Chapter Two – Grayson
Senator Jeremy White was useless. Not that Grayson really expected any different from the man. He was in so many pockets that it was a wonder how he had a single thought that was his own these days. The companies that donated to his campaign had gotten him here, although the legality of his actions during the election was up to debate. Still, Grayson had to explore every angle he could to force the mining companies and their subsidiaries to take responsibility for their actions.
"I understand your concern," the thin man said, his large, soulful eyes that had won hearts through the state staring wide-eyed at Grayson. "I really do. But think about it this way. This legislation that you are proposing will cost the taxpayers millions of dollars. They don't want to have to pay for these things."
"Are Shifter’s dollars worth less than those of non-shifters, or am I missing something?" Grayson snapped. "Are you saying that Shifter lives are less important?"
White's face reddened. He puffed up, straining at the buttons of his too-small dress shirt. "That is uncalled for. I am not a racist man. We can't bow down to every group that comes crying to us, thinking that they're being treated unfairly. If you don't like having a mine bringing prosperity to your home, you should just leave."
The senator sat down, nodding as though he had just said something that actually made sense. The fire inside Grayson rose with a growling sound. Both his hands clenched his chair. There was a time when he would have thought the best way to resolve things like this was to just punch his enemy until they didn't get back up. Sometimes he thought that would still be the best way to do things.
"Just leave," he repeated dryly. "Leave the homes that we have occupied for hundreds of years. Maybe I'll just open a mine near your home and see what you say then when it's your wife dead from the toxic runoff and your best friend slowly dying from it."
The senator sat back, snorting. Grayson could have kicked himself. This was exactly what he had been trying to avoid. Now he'd crossed the line and this 'threat' he had just made would be talked of throughout every dinner party. It was a bitter defeat, especially since he had been schooling himself all day to keep calm.
"There have been tests done with Shifters. Your kind can heal from anything."
"Shifters can only heal from certain things. Continually being poisoned by everything in our environment isn't one of them. You humans are so ignorant as to the basic necessities of Shifter life—" Grayson tasted smoke on his tongue and cut himself off. He took a deep breath. "The fact is that none of these things are happening in other non-shifter communities—"
"If you're so concerned about your Shifter communities, maybe you should be spending your time and money on them rather than wasting mine." The senator stood and straightened his suit jacket. "This meeting is over. I suggest you leave before I have you escorted out."
Grayson growled deep in his throat, but there was nothing left to be done. He marched from the senator's office, slamming the door behind him. Being involved in politics was new to him. Before Christine died, he was more than happy to let others do the fighting for him. As long as he was comfortable, that was all that mattered. The twins coming along had started to change things, and then Christine . . .
He wanted to fly and feel the wind on his face, but Shifting was prohibited in the city. He drove his Audi back to the communal garage at the Shifter settlement, then walked through the huge trees. He had fought to stop logging companies from taking down the massive Redwoods and, afterward, he decided to pay for the whole community to move there. They built their homes in the treetops. It made things like electricity and plumbing difficult, but claiming the skies had felt natural.
He undressed and Shifted, feeling the release of endorphins that always accompanied shedding his human form and claiming that of the Beast. Christine always loved to see him in his Dragon form. He flapped his wings, rising quickly from the ground. The rush of the wind and his fine-tuned sense of smell relaxed his tense muscles further.
So he had one setback. Senator White was never going to be on the Shifters' side and Grayson had known it. At least now he had personally measured up the man.
The twins were waiting for him on the porch, jumping up and down and pointing as he landed. Arabella knelt between them, an arm wrapped around their stomachs. She looked so at ease and natural with them that a little more of the weight eased from his shoulders. Over the past two days, since she had come into their lives, the twins had blossomed. He knew hiring a female nanny was the right choice. He didn't have any female friends or relatives, and he was a firm believer that all children needed some sort of influence from both men and women.
He landed in a screened room and threw on some pants before going to greet his children. They rushed him with cries of joy and he scooped them both into the air. He nuzzled his face into their hair. They smelled like oatmeal baby body wash. They were in their pajamas, too.
"All ready for bed?" he asked, carrying them inside.
"They wanted to say goodnight," Arabella said. "Now that you're home, it's time to go to sleep."
Olivia pouted but Hudson cuddled close to Grayson. "Night-night."
Arabella took the twins. Grayson went to the kitchen, rummaging around for something to eat. Soon, Arabella joined him. She started making him a sandwich, promising it would be the best grilled cheese he would ever have.
"So how was it?" she asked.
Grayson shook his head. "It didn't go well. But then again, Senator Jeremy White has only ever cared about what affects him."
"A lot of people are like that," Arabella mentioned.
"Doesn't make it right."
A moment of silence was broken by a sigh. "No. I don't suppose it does. What are you going to do? If the senator won't listen . . ."
"I'm not going to give up." His shoulders sagged and Arabella put a hand on his arm. Her touch was so comforting, so soft and warm, that he found himself leaning toward her as if she could fix his problems. Clearing his throat, he stepped back. "I'm not going to give up. My money can only do so much and this is a problem that needs to be cut out at the root. I am never going to give up."
Arabella shook her head, strangely not meeting his eye. "I wouldn't think you would. Here's your sandwich. I think I hear the children calling."