Page 127 of Shrouded in the Dark

The beautiful woman shifted in her seat. “I’m Volinda. I’m also one of the leaders and a necromancer. I’m sure Gary has told you about us.” Her fingers waved in the air. “We’re all here to discuss what we should do in regards to the Venandi’s attack on the Fae and their violation against their treaty.” She looked at the Fae. “This is Tarragon.”

The Fae moved his head slightly in a nod. “Shifters. It’s been some time since I’ve seen one of you. You’ve learned to blend in with the humans very well.”

“It is necessary to save our lives from the hunters.” Jasper’s tone was cool and detached. That was kind of hot, not going to lie.

Becca clutched my knee under the table. It looked like she’d also done the same with Jasper.

“Tarragon has already advised us that the leaders of his people here have determined that the Venandi will be destroyed,” Volinda spoke and I noticed it looked like she held her nose up.

“The curse that was placed on the agreement should it be broken has been activated. We’ve decided to use the magic against all that call themselves Venandi. I will be the chosen vessel to carry the curse and it will strike them within the next week. It will weaken their forces significantly,” Tarragon spoke quietly. He hadn’t stopped staring at us since we came inside the room. “We are here to propose a temporary alliance. We are looking for the resistance to assist us with taking them out after we’ve released the curse magic.”

“You don’t want to risk your own people, even though most of you could probably wave your hand and have Texas under the ocean in minutes. Including yourself.” Jasper glanced around the table. “I’m sure I’m not the only one who wants to know why.”

The Fae flashed a grin. His teeth were sharp. No one could mistake him for a human with those nasty buggers.

“Smart, one of the first astute observations.” He moved his left shoulder in a shrug. “We do not wish to punish the humans in the area for the stupid actions of this group.”

Even I knew that was a load of bullshit.

“I’m just going to put this out there.” Jasper looked straight at Tarragon. “We will not let you try to use shifters as cannon fodder. You’re going to have to work with the resistance on equal footing and come to an agreement before any shifters would begin to consider helping.”

That pissed off the male. His aura whipped out in anger, causing the lights behind him to dim.

Becca stiffened next to me and I placed a hand on her back. She could see it as well.

“Come now. You knew this when we spoke before the shifters got here, Tarragon.” Lario brought everyone’s attention to him by placing his feet on the table, crossing one leg over the other. “Shifters are not slaves anymore. Not to mention, they have long memories. They remember what the Fae did by abandoning them to the Venandi.”

The energy around Tarragon dissipated just as suddenly as it appeared. The Fae threw his head back and laughed. It hurt my ears.

“It was worth a shot.” He shrugged his one shoulder again. “Alright. We aren’t prepared to garner the attention of the human government just now. That means staying in the shadows. What does the resistance ask for?”

Jasper placed his hands in front of him on the table, his fingers on his left hand tapping on the desk. I could tell that he was annoyed.

Gary had been quiet, he was watching the exchanges with a calculating look on his face. Something was going on that I didn’t understand.

Abram flipped open a binder that was in front of him. “We’re willing to help, but we want to retain the building and all the research materials inside. We also won’t allow children to be killed.”

“We’re not monsters.” Tarragon grinned, his teeth showing, which I was starting to realize was a sign of aggression.“All we care about is wiping out their numbers.”

Right. Super convincing.

“What will your people be doing while we breach their defenses?” Abram picked up a pen that had been next to the binder.

“I have volunteered to be the one there to release the curse's backlash upon them.” Tarragon made an annoyed noise. “We would prefer to leave the actual killing to you.”

“That’s a load of bullshit!” Becca jolted from her seat next to me and slapped the table with her hands. “Even I can tell you’re holding back a shit ton of information!”

I pulled her back down by the back of her seat hurriedly. Shit.

Tarragon turned his full focus on her, his eyes narrowing as he looked her over slowly. Something moved behind his constricted pupils.

Silence filled the room, the only sound was the soft movements in the air from the fan above us.

“Finally. Someone who isn’t afraid to be blunt.” The menacing aura wrapped around the Fae like dark tentacles. “Of course my species has an agenda. It doesn’t have anything to do with the resistance. We’re offering to let you take care of a mutual enemy, ending years of death caused by these humans.” He looked around the table, pausing on the three leaders before looking back to Becca, who dug her nails into my leg. “If you don’t agree, we will slaughter everyone in that compound and burn it to the ground.” Finality rang in his voice. Guess he was done talking.

Take it or leave it, huh?

“They took something from you.” Lario hadn’t moved, much less blinked, while the conversation continued. “That’s the true objective.”