Chapter 20
History.
Henley
As soon as I finish breakfast, I am summoned to Uncle Ferno’s office. When Parker and I walk in together, my heart sinks when I see King Basilicus sitting there too.
Something’s happened.
“You asked to see me.” I don’t step further than necessary to shut the door behind me.
“Yes.” Uncle Ferno waves a hand toward a couple of chairs across from his desk. “Please sit, Henley.”
I sit down hard on the chair. I know that whatever he is going to say isn’t good. But it isn’t Uncle Ferno that begins talking.
King Basilicus turns his unnerving eyes on me. “Do you remember the history text you read while you were visiting my home?”
I nod.
That text had been interesting. It was old and had been a set of stories passed down verbally that somebody eventually wrote down.
However, none of the stories portrayed phoenixes in a favorable light.
All the works claimed that we were power hungry.
There was even a portrait inside that showed a phoenix overpowering the Grim Reaper.
However, it read more like a horror book for children than actual history.
“It turns out that somebody else had a copy of that same book,” he says. “They have copied the book onto the internet.”
My ears begin to ring.
I think I’m going to be sick.
I take a slow breath through my nose. “So now the supernatural community thinks that those stories are true—they think we are monsters.”
Uncle Ferno leans forward onto his desk. “That isn’t all, I’m afraid.”
How can it possibly get worse? I’ve read that book, and I know exactly how it portrays us. If supernaturals believe it to be true, then they will believe that we’re monsters.
“They have asked for others to join them.” Uncle Ferno rubs a hand over his face. “They’ve vowed to never let phoenixes have power again, and they said they will stop at nothing to get to us.”
But what more can we do? We already have an island full of supernaturals who are willing to protect us.
There are more in the towns surrounding our islands—there is no way for them to get through.
And even if one of two rogue supernaturals slips through the cracks, I know that Alpha Devin vets each alpha and their pack that comes.
I know that King Basilicus handpicked each dragon shifter.
The elves and fae have made vows to protect us, which I have been told they take very seriously.
Eventually, this battle is going to come to a head, and we’re going to have to fight. We can’t just stay locked away forever.
“Nobody who has been here believes anything that was released.” King Basilicus stands from his chair and walks closer.
“We’ve all seen the kindness of the phoenixes.
To tell you the truth, dragon shifters see a bit of ourselves in you.
We have never been through a hardship like you have, but we have faced genocide.
We know what it is like to be hated for being powerful. You will not stand alone in this.”
He never breaks eye contact as he says it, and I believe him. The dragons will stand by us, and I know wolf shifters will, too. This group thinks they can manipulate people into fearing us, but that’s not going to happen.
King Basilicus leans against Uncle Ferno’s desk. “There is only one way to quell this story that has come out about you.”
I lift an eyebrow. “And what is that?”
“You need to come forward and speak to the public.” He rubs a hand along the scruff on his jaw.
“It’s the only way. Anybody who has seen you and has spoken with you knows that there is only goodness in your heart.
The supernatural world needs to see it too.
And you are their queen—even if you haven’t been crowned yet, magic chose you.
This isn’t something King Ferno can do for you. It has to be you.”
I swallow hard. “How do I speak to the public?”
He grins. “Through the internet, of course. We’ll do a livestream.
I’ve done plenty of them over the years—not all dragons live on the island.
It’s the quickest way to get information out there.
The humans may not have magic, but they are very crafty with their technology. We use it to our advantage, too.”
A livestream.
I have zero experience with public speaking, and I have no idea what I would even say. How am I supposed to convince others that phoenixes aren’t evil? I am nowhere near qualified for this job.
“Why can’t Uncle Ferno do it?” I look up and meet King Basilicus’s hard stare. “I have no experience. Not to mention, I’ll be extremely nervous.”
“The public doesn’t need to hear from a polished politician. Your uncle is used to speaking to large crowds, but you’re genuine. I believe you’re who they need to see.” He stands up straighter. “Will you be willing to do this? For your people.”
I swallow hard.
