Chapter 24
CHAPTER
TWENTY-FOUR
Iris
T he woman speaking reminds me of Pen, but with a touch of the Monarch due to her no holds barred speech.
Pen is a woman full of passion, one that stays back and bides her time. This woman seems like she’d march in anywhere, do anything, and damn the consequences.
That’s Pen when she chooses her time to take up something, whether it’s confronting the Monarch who I happen to know is her sister. Or sticking up for Violet.
She adores Violet. That’s not hard to do. Violet’s perfection without the self-righteousness that comes with it. And anyone who’s on Vi’s side and has her back, is someone I love.
So I can see the passion in the woman, that same strength, but she has the sharp tongue of the Monarch, one who will tear strips off others to get her own way.
And I agree with her.
“If the Council kept to the Upper Side, to the rich enclaves only of society, then I wouldn’t give a fuck,” she says. “If these people want the rules they’ve come up with and want to segregate themselves from us, they can.” The woman pauses. “If the Council kept out of our lives.”
“The world does need law and order,” someone pipes up. “We’ve read the history books, the ones that don’t whitewash everything into the soft focus the Council likes.”
“Exactly,” another person says. “We all want change, right?”
A cheer goes up. And a shout: “Nightshade!”
“But the Council won’t let us have that change,” the woman says. “The Nightshades must take it. By any means, and if that means ousting the rich, everyone else, we should.”
I take a step and Killian pulls me to him. “What did I say about being quiet. Listen and don’t speak.”
“Why don’t you say something,” I whisper. “This isn’t right.”
“And what is? She isn’t wrong, but Val is on the extreme side of it. Her ways won’t happen, they can’t, but she has ideas.”
So I listen.
“Good luck with that,” someone shouts. “We take it and what? Distribute, form a system where we’re all equal? That doesn’t work other than in theory. It’s why the big packs that exist have hierarchies. They have money, and others don’t. The world needs balance, Val.”
The history book connoisseur speaks up again. “Take away the only system of law and order and we’re left in chaos. That doesn’t help anyone.”
“I’m not advocating chaos, Chase,” Val snaps, “I’m just stating we need change. We need a voice. And we don’t have one. A government is meant to be for the people, not the rich.”
That blows up into a fight and I can see she’s right. But she’s wrong too. I look at Killian. I don’t know where Xavier went, but it isn’t the time to ask that. “The rich aren’t just Alphas and Omegas. It’s everyone. If this is about class, it should be changed by bringing it to the Council.”
“Na?ve little girl. Don’t you think it’s been tried? This is the head of the Council. But most places, the Councils don’t listen. Rich is rich and have their own rules,” Killian mutters as they battle out the pros and cons of bringing down the Council or bringing about reform.
“We’re as much a victim to the whims of the Council as everyone else.”
“With servants. In giant houses. With lots of money.” He shakes his head.
“You won’t get rid of the rich,” I whisper. “Quinn’s Beta…my friend. And so many don’t want to play the game. But no one wants to be ousted or to?—”
“Maybe,” Killian says, “we need to find a way to infiltrate the Council.”
His words spark off a new debate and someone else takes the stage. The talk runs the spectrum from some kind of sit-in to bombs, which is nixed.
But I’m full of delight, even though I disagree with some of the extreme ends of the ideas, the underlying ideology is one a lot of society could get behind.
Right now, same sex couples are soft-banned here.
Two men can’t walk down the street holding hands and though no one’s about to get arrested, especially in the Lower Side and in the towns and countryside of Sabine, I know how harsh is it for those who fall for someone outside their circle.
Omegas are forbidden to mate with Deltas or Gammas, since their unions are always fruitless.
And thus unwanted.
Same with Alphas.
Two Alphas can work, but never two Omegas. And if you happen to fall for someone of your own sex, or want to break away from the norms the way most of this room have, the person would be shunned, cut off, their life and their family’s lives destroyed.
So those people keep it under cover.
I’ve heard rumors of the clubs that exist, clandestine, for those to be how they really are. But they’re also all mated or searching for a mate and dress and act like everyone else in society.
I’m sure there must be a lot of people willing to join the cause.
And if there are enough, then Sophine would have to listen. Wouldn’t she?
“Killian,” I whisper, “wouldn’t it be better to seek an audience with Sophine?”
“How?” he asks. “Do you have an idea?”
The man in the kilt is close enough to overhear. “Does the pretty, badly dressed Omega have a plan?”
His voice carries and the room quietens and I think I see Killian smile as he turns away. But I’m imagining it because he turns to glare at me as he steps back to gesture for me to talk.
“I just mean,” I say, “wouldn’t it be better to talk to her when she’s open to it, rather than force our way in? It’s your Council as much as the Upper Side’s. So someone here should have a say.”
Someone starts laughing. “And how do we do that, Upper Side girl?”
It’s the woman, Val, but her eyes are sharp as she waits.
“By getting a place on the board. No one’s running so?—”
“How?” Killian asks, sarcasm laced through his tone. “There would have to be an opening.”
“There is,” I say. “There’s a seat open. All it would take is someone like Val to show they have a big following, that the Lower Side seeks representation on the board. It’s a way in.”
“That would be nice, but there are no Council members from the Lower Side for a reason. They don’t want us to have a voice. They’re scared we’ll rile up the rich and then where will they be?” Killian asks. “Sophine won’t talk to us.”
“I’ll try,” I say.
They all turn as one and stare at me.
“And how would you do that, little girl?” someone asks.
I gulp, struggling to get my breath. “M-my sister’s mate. He has an in. I can ask.”
“To be on the Council?” Val says. “I’m sorry, but you must be what, eighteen, nineteen? They wouldn’t let an Omega of child birthing years have a career.”
I want to argue, but I can’t.
“Not for a seat, but…I can try to get your message to her. Through Stephan. I can ask him, see if he can convince the Monarch to give me another audience.” I seek out Killian, his eyes burn with something, but I can’t read them.
The room crowds and I can smell him and then a mix of scents, not one of them Xavier.
And damn, do I want that calming, solid presence of him here now, more than ever.
The one thing I’m not though, is a girl who backs down from things.
I’m not Violet with her anxiety.
I’m me.
I don’t really know who I am, but I want to find out.
“Why would she do that?” Killian asks.
“Because,” I say, “I’m one of her chosen.”
I don’t mention I was late, and I don’t mention what Stephan’s in is.
“And if I get in to see her, I’ll do everything to get on her good side and gain favor and hopefully open that door you need opened.”