?” I snarled, even as my heart raced, walking Torr towards the door—still behind me and blocking as much of him as I could—in case things went down badly.

“Would you let me see who it is, you mountain of a man?” Torr hissed and struggled to get out from around me.

“No,” I snapped, not even glancing at him. “I can feel his power, and there’s no
way
I’m letting an inch of you show.”

“Hadley, it’s okay, you can stand down,” Samantha assured me as she got to her feet, then dipped her head at the newcomer. “We wanted to find Emrys. Well, it was easy if he was in the room.”

“You’ve met him before?” I waited until she nodded before shifting my hands back, moving out from in front of Torr. “How long have you been a part of this meeting?”

“Since young Torrance made the decision to send Samantha to come find me,” he answered, ignoring the gasps in the room at the lack of title for their Prince.

“So only a few minutes, because I didn’t realize I was going to ask her until it hit me sending her was the best option of finding you,” Torr muttered, dipping his head. “Thank you for coming, Emrys. How much did you see?”

“See?” one of the advisors asked. Yeah, I seconded that.

“If he’s here, he was watching is my guess.” Torr shrugged and gestured for Emrys to take a seat, but the man shook his head. Okay, some of us could stay standing then.

“I dreamed last night you would have need for me, so I’ve been watching you all day to see what that would be,” he answered, completely unashamed at spying. “I skipped the parts I was sure you didn’t need me for.” The smirk on his face was almost amusing if it weren’t so disrespectful. “Nice to know
The Rite of Lineage
still happens.”

I saw Torr’s shoulders relax that the caster hadn’t seen us. Yeah, I figured the guy just had better manners than to out the man. Emrys shot me a quick glance I’m sure no one else caught, and I was pretty sure he’d heard my thoughts too. Great. Good thing I wasn’t thinking anything bad.

“Will you help us, Emrys?” Torr asked, ignoring the obvious comment on his sexual activities.

“If I agree the new elder should be in charge, then yes, I will build them a stronghold. But even I have limits, Torrance. I cannot build more than one a day and appear at new locations. That’s a considerable amount of strain on my person. I would need to be protected while I recharge.”