The Aetherfae Read Online Free Page B

decide what to do to my old clan, please note that the Unseelie have been banished as well,” she said in a seething tone. Disgust filled her face as she shot a fiery look at the Unseelie Elders. Zarkus showed no reaction. Clearly, Toci despised the Unseelie and her feelings seemed deeply rooted in her obvious hatred of seeing humans tortured. I had never considered that the original clans might have been involved in human sacrifice, nor had I heard of the border fights. Relationships among the original clans were more complex than I’d imagined.
    Playing diplomat, Ozara softened her tone. “Shall we allow bygones to be bygones? We, the Seelie and Unseelie, need one another right now.” What?
    “The Second is causing old divisions to resurface. We have long had our differences, it is true, but even through the Fae wars the original clans knew their boundaries. Is the world not a better place for our kind?”
    Zarkus laughed. “A better place for whom? For humans? Most certainly. What else should we allow them to destroy? How many species have met an untimely end at the hands of humans who foolishly spread in an attempt to quench their insatiable appetites for more? If not for your intervention last January, how much damage would their dubious addiction to fossil fuels have caused? Ozara, your edicts to abide the humans, to allow them free reign, have left our entire world in jeopardy. How is it you continue to ignore the obvious?”
    Ozara stared at him. “It is not our world, Zarkus. Claiming it is for millennia does not change the obviousness of that fact.”
    “They are but one species, Ozara. Tell me you do not long for the days before their pestilence. Do you not remember the beauty of Talemn Alainn before human hands transformed it? Were you not fond of, what do they call it, Manhattan, before its rape?”
    Ozara sighed. “