shared with Serena felt lumpy and too hard. The last few years had stripped away his enjoyment of life with his mate. Not that he’d known how to relax before becoming an elder, or during, but with Serena it had been easier to begin with.
His back ached, probably due to his risky hunt a few days ago. He hadn’t told Serena about hunting without an air filtration device. Ten minutes in the Nexus hadn’t been long enough to repair the damage the wolf had done to him.
The risk, though, had been worth it. The blood from that kill had meant each of his charges got one small measure. A token gesture and in no way meant to satiate, but with it came a boost in spirits that had been flagging for weeks. Now, it appeared the elders’ presence was doing that.
Thinking of the four weakened his resolve, made him feel like less of an Indigene. Anger did not make him a good leader. Fighting his anger made him soft.
He turned to the wall, expecting to find Serena next to him, but she was not there. He touched the mattress, feeling the warmth of her hotter-than-normal Indigene body, lingering on the sheet. She hadn’t been gone long.
With no reason to linger, he got up. The private quarters carved out of the omicron rock dulled his abilities too much. He hated how he struggled these days to sense the moods of his charges or to see their auras in bright colours. But, as Serena kept reminding him, he could not be “on” all the time. Their soundproofed quarters offered him a peace he no longer enjoyed; peace had been rare, even before he’d become an elder. But his faulty senses irritated him more than he let on to Serena.
He opened the door and a rush of emotions hit him. A jumbled mess of feelings, thoughts and moods all at once—nothing that alarmed him. A rush like this was common when he switched off his abilities, or, in his case, the rock switched them off for him.
The emotions dipped suddenly, like an abating gust of wind. Ignoring the stone steps, Stephen stepped off the top tier and jumped down to ground level. A deep shudder ran through his legs and reminded him he was alive. But the levelling of emotions, dominated by a sense of relief that the four elders were here, reminded him that his charges no longer trusted him.
Stephen exited the space through one of the access tunnels, moving at a fast and even pace. What he wouldn’t give to hunt right now. But with the elders staying for an indefinite length of time, he didn’t want to give them a new reason to find fault with his leadership.
He sensed Serena in the Central Core and headed there. Maybe she could send some of her influencing calm his way. Just enough so he could think clearly.
The crowds in the Core stunned him. He looked around the space, packed with more Indigenes than usual. They huddled, not in the usual small groups, but in a larger one. They appeared to surround someone.
Stephen searched for Serena, sensing her deep in the crowd. He pushed his way through, irritated at how long it took for some to notice him there, or to make way. Colourful green and blue auras intermixed to make a ribbon of turquoise overhead. That should have pleased him, but he knew their better mood was not because of him.
‘Excuse me,’ he murmured to those around.
The crowd loosened their hold on the space the farther in he got. And that’s when he saw Serena.
She was standing between Emile and Marie, while Maxime and Clara looked on.
Why didn’t anyone call for him? He stopped among his charges.
Emile’s smile widened briefly when he noticed Stephen. Serena flashed him a look of apology. He would speak to her later about this.
He stepped closer to the four. ‘What’s going on, Emile?’
‘Stephen!’ Emile gestured him forward. ‘We started without you.’
He frowned at the elder, younger than Gabriel by three years. ‘Started what?’
‘A new way of doing things around here.’
He stiffened at Emile’s words. ‘I beg your pardon?’
Emile fanned his hands. ‘Please, do not misunderstand me. Marie and I took a walk last night while you were asleep. We spoke to your charges, many of whom said you have placed restrictions on hunting.’
It was not him who had restricted hunting practices, but the ITF and their peace treaty.
‘We are only permitted to kill one animal a day. You have the same restrictions in your district. This should not come as a surprise.’ Stephen failed to keep the anger out of his voice.
Emile smiled again while Maxime and Clara stood like a pair of emotionless clones, staring at the floor and nodding at whatever Emile said.
‘We understand the restrictions,’ Marie said, ‘but we also noticed how unhappy your charges are. We feel that a loosening of the restrictions will lift morale here.’
If they felt that way, they should have discussed it with him first.
Serena, what the hell?
In company, her shrug was barely imperceptible. Marie ambushed me outside our quarters. I had no time to get you.
Stephen lifted his chin. ‘The rules are in place to protect lives, Emile. I’d appreciate it if you’d discuss any ideas you have with me first.’
Emile fanned his hands again. Pierre used to do the same thing, but somehow when Emile did it, it seemed less genuine.
‘We are not here to take over, but we saw improvements that could be made now, not later. We didn’t want to wait.’
‘We want to hunt more. We hate the restrictions,’ shouted one of his charges.
All eyes were on Stephen, even the representatives of the district who’d voted him in to lead. But the representatives no longer decided things. Eight years ago, he had made the decision to rule democratically, something he was beginning to regret.
Audible and silent voices permeated the space. Only one reached him: Serena.
We may not have a choice here, she said.
That didn’t matter. He was in charge. What the majority wanted was not always in their best interest.
He ignored the many gazes on him, some hard and unyielding. ‘The restrictions remain in place. That’s what the treaty demands.’
Emile stepped forward. An innocent act to any bystander, but Stephen took it to be a move of aggression. He pitched one leg forward, in defence.
Emile froze in place and held his hands up. ‘What has happened here that we cannot have a civil discussion?’
Stephen snapped out of his hunting instinct and straightened up. ‘Speak.’
Emile lowered his hands. ‘The treaty is outdated and the other elders agree. You agreed to it. You must turn your back on it.’
The sets of eyes watching his response unsettled him. A new red bled into the sea of turquoise.
‘I would prefer to have this discussion in private.’
‘No, we will have it here. You claim to be a democratic district. Let’s see it in action.’
Something clicked with Stephen. ‘So that’s what this is about? You blame me for agreeing to the terms of the treaty. Yet, for the last eight years, you followed the rules. The minute we have a little trouble with the GS humans, which we dealt with alone, you now have your excuse. Tell me, did you vote as to which of the elders would come?’
Emile’s expression held no emotion. ‘We needed all elders to agree.’
‘And with Gabriel’s death and Margaux’s rescinded leadership, you had it?’ Stephen laughed and turned away. But when he caught the looks of pity and anger flashing in his charges’ eyes, he turned back to Emile. ‘If you think you know better, it’s all yours.’ He threw his hands up. ‘I’m done.’
Stephen stalked away; he heard someone follow him.
At the exit, Serena caught his arm. She spun him round. What are you doing? You need to fight for this place.
Stephen shucked her off and kept walking. ‘This place needs to fight for me.’