Theo docked the boat expertly and, after disembarking himself, Hiro reached out a hand to help me step onto solid ground. It took me a moment to gain back my equilibrium as my body adjusted to the steadiness of the hard ground beneath my feet. The mood from the ride over had grown more tenuous the closer we drew to the hidden island. It didn’t help that I was picking up on the guys’ nervousness, which only helped to fuel my own. I really did not want to meet these people. I had finally escaped from someone who controlled every step of my life, and now I was about to step right back into that lifestyle. I wished I could just flick them off and keep things going the way they had been—just me, my guys, and Rini. Our own little family.

None of us knew what to expect from the Council. How they would react to the situation—my being a phoenix and the fact that the guys had kept me a secret—had me stressing out. Damien’s grandfather had made it sound as though we didn’t have a choice in this meeting and that the guys should all expect a punishment of some kind for “keeping me hidden”. The last thing I wanted was for them to be punished for what was my fault. I was the one who had wanted to keep myself separated from the shifter world—still intent on living my life as a human the way I had always planned. I was the one who had led Michael here, endangering myself and the others in the process.

Leaving the dock, we started the trek up the path. I tried to look around and take in the surroundings. This was where the guys had grown up, and I wanted to appreciate it, but my anxiety was eating at me too much to enjoy the trip. Maybe, if things went well, they’d be able to bring me back here someday. I wouldn’t hold out hope though. I was used to things in my life always going to shit, and my expectations for this meeting were no different. Hiro rubbed his thumb along my skin as we walked and I tried to memorize the feel of his skin on mine. The sound of tires crunching gravel had me looking up, and I spied a black SUV pulling to a stop in the large parking lot up ahead that seemed to belong to the marina. As promised, Damien’s grandfather was here to pick us up. Whether he was trying to be nice or trying to make sure I didn’t bolt, I couldn’t be sure.

I claimed a window seat and Theo sat next to me in middle row of the car. As I leaned my head back onto the headrest and closed my eyes, his hand gently found my leg, settling just above my knee. He rubbed small patterns into the fabric of my jeans and I took a deep breath, trying to let his touch soothe my Phoenix and I. The guys couldn’t seem to stop touching me, and I didn’t want them to.

The green scenery blurred past the window while we traveled and I turned my attention to absorbing the view. I spotted several small groupings of cabins in the woods, their size and elaborateness growing larger and fancier the further inland we went. Narrowing my eyes, I studied the landscape as it flew past while the guys all murmured around me. When I was sure about my observations, I turned to Theo.

“So… the houses are all different.” I realized how stupid that sounded the second it came out of my mouth, but most of my brain was still focused on freaking out about having to meet with the Council. “Let me rephrase that. The homes seem to be getting nicer the farther we go?” I couldn’t put my finger on it, but I hadn’t expected the shifter world to have such a clear division of class like that.

Theo looked over at me and leaned in. “The stronger packs, sleuths, etcetera live closer to the home of the Council. Groups containing mythologicals live the closest. Weaker and less influential groups live closer to the island’s coastline.” He didn’t sound happy about it, and I found comfort in that because the whole idea seemed fucked up.

“I didn’t expect it to be so monarchist.” I knew my voice was thick with snark. I wasn’t sure I was going to fit into shifter society when I already hated their social hierarchy. Why the hell couldn’t all the shifters be considered equals? I knew being a mythological automatically put me in a “higher class”. The idea was preposterous. I grew up in a shack with no money. I was never a popular girl in school. In fact, I’d rarely had any friends growing up. I wasn’t fancy. I was a pretty low maintenance person—a casual, jeans and a t-shirt kind of girl. There was nothing about me that made me better than anyone else, and I resented that idea in society. Just because someone was born a mythological shouldn’t automatically make them better than a normal animal shifter. Rini was a far nicer person than I was, and yet she was considered lower on the proverbial totem pole than I was? It was insane.

