"Yes," I confirm, forcing my voice to stay steady. Through my network of deals, I can sense Dmitri's hand in this, the vampire's corruption spreading like poison. "And here's the worst part. According to my sources, Dmitri himself requested this specific team. He told the Council that Stellan representsan 'existential threat to the established order' and needs to be neutralized before he 'inspires others to reject their proper essence classifications.'"
My nature can see the larger pattern. This isn't just about Stellan. It's about making an example, about terrorizing every rejected Magila into submission.
Stellan's voice is barely a whisper. "He wants to terrify the other students into compliance," I correct, my mind already working through possibilities. "If they see a phoenix, a creature of legend, brought down by the Council, they'll be too afraid to step out of line themselves."
"This is personal for him too," Skye adds quietly. "Remember what we learned about Akila. About Liz. Dmitri's been manipulating this system for decades, maybe centuries. We're not just a threat to the Council's order. We're a threat to everything he's built."
Jade slams his fist on the wall, leaving a scorch mark. "So what do we do? Run? Fight? There has to be something."
I've been thinking about this since I got the intel, running every scenario through my calculations. "We can't run. The wards are still too strong, and even if we got out, they'd hunt us down. Fugitives from the Council don't last long."
"And we can't fight," Harlow adds, his tactical mind working through the same calculations. "Even if we could take down three hunters, which is questionable, we'd be declaring war on the Council. They'd send armies."
Rumi's laugh is bitter. "So we just let them take him? Watch them strip Stellan's essence and turn him into a shell? Fuck that. I'll fight the entire Council myself if I have to."
"We don't fight," Skye says slowly, and his Praestes mind races. "We expose them. We make it public. If the hunters are going to declare Stellan dangerous no matter what he does, then we need witnesses. Lots of witnesses. Make it so theycan't quietly eliminate him without the entire Magila world watching."
My power surges with approval. Yes. That's the loophole in Dmitri's plan.
"That could work," I say, my mind already weaving bargains, invisible threads of possibility weaving through my consciousness. "If enough people see Stellan demonstrate perfect control, and then see the hunters declare him dangerous anyway, it would raise questions about the Council's methods."
"Questions they can silence," Jade points out. "They control the narrative."
"Not anymore," I say, a plan crystallizing in my mind. "Not if we control the narrative first. I have contacts in the independent Magila press, journalists who aren't on the Council's payroll. If we can get them here, get them to witness and broadcast the test, then the Council can't bury the truth."
I'm already calculating the deals I'll need, the prices I'll have to pay. A few days of warmth here, the ability to taste sweetness there, some minor memories I rarely access. It won't be cheap, but my mates are worth any cost.
Skye's eyes light up. "A public demonstration. Not just for the hunters, but for everyone. We show the world what Stellan really is. Not a threat, but a miracle."
"And when the hunters try to strip his essence anyway," Harlow continues, catching on, "the whole world will see the Council's corruption firsthand."
It's elegant. Risky as hell, but elegant.
"This plan," I say carefully, needing them to understand the full scope. "It's dangerous. If it fails, we don't just lose Stellan. We expose all of us. The Council will come for every one of us."
Skye meets my eyes, determination and fear warring in his expression. "I know. But we're already exposed, Ambrose. The moment Stellan transformed, the moment we bonded, themoment we chose each other over the system, we became targets. This is just us choosing to fight back."
I pull him into a brief, fierce hug. My power wraps protectively around both of us, and, I can feel how much he needs this reassurance. "For what it's worth, I'm glad we're doing this. I'm tired of hiding what I am. What we are."
"Me too," Skye murmurs against my shoulder.
When the others leave, Skye doesn't follow immediately. He walks with me back to my quarters, lingering by the door as I settle at my desk, watching me with those warm brown eyes that see too much.
"You're going to exhaust yourself," he says quietly. "Writing all those deals, paying all those prices. I can feel it. You're already running cold."
"I'll be fine."
"Ambrose." He crosses the room in three steps and takes my face in his hands. His palms are warm against my chilled skin. "Let me help."
"You can't pay the price for my bargains, little human. That's not how it works."
"No. But I can help you feel warm again." His thumb traces my cheekbone. "I can remind you what you're fighting for."
The offer hangs between us. I should refuse. Should send him back to bed, back to the others, back to safety. But I'm so cold, and he's so warm, and the void inside me aches for his light.
"Skye..."
He kisses me before I can finish the protest.
