Free The Lycan Collapse (The Flux Age Book 2) by Steven J Shelley Page A

ideal world each species would be treated equally.”
    “Hear, hear,” said several leaders around the table.
    “So what can we do about that?” Hector said abruptly, stroking his beard. “I’m sorry to be so direct, but I’d like to take something tangible from this meeting tonight.”
    Yasmin eyed the aquilan leader. She didn’t know much about him other than he had a reputation as a practical man. She suspected that the aquila had been in contact with the lycans of New York, considering their close proximity. She thought she knew what the aquila were after. Dark tissue. That was a controversial topic for another time.
    “I want to talk about lore,” Yasmin said. “I’m sure many of you, like me, are still feeling your way. It’s not as if there are libraries of lore waiting for us when we discover our spirit creatures. We’ve come here from all the corners of the globe. It would make sense for us to pool our resources so we can all benefit from shared knowledge.”
    “May I have the floor?”
    It was Mother Aurora. The question was polite enough, but there was steel under her voice.
    Yasmin bowed and sat down. The Mother cleared her throat and spoke in a tightly controlled voice.
    “Again, I wish to thank Miss Silver for organizing this auspicious occasion,” Aurora began. “But I am forced to reject her notion of shared knowledge. It might make sense for the vampyra to access lore from other species, but we do not wish to reveal our strengths and weaknesses. To do so would put us at grave risk. I’m sorry if that seems callous, but the Lycan Society has the most to lose. I reject Yasmin Silver’s proposal.”
    Mother Aurora sat down again.
    Yasmin felt flushed with humiliation as she got to her feet. Had the whole night been a complete waste of time? How could the Mother shoot her down so publicly? Worse, she made it sound like Yasmin was suggesting shared lore for her own gain. As Yasmin considered her assembled guests, all she felt was anger.
    “I’m sorry the Lycan Society feels that way,” Yasmin said stiffly. “But then, it’s little surprise that the most powerful Flux species would have the most to protect.”
    The venom in Yasmin’s voice was unmistakeable. She simply didn’t care at that moment.
    “As for the rest of us,” Yasmin went on, “I wouldn’t think twice about sending items of lore to those who needed it. Apart from the lycans, we all need help. This goes beyond issues of security and power. It comes down to common human decency.”
    Yasmin sat down again, her eyes drilling holes through the table. After several moments of tense silence, Gustav cleared his throat.
    “I must say I agree with Miss Silver,” he rumbled. “I for one would support a knowledge sharing alliance with the vampyra.”
    Yasmin smiled at Gustav, and couldn’t help but notice Mother Aurora shutting her eyes as if to brace herself for something.
    More votes of confidence emerged from around the table. Bear, centaur, djinni and mer representatives strongly supported Yasmin’s proposition. There was even a wraith emissary who expressed enthusiasm for Yasmin’s idea.
    Just as the discussion was beginning to take flight Hector spoke in his commanding baritone, his eyes never leaving the Mother.
    “I would like to acknowledge the Mother’s reflections on the lycan position,” he said. “We should all remember what this remarkable society has done for humanity since the Dark Ages. Since the last Flux.”
    Hector’s words were greeted with strong murmurs of agreement. Yasmin noticed that Aurora’s eyes were still jammed shut.
    “The lycans have been our shield for an eternity,” Hector continued. “Our flame in the darkness.”
    The burly, imposing aquilan locked his hooded eyes on Mother Aurora.
    “Surely that weight of responsibility needs to be shared. Now that a Flux Age has begun we must all band together to protect humans from destroying each other.”
    This time the murmurs became claps.