22. ~Nyx~ #3
The next was Darian Syl, a Vampire-Light Fae hybrid who was only nineteen years of age with a compact yet toned physique.
He was lounging back in his seat, both arms draped over two empty ones on either side of him.
He had white-blond hair that fell just past his jaw, tucked behind his ears.
He was wearing soft, layered clothes in various pastel shades.
Kael Dravon was a Djinn-Werewolf hybrid who looked to be in his late thirties with a lean build.
He had dark auburn hair that was spiked with a whole lot of product.
The exposed skin of his arms and chest in a low-cut black sheer tank was glowing with red and orange tattoos in an otherworldly manner.
We all exchanged pleasantries, then Warlow stepped into the Speaker’s Circle, and told us, “We’re just waiting on one more member, then we’ll officially get started.
In the meantime, I want to say that I’m overjoyed that so many of you accepted my offer to become a part of Crossborn.
The courage and strength that it took for each of you to leave the shadows and take a step forward in this manner isn’t lost on me, nor the Guardian Movement as a whole.
You share the vision of improving the lives of hybrids across the supernatural world, of giving those like us a place to belong, providing safety and opportunity that has been beyond the grasp of far too many for far too long.
We will achieve that goal. We will make a difference.
And I thank you, for stepping up to become a part of that. ”
Applause sounded, Darian even whooping, and I smiled out at the room, elated to be a part of this whole thing that would serve to change so much in the most amazing ways.
Footsteps sounded, and we all swung our heads to see somebody striding into the room with a confident swagger.
He looked college-age like a few of us. He had short, dark-brown with green streaks in it and piercing steel-gray eyes. He was a well-built guy, dressed like he was ready for battle, in black combat gear, even wearing steel-toe boots.
As I took him in, I heard Warlow introduce him as Lazriel Thaine, a Werewolf-Vampire hybrid. Unlike the rest of us on this team, he had been born a hybrid like Warlow, not created through experiments.
“Had an assignment to hand in at Wraeven Academy,” he told the room to explain the delay with him getting here, but he didn’t actually offer any apologies for showing up late.
As he approached where we were all sitting, walking with the air of a fighter, I noticed the prominent scars all over his neck and dipping below his top as well. There were even a couple of slashes over the left side of his face.
“Have a seat,” Warlow told him. “We’ve only just begun.”
Lazriel gave him a chin lift, then took each of us in as he approached the seating area.
I watched, curiously, as his gaze zoned in on Velra who’d sat down a couple of seats over from me, all of us spacing out along the length of the row.
His eyes fixed on her and the corner of his mouth turned up, before he then sank into a seat right beside her on her left side, his biceps brushing her as he did.
A hiss of indignation escaped her, but it only made his devious smile widen. “Really something, aren’t you, Wraithqueen .”
Hmm. He’d figured out what she was immediately.
She glared at him, a puff of ice smoke whispering across his face.
It had obviously been intended to bother him, but he groaned instead, and reveled in it.
“Is that what you do with all those you’re charmed by?” he asked her with a devilish wink.
“Not picking up on anything even remotely close to charm, Fangboy .”
Darian burst out laughing.
Lazriel stared into her haunting amethyst eyes. “Not bad. But I’m Grade A prime wolf first and foremost, actually, love. We’ll work on it.”
Warlow let out a barely perceptible low growl that had Lazriel jarring, then snapping his attention to the Speaker’s Circle.
It had been some sort of wolf command, a show of wolf-like authority that Warlow had needed to employ with him.
It absolutely worked, Lazriel settling down from then on out—aside from a few sneaking glances at Velra every now and then.
The meeting progressed, all of us getting down to business.
“You all know why you’re here, so now let’s discuss the Three Pillars of Crossborn.
These will be our goals at the outset. How we will achieve said goals is something we will decide upon together, bringing each of our unique hybrid experiences to the table.
” He took a beat, then went on, “The Three Pillars are as follows. Identification, which involves finding hybrids who are either hidden or being held captive. Advocacy, which will include assisting them to navigate the supernatural world in all areas necessary. Protection, which will encompass any physical threat, as well as ensuring the law evolves to safeguard hybrid beings, too. We’re also going to discuss your thoughts about hybrid needs so we can begin to alter the way that current supernatural governance fails to account for hybrid physiology or magic.
We’ll even partner with Ryker Morgan to conduct an overview of syllabus alterations at academies, and Mia Snow regarding Coven curriculums, as well as even the Unity Council to better account for hybrid needs.
We aim to create a world where hybrids not only survive, but thrive. ”
He'd barely uttered the last word, when applause rang out and we were all clapping and cheering.
Years we’d been hoping for a change like this.
And now, here it was—and here we were—about to start on the road toward making that an actual reality.
I couldn’t believe it.
But I was undoubtedly here for it.