I tensed up the closer we got to the Council’s headquarters. Breaking through the treeline, I stilled and gaped through the front windshield. The clearing was easily the size of many football fields, and the massive wooden structure situated in the middle was several stories tall. Large glass windows were set into the log beams that made up the giant house—if you could even call the sprawling lodge before me a house. Dozens of chimneys jutted from the roofline, and decorative peaked roofs and balconies were in abundance.

“This is where the Council meets?”

“They live here along with their families.” It was Hiro who answered my question from the back seat.

God, I was so out of my depth here. I wasn’t ready for this. Wait. Is this the house Damien grew up in? I’d have to ask later because now was not that time.

The car rolled forward ominously and pulled to a stop in front of a large staircase that led to a wrap around porch and the main door. I didn’t want to admit it, but the lodge was gorgeous. I had never seen something so beautiful—albeit over the top—but the growing sense of dread had me wanting to leave, to forget about this whole summons and forget this island ever existed.

Taking a calming breath, I squared my shoulders and opened the car door, prepared to face whatever lay ahead and get the meeting over with.

* * *

I had wanted to scream when I was separated from my guys. Apparently, it was tradition; a stupid one in my opinion, that a shifter who was of age must face the Council alone to show their own strength and their respect to the ruling body. I stood before the large double doors of the council room in the lodge, trying to breathe deeply and evenly to lessen the shaking in my hands and arms. If I had to do this alone, I was going to put on the bravest face I possibly could. I had dealt with Michael for years. Yes, the people may want to try and control my future, to try and put me into a labeled box that they thought was best for me, but it didn’t seem as though they were planning to harm me. From what the guys and Rini had said, they were simply looking to expand the Phoenix numbers and, if anything, would be keeping me confined rather than physically harmed.

I began to trace the intricate pattern on the gold and green carpet with my eyes, unwilling to let anyone who may be monitoring see me pace or twitch. The lodge was as lush and palatial on the interior as the exterior. Obviously, they did very well for themselves, which made sense if they had been able to gift Killian a plane. The doors were pulled open to reveal a warm, plush sitting room with a large conference table. I couldn’t resist the raised eyebrow. This was their version of a court? It felt more like a study, albeit one that I would never be able to relax in.

I spared a glance at the men who had opened each of the doors. Really? Was that necessary? I couldn’t help but wonder what type of shifters they were to have gotten those jobs. Maybe they were bodyguards and this was an act? I’d have to pick Theo’s brain later. I was sure there wasn’t much about the Council that he didn’t know. A guard appeared behind me, pushing on my back to usher me inside.

“Don’t!” I whispered harshly but quietly. “Don’t touch me” I couldn’t help but flinch away and quickly step out of his reach. I felt bad when he looked confused and contrite, but my reaction to touch hadn’t changed outside of the guys and Rini. Moving into the room through the large double doors, I took in the environment. Seven men sat at the slightly elevated conference table, each studying me in turn, their expressions ranging from curiosity to mild interest, to outright hostility. The man who glared at me from the far end of the table instantly put my back up and my Phoenix hissed. She didn’t like him any better than I did. He appeared conventionally attractive if I let myself step back and study him, if not on the thin side. His hair was nearly golden, his cheeks rounded with a strong chin, his eyes a slate grey. Yet, despite his looks, I couldn’t help my repulsion. I wondered if a Phoenix had a mortal enemy, like a mongoose to a snake? My Phoenix was flipping and whirring in anger. She obviously did not like this man, and while we both feared the Council,we had no reason to hate this man in particular intrinsically. Yet, hate him I did. I instantly ran through the list of the council members’ alternate forms that the guys had drilled into me yesterday, trying to place him.

“Annika Coxx?” I pulled my eyes from the man who continued to glare at me in disgust.

“Yes, but I go by Nix.” I briefly wondered if I could change my last name. If Michael wasn’t actually my father, did I have to keep his name? I was sure that Damien or Theo would be able to help me figure it out, but now wasn’t the time to worry about it.

