Chapter 126
Volik
“You must understand that this comes as a shock, and that people are reasonably worried.” The reporter keeps his eyes on Henry.
Henry nods. “One of my doctorates is in sociology, so I understand the desire of people to understand the world around them. But there is no reason for anyone to be worried.”
I promised to let Henry and Nix speak for themselves.
But their politeness is grating on my nerves.
First, I had to listen to Nix retell most of the kidnapping.
She insisted, saying it would build sympathy for the cause. And a good distraction from the sudden appearance of her horns.
Unlike with May Branock, we chose to do this interview as a public press conference with a handful of prescreened reporters using one shared camera feed. And the three of us stood together, with me in the middle, on the front steps of the admin building at Stalden University.
Henry refused to go into hiding, saying he would continue his position as dean.
I argued that he would be a target for unhinged civilians.
He argued that Orion was secretly filling the campus with shifters.
I quit arguing.
“Why now?” a woman asks.
“Miss Novak gave you that answer already,” Henry answers. “We would like to live our lives, same as you. We never intended to stay a secret forever, but deciding when…” He shrugs, looking harmless in his sweater vest. “Helping a friend in need seemed like the perfect time.”
“Were you at Versailles?” the same reporter asks.
I cut in. Done with the niceties. “No. It was me at Versailles.”
The reporters shift on their feet, and finally one lifts her hand.
I nod at her.
“Did you create the wormhole?”
I blink. Slowly.
“In some of the videos, the, um, wormhole was captured, outlined in a glowing goldish color. And then in the videos we saw your hand… glow a similar color.” She lets the statement hang.
And the assumption is the perfect way to keep the true answer hidden.
I do not confirm nor deny.
“I will not be sharing every secret I have. And I will remind you that neither do your governments.” The men in suits are no doubt watching. And reminders are always helpful.
“The dean tells us not to worry, but we saw what you did in that video. You killed a man with one hand.” A guy in the back speaks, but he stays hidden behind someone else.
I wish they could see me rolling my eyes. “He was a vampire. And I did not kill him.”
Silence for a moment, then the same man continues. “The spirit of the question remains.”
I tilt my head. “You did not ask a question. But to address your ludicrous statement, I could kill a man with one hand, using nothing but my muscles. And that is not new.” Nix makes a noise that sounds suspiciously like a muffled laugh.
“I will reiterate. The world has not changed, just your understanding of it. Shifters are not new. They have been around as long as your kind. Human mates are not new for Alts.” I lift my hand and press it to the center of Nix’s back, feeling her warmth.
“No humans were killed in the events at Versailles. Damages have been paid. Morell was a madman who threatened my mate.” I turn my head slightly and look directly at the camera.
“If you come after me or mine—and these wolves, they are mine—I will make what happened at The Trials look like a disagreement.” I let that sink in for a moment.
“We have caused you no harm. Make sure you can continue to claim the same.”
I dip my chin, signaling we are done.
Henry thanks the crowd, then turns and enters the building behind us.
I start to slide my arm around Nix’s side, so I can hug her to me and jump away.
She looks up at me.
And winks.
I narrow my eyes.
She takes a step away from me.
I start to step toward her.
And then… she jumps.
Nix. Jumps.
The reporters gasp as my human mate disappears into the sky, leaving behind a puff of orchids.
I grin. And then I chase her.