Resigned to the fact that his time with River was over, Nikhail nodded. “All right. Give me ten minutes, and I’ll be there.”
The witch took his leave, telling Nikhail he had to collect a few more people. It wasn’t until he was out of sight that Nikhail turned back to River.
“I’m sorry, River, but I have to go.” He had never hated his job until this very moment.
She smiled gently, understanding passing through her gaze. “I get it. This isn’t my first time dealing with a military man, you know.”
“No, I suppose it isn’t.” He tugged his suit jacket more firmly over her shoulders. “We have a few minutes. What were you saying before he arrived?”
“I… we can talk about it later.” Rising on her toes, River’s lips brushed across his cheek. “Be safe, Nik.”
And gods, if those words didn’t warm him more than anyfire ever could.
River dropped back to her feet, but his hands were on her a moment later. He drew her back to him, capturing her mouth with his and kissing her properly. Thoroughly.
He didn’t want her to doubt the truth of his words when he pulled away, his breath ghosting over her lips.
“I’ll stay safe and come back to you, River,” he whispered. “Nothing in the world could keep me from you.”
That was a promise he would do anything to keep.
CHAPTER 19
Death is Hiding in the Wings
“Death is hiding in the wings, preparing to sweep through the Republic!”
Nalon Winterthread, a white-haired Fortune Elf with dark brown skin, stood from his seat across the long oval table and slammed his fist onto the dark surface. “I have Seen it! My team has Seen it! It iscoming. Tonight was a sign that should not be ignored.”
Tension seeped off the Western Region Representative in waves. Nikhail bristled, the air thickening from where he sat on the other side of the large conference room. He’d been on edge for hours, ever since the Night Corps had shadowed him to the Hub.
The shiny black government building was one of the most guarded places in the Central Region, and there were dozens of soldiers stationed within its walls. They weren’t the source of Nikhail’s unease, though. No, that came from the material the building was carved from.
Prohiberis, the magic-blocking substance that was mined inthe Northern Region, surrounded them on all sides. It rendered every single person in this space powerless.
Silence had replaced the wind’s constant murmur in his ears, and the quiet made him feel jittery. He hated being in the Hub, hated feeling like he’d been born Without.
Was this what the prisoners in the Pit felt like? The prison was reserved for the worst of the worst, and everyone contained within its walls wore prohiberis shackles to stifle their power.
But that was the nature of this building, the very reason it had been constructed.
The Hub was the only place in the Republic of Balance where magic was not welcome. Here, everyone was on equal footing. Decisions could be made without powerful beings flexing their strength. Arguments could be had without devolving into magical duels as they apparently had when the Republic of Balance had first been formed.
Like the Choosing, the Hub was meant to encourage unity across the various beings who called this land their home.
From where Nikhail sat next to Ryker, he didn’t see much unity. If anything, the lack of magic was just making everyone anxious. At first, it had just been unsettling, but as the hours had passed, the room grew more and more agitated. Empty take-out coffee cups were littered across the table, and people’s yawns were becoming more pronounced.
Ryker was drumming his fingers on his armrest, although his unease might’ve been less from the prohiberis and more because he’d had to part with his wife outside the Hub. Brynleigh hadn’t been allowed inside, even though she’d shadowed Ryker here. The guards had been clear: authorized personnel were the only ones permitted through the doors.
For her part, Brynleigh hadn’t seemed too upset. She’d kissed Ryker on the cheek, and after a few murmuredgoodbyes, she’d departed in a flurry of shadows. Ryker and Nikhail had entered the Hub together. If Nikhail’s best friend noticed that he was without his suit jacket, he hadn’t said anything. There hadn’t been any time.
They’d been herded to a checkpoint where security guards had scanned them for weapons. After that, they’d walked through three metal detectors before making it to the Hub’s central room. The conference room was an architectural feat, and it housed a giant oval table that could easily seat two hundred people.
Every chair, save one, was occupied. There was an equal mix of Representatives and military officers present. Even Tertia Waterborn was here, glaring daggers at the Fortune Elf who had convened this emergency meeting. The Waterborn matriarch had made her displeasure at being summoned in the middle of her party known the moment she’d arrived.
The empty chair belonged to Representative Grave Blackwing, and he was the reason the emergency meeting had been convened.
Representative Blackwing was a crow shifter from the Northern Region, and his bloody, mutilated body had been discovered a few hours ago. The murder scene had been particularly brutal, and even though the pictures were no longer projected on the wall, Nikhail would never forget them.