“Nix it is.” The dark haired, dark eyed man leaned toward me with a grin. This had to be Damien’s father. The resemblance was uncanny—the two nearly identical down to the wave in their hair. Damien’s father didn’t have his son’s warmth, though, despite the smile pasted across his face. Remembering their shared ancestry, I focused on the wall in my head, building brick after brick. My Phoenix added her strength to my wall, sealing the cracks in with her flames. I thought I saw him flinch but it was probably my imagination. “I hear that you’ve been keeping my son and his friends company—and that there has been some trouble.” His voice hardened slightly at the end of his sentence, his head cocking as he studied me.

“Damien is my friend.” My Phoenix shrieked at my refusal to claim him as more than that.

“Your friend?” The man who leaned forward had golden skin, a few shades lighter than Hiro’s. His eyes—which were as dark as his hair—were sharp and studious, but he didn’t evoke the instant feeling of dislike.

“Yes. I’ve become close friends with Damien, his friends, and a few other shifters as well.” I answered as politely as I could. Who the hell were they to question my friendships?

“Now, now gentlemen. This isn’t an inquisition. We’ve invited Nix here to meet with us so we can get to know one another.” The smooth voice that infiltrated the room came from the man sitting beside Damien’s father. He had light skin and styled brown hair that, while graying on the sides, was cut in a modern style—shorter on the sides than it was on the top. His clothing was sharp, formal, and the way he held himself screamed powerful. More than anything, though, it was his eyes that stood out: one blue and one brown. The difference was hypnotizing, and I found myself staring before I recovered my manners and averted my eyes. Damnit. I realized instantly that he must be the basilisk and there I was, like a damn fool, staring into the eyes of death itself. I hooked my arms behind my back as I tried to hide my shaking. I knew my breathing was picking up as I tried to keep my panic at bay.

“Nix, let me introduce you to the room.” My eyes were pulled back to Damien’s father. Motioning to my left, he started with the man I knew to be a dragon. “This is Councilman Adar Khan, Councilman Eito Ishida, Councilman Santiago Maldonado, and Councilman Marius Rahal.” He paused, skipping over himself as he motioned to the man next to him. “Then we have Councilman Drake Williams, Councilman Vallen Stepanov, and I am Councilman Raphael Lacroix.” I bowed my head to them in submission and reverence as Damien had taught me to do.

“It’s an honor meeting you.” I willed my muscles to stop shaking as I gave the customary greeting. Thank the universe that Rini and the guys had educated me on the ins and outs of etiquette. I had wanted to roll my eyes at them yesterday, but today I was immensely grateful that I had yet to make a misstep with this league of terrifyingly powerful men. I mean, the basilisk shifter alone could kill me with one look if he let his eyes shift.

“So how is it, Annika, that you, a girl with mythological powers, didn’t know about the shifter world until now?” This time the voice came from the closest end of the table, each word spoken slowly and with purpose. The man’s eyes were an unnatural shade that could almost be considered red, and I identified him as the cuelebre dragon, Councilman Khan. Knowing I was probably more powerful than him set me slightly at ease, and I made sure my posture was straight and strong.

I narrowed my eyes just a little, trying to force the quiver in my voice away and put as much confidence as I could muster into my answer. “Well, that kind of happens when you’ve been raised by a part-blood who keeps you hidden from the world of shifters for his own nefarious purposes. I knew I had powers, but I had no idea what I was or that shifters existed until I ended up in Alaska for school. I apparently did not live anywhere near other shifters, no one ever recognized me for what I was, or if they did they never approached me. For all I knew, I was a random mutation. While I hoped there were others like me, it seemed logical that since I never found anyone, I was safer keeping my peculiarities a secret.”

For the next half an hour the members of the board questioned me about my previous life. I tried my best to answer their questions while keeping my commentary as vague as possible. I realized that they needed to know about the trouble I’d brought to their doorstep, but I wasn’t about to open my mouth and spill a lifetime worth of hurtful memories. I knew not trying to meet them in the middle wouldn’t end well for me.

“So one can infer that this part-blood…” the term sounded so derogatory as it spits from his lips, “… tried to provoke your shift using violent measures since you were a young child?” Councilman Rahal spoke. Councilman Rahal was huge, towering over most of the other members and rippling with muscles. His head was shaved except for a single strip of jet-black hair down the center, highlighting his dark, golden skin.