It’s not like I exactly have a choice. I can’t allow my people to suffer just because I’m too afraid to give a speech. And if King Basilicus is insisting that I’m the only one who can do it, it’s not like I have a choice. He’s the one with all the experience.
Slowly, I nod. “Yes. I will do it.”
He grins. “Excellent. I will schedule the event for tomorrow morning—we want to give enough time for the word to get out. The more people who are watching, the better.”
I think I’d prefer fewer people, but I don’t voice the thought out loud.
King Basilicus pats my shoulder as he walks past my chair. “Chin up, Princess Henley. You are about to make history.”
He walks out the door, but his words aren’t the comfort he thinks they are. Making history is the last thing I want to do.
All I wanted was a peaceful life in Montana with Parker’s pack. Instead, I’m here, trying to figure out how to be a queen.
Uncle Ferno clears his throat. “Are you all right, Henley?”
I nod. “Yes. I’m just overwhelmed.”
Parker laces our fingers together. “You’re going to do great.”
Of course, he thinks so. He’s my mate.
“You’re not in this alone,” Uncle Ferno says. “You have an entire community backing you and cheering for you.”
He’s right, but it does little to soothe my fraying nerves.
Parker
That afternoon, while King Basilicus and King Ferno help Henley prepare for her speech the following day, I meet with Will and Blaine to discuss everything that happened.
Blaine is rightfully nervous—his mate is a phoenix too, albeit one with a smaller target.
All we want is to protect our mates and their people.
“Have you read the book?” Will crosses his arms over his chest. “It’s awful. It portrays a single phoenix killing an entire pack of wolf shifters.”
“Which is ridiculous.” Blaine’s face turns red in his anger, and his eyes flash between amber and blue. “Phoenixes are strong, but they’re not all powerful. We’ve already proven that they can be killed. What is this group even trying to prove?”
“The group believes a lie.” I rub a hand at the back of my head.
“There is no reasoning with that kind of lunacy. They’ve been taught fear and panic, and it has been passed down through the centuries from family to family.
As insane as they are, we have to take them seriously.
All it would take to end the phoenix community is for them to come after Henley. ”
“We will protect her,” Will promises. “She may be a princess and the future queen, but she is our luna.”
His words ease the ache in my chest.
Will’s right—Henley is important to the phoenixes, but she’s also important to us for a different reason.
“Every wolf shifter will protect Henley.” I let out a breath as I glance toward Blaine. “They’ll protect Keagan for the exact same reason.”
Blaine’s eyes fade back to their normal shade of blue. “You’re right—we’d never allow harm to come to another wolf shifter’s mate. We protect our own.”
“Exactly,” I say. “And even though this shadowy group has wolf shifter members, they don’t have enough to stand against us all.”
“But like you said—they don’t need to stand against us all.” Will lifts on eyebrow. “They only need Henley.”
I swallow hard.
I don’t like the sound of that, but I have to trust that my pack will protect her. King Basilicus has taken a personal interest in her well being. That has to be enough. Because there is no me without her.
“This group is unhinged. Once Henley makes her speech tomorrow, they will retaliate,” I say. “And when they do, we’ll be ready.”
Will shifts his weight. “You already know that I’ll protect Henley with my life.”
Blaine glances between Will and me. “I will, too, but I have my own mate to protect.”
“Keagan should come first for you. You should be with her and protect her. Henley has her guards and me,” I say. I know how this bond feels, and I know that Blaine is worried about his mate. He shouldn’t feel guilty for choosing her over Henley. It’s the way it’s supposed to be.
Blaine’s shoulders slump in relief. “Thank you. I love Henley, and it would kill me if anything happened to her, but I have to protect Keagan.”
“I know.” I put a hand on his shoulder. “Tomorrow is going to be an insane day. You should be with her.”
“I will,” Blaine says.
Will clenches his jaw. “And I will be with you and Henley.”
“Thank you,” I tell Will.
It’s nice to know that Will is there to protect Henley when I’m not. I know he would do anything to protect her, and I trust him.
Maybe everything will be all right. I have to believe that it will. Henley is my world, and I’ll do whatever it takes to protect her.