Destined (Darkin World Book 2)

Chapter Eight

"...have never had to witness the first, most agonizing change forced on your young." Wolfrick was speaking with someone. Breq couldn't lift her weight-laden eyelids, but she heard him close on her right side. "They may be pubescent, but they are still children. Believe me; it's horrifying."

"I can understand why your race would harbor ill-will against the witch who manufactured such a cruel curse, but why hate all of her race? Why hold her actions against her descendants?" Keilynn was the other speaker on Breq's left. It was just like her twin to hold a philosophical discussion over her sister's comatose body. With a shifter, no less.

"Because the witch who caused the harm is dead? Her kind make good surrogates."

Keilynn snorted, "I know you're just baiting me. You don't believe that any more than I do. Instead of all the hate for those who didn't directly cause you and yours harm, why can't we work toward forgiveness? We could become allies."

"Against whom?" Amazingly, Jaeger didn't sound as if his hackles were up at her twin's blunt appraisal of a millennia-old grievance.

"Have you heard the rumors of aether users being targeted during the war?"

Keilynn would believe in that conspiracy theory.

"Yes, but it's just a rumor. Besides, who would benefit?"

"Hell, for one." Breqlynn would have groaned if she could.

"Hell? You mean demons?"

"Yes," Keys sounded excited. Probably because the shifter wasn't trying to shove her into a psych ward. "There are those I'm in contact with," probably other conspiracy theory nerds, "who say two of the seals were destroyed in the war. That would mean their prison is weakened."

"Of course, only the seal keepers and their protectors would know if that were true. Are any of your contacts shaman?

The "seals" were tied to human souls. They were passed down through generations. Kill off all genetic descendants, and you broke a seal. Shaman were silent protectors of these seals and their families.

There was a hesitation in Keilynn's tone. "Not that I'm aware of. But we are now tied together - our families. Even if the bond can be broken." Wait, what? "Surely you can agree it would be better for you if our races could reach an accord."

"For me, no doubt. For all shifters, I'm not so certain." Wolfrick sucked in a breath, held it, then let it out slowly. "Look Keilynn, we've had a lot thrown at us in a short time. While I'm still in charge of all shifters' wellbeing, I need to put them first. That's not to say I'll reject your suggestion out-of-hand. I need time to consider it; how we can go about brokering a peace. If it's at all possible."

Breqlynn didn't care for their familiarity with one another. A green-eyed monster was peeking out of the darkness and zeroing in on her twin.

"I understand, Wolf." Yep, sharp needles were piercing Breq's gut. "But, see what can be done."

"I will, Keilynn." Jaeger paused, then, "What is your family name? I haven't found any witches -" that last was whispered "- with the Darrah family name. There is an obscure shaman clan that bears the name, but we know they're not your people."

"Darkin," Keys answered without hesitation.

Eyes finally popping open, Breq watched as the wolf king threw back his head and laughed. It was not a sound of merriment. "Of course, it is." Jaeger shook his head at Breqlynn when he noticed she was awake. "I'm sure you're hungry. I'll see what can be found in the kitchen."