Clenching my teeth, I tried to steady my racing heart. I hadn’t said as much, but this group of men each held their seat on the Council for a reason. Double checking my mental barriers, I realized that they had easily read between the lines. Taking a deep breath, I tried to calm down. Even though I didn’t want to answer, I gave a brisk nod. My palms were sweating, and my muscles ached from the tension I was holding in my body. I had no doubt that they were powerful enough to ruin the rest of my life if they were so inclined. The level of danger my Phoenix and I were in just standing in this room with such powerful shifters didn’t go unnoticed by either of us.

“Thank you for your cooperation thus far Ms. Coxx.” I steadfastly avoided eye contact with the snake but nodded sagely.

“We will track down this part-blood and punish him for his blatant disobedience of our laws—laws he is clearly familiar with. His scheming has cost this Council and community a mythological member for the past eighteen years. The sentence will be… severe.” Councilman Maldonado spoke with a heavy Puerto Rican accent, and the menace in his words made me shiver. There was a thick evil aura around him, and my Phoenix flapped wildly, warning me away from the darkness in him. My heart rate increased as vestiges of my past bombarded me. I fought to breathe and slow the pace of my racing heart. I was sure the whole board of men before me could hear my distress and I hated it.

Murmurs of assent rose from each member of the Council. “Nix, thank you for meeting with us today. We are happy to welcome you into our culture. It is an unbelievable benefit to our kind that a Phoenix still lives. While it is encouraging that you have begun making friends, it is the responsibility of rare shifters to take mates.”

“Mates?” The word came out of my suddenly dry throat as a squeak, and I could have kicked myself. I knew this about the shifter community; I just hadn’t expected them to bring it up with me.

“Extending our heritage through children is incredibly important. Even more so for shifters who are incredibly rare, as you are.” Damien’s father’s eyes were warm and sympathetic, but I wanted to wash my brain out with soap. I couldn’t believe they were giving me a glossed over version of the sex talk.

“With that in mind, and with your statement that you’re not mated, we would like to proceed with introducing you into our society. This usually happens over a number of years once a youth reaches sixteen. While the Gala is important—you can ask your friends to fill you in on the details—it won’t happen for some time yet. Instead, we would like to throw a social gathering, a small mixer; you could say, to widen your circle and introduce you to more shifters around your age.”

I bit my tongue, hard, hoping the pain would stop the words from falling out of my mouth telling them what they could do with their plans to use me as a broodmare. I wanted to claim my guys, tell the Council I wasn’t interested, but Damien had warned me against admitting that we were trying to see what a relationship between us could hold, that it wouldn’t be a wise opening move. “That may be interesting.” I forced the words between smiling lips. “However, I am a full-time student. I’m not sure that a party would fit into my schedule anytime soon.” I hoped the words came out cheerful and thankful as I was attempting them to. I couldn’t think of another way to politely reject their offer.

“Yes. You said you are in a full-time program. Studying criminal justice, is that correct?”

“Yes, sir.”

“That is quite a dangerous career choice, young lady, especially for a shifter as rare as you are. With Michael still on the loose—not for much longer I’m sure—it may be best for you to remain in the compound for the moment. As a rare shifter, you will, of course, be granted a stipend. While we encourage continuing education for our children, there are safer ways for you to obtain said education. It would also allow you to learn more about our culture, our customs, and our people. You have years of experience to make up for, young woman.”

I wanted to stick my tongue out at that slimy Councilman Stepanov. I could see the enjoyment in his eyes at the thought of ridding me of the future I had planned.

“With all due res-” Councilman Stepanov cut me off with a wave of his hand and a snort of disgust.

“That is a human saying, child. Anyone with a brain realizes that it is said as a front to a disrespectful statement, not a true showing of respect. You need the experience in our culture. You need to mate quickly. Even Phoenixes… ” his face was twisted in disgust at the word “… don’t always win out over death. You need to protect yourself, girl. Think of the future of our culture, not just of your petty wants.”

“Now, now, Stepanov.” Damien’s father interjected, a bright smile on his face as he clapped the man on the shoulder. “Don’t go frightening the child.” He turned back to me a sympathetic smile tugging his lips. “While our culture is important, it’s not only that which has us worried. I admire my boy and his friends for taking care of you, truly I do. As you can see, however, they aren’t trained guards. Would you consent to put your coursework on hold for awhile? Until we get the issue of your safety resolved, at least?”

Theo and others had warned me not to be rude, but there were some lines I wasn’t willing to cross, even for propriety’s sake and keeping the peace. “Councilmen, I appreciate the thought. However, Damien, Killian, Theo, Hiro, and Ryder have done so much for me. They are my friends. I’m not comfortable around many people, but I am comfortable with them. I have already experienced enough changes with discovering this culture. I need their help to balance me.”

Councilman Ishida leaned forward, his head cocked as he studied me. I wasn’t sure what his powers were, but I could have sworn the air around him sparkled slightly. “It is understandable that you want to be with friends. While your safety is a top priority, your mental health is to be considered as well.” Looking up and down the table at the other members of the Council, gauging their reactions, he turned back to me with a contemplative look. “Perhaps we can find you a group of female shifters that you would feel comfortable staying with.”

“My roommate is a shifter. I feel safe and comfortable with her.” I tried to interject on my behalf. There was no way in hell that I’d consent to stay with random females I didn’t know. I felt the walls of my heart constricting as I thought about every time I had been thrust into new foster homes. I was never sure what I would encounter when I walked through a new door, and this felt eerily similar as it threw me into memories and past emotions.

“The bear shifter.” The heavily accented voice of Councilman Maldonado practically spit the words like an insult. “You can’t possibly think a regular animal shifter is strong enough to keep you safe should another threat occur. If anything, she would be a mere distraction, a blip on a more powerful shifters radar.” I bristled at his contempt for regular animal shifters and his insult aimed at my best friend, but I bit my cheek and held my tongue. I needed to pick my battles, and this wasn’t one to engage in.

“Surely we must have some strong mythological females staying on campus.” Councilmen Ishida kept pushing. What was his deal?

“Gentlemen. While misguided in the way they handled finding an undocumented mythological, the boys only wanted to protect this female and bring her into our fold slowly so they would not overwhelm her.” The smooth voice of Damien’s father promptly silenced the room, and I could tell he was often the voice of reason, the peacekeeper, among the Council. It was easy to see where Damien got some of his traits. “I feel, for the moment, that Nix is perfectly safe with the boys while we discuss some options for her future.” Turning to me, he addressed me directly, “Nix, everything about your particular situation is unprecedented. I cannot tell you the last time a full-blooded mythological grew up outside our community. As such, there are difficult decisions as to your housing, safety, and training that need to be made. For now…” He enunciated those last two words, stressing that his next decree was temporary, “I think it would be best for you to stay with the boys while we work out options for your future.” I pressed my lips together, trying to keep myself from speaking. Blasphemous things would spill from my lips if I gave them the opportunity. The idea that a group of old men would be deciding my future only exacerbated the already tenuous regard I held for the Council. Trying not to let my contempt show, I gave a short nod.

Smiling at me, Damien’s father nodded in my direction. “Go ahead. I can see you have something you would like to say.”

“Thank you, for letting me stay with the guys… for now.” I couldn’t help the small bit of sass at the end of my statement. “However, I have a problem with the school. I’ve recently been informed that I need to return to living in the dorm. It appears my absence has been noted and since I’m a freshman, living there is a requirement.” As soon as I opened my mouth and spoke those words, I worried that I’d just added provocation for the Council to push their agenda against my schooling. However, I had been stewing over the encounter I’d had with the academic advisor. My moving back to the dorms was a problem with or without the Council’s interference. While I had a mixture of emotions over the subject, it wasn’t hard to admit to myself that I loved staying with the guys. Part of me worried about depending on others too much, afraid of being let down, while the other part of me reveled in finding a family of my choosing and overcoming my triggers and past.

“Ah. Let me ease your fears. We will take care of the issue with the college. You are to return and live with Hiro, Ryder, Theo, Killian, and my son, Damien. Furthermore, I will have a talk with the boys in regards to your safety when you leave the house for classes and other activities. We will coordinate bodyguards.”

“They have been taking me to classes, but I know it’s becoming a hardship while they manage their own jobs and responsibilities.” I hated to admit that I may be becoming a burden. Guilt once again swamped me for bringing them all into the saga that was my life.

“If you will consent to guards on campus, and promise to make every effort to mingle and explore our culture, then I would assume we wouldn’t have to make so drastic of a change to your lifestyle quite yet as long as safety doesn’t become an issue. This will give us all time to discuss the issue further and make a more educated decision.” Ishida threw a scathing look in Councilman Lacroix’s direction. He didn’t look happy about consenting to let me stay with the guys.

I wanted to flip these self-important, conceited, classist men off and storm out. Instead, I swallowed the words down. At least this was one fear behind me for the time being. They weren’t immediately removing me from my family. I nodded slowly, as if I was considering their offer. “Thank you, Councilman. If the guards on campus could be discrete, I really don’t need more attention drawn to me than necessary. What kind of commitment to mingle in your culture are you expecting? I already spend all my days at a college full of shifters and the rest of the time with nine shifters.”

Councilman Rahal snorted, waving a hand through the air. “You have much to learn about shifter classes, child. The friends you are making are instilling bad habits into you. You are an elite mythological shifter. You need to focus on developing relationships with other elites. The animal shifters you associate with are not a part of an elite’s world. Even the little band that Damien Lacroix is involved in is more—varied—than we’d prefer for one of your status.”

I bit my cheek hard to stop the flow of angry words, tasting the blood that filled my mouth. A slight hissing noise drew my eyes to Councilman Maldonado. His eyes were hard and dark, yet a wild light flickered in them. I swallowed rapidly, hoping to clear the blood from my tongue. I had forgotten my warning about him. Even my impenetrable Damien stated his name with awe. “My friendships with them are important to me, but I am willing to learn more about your societal classes. From there, who knows.” I angled my head toward the floor, fighting my Phoenix with every breath as I tried to show submission to this group in front of me.

“The first step is to organize this little gathering. Nothing too large, mind you. A simple gathering. Damien and his friends would be invited to attend as long as you agree to clearly make an effort to expand your horizons.” Councilman Lacroix dangled this little line in front of me, clearly knowing I would be unable to resist. There was no way I’d go to a party full of potentially dangerous shifters without the guys, let alone the fact that I wouldn’t know anyone else there. I felt my body tensing even more as I thought about being surrounded by strangers. Dangerous strangers. My Phoenix cawed in my head, reassuring me she was strong. I wasn’t worried about her though; I was worried about myself. Shaking off the downward spiral, I tried to ease my mind, answering the men waiting patiently for my response. “Additionally, there is one other—request—we have for you. After everything you have been through, we believe it is important to have your health monitored. There is a shifter-run clinic on site. We would like you to undergo a simple check-up and a few non-invasive tests. It is standard for any of our people who are injured. Given your history, we would also like to check your overall health and development.”

I wanted to object—desperately—but I wasn’t sure how to. The request was invasive but wasn’t off-the-wall enough to account for my refusal. Objecting to them, and having to explain why I was not willing to undergo basic medical testing, would be even more embarrassing than undergoing the tests. “I am honored at your interest, Councilmen. I look forward to learning about my people.” I knew my smile had faltered in my disgust, and I did my best to will it back into position. With a nod of my head—I couldn’t bring myself to bow, and a curtsy felt ridiculous in my pants—I turned and strode from the room. My Phoenix hissed, already on edge and irritated from the session, not liking me turning my back on a room full of threats.

I let the thud of the doors closing echo behind me before letting my breath out in a rush. I needed my guys, and I needed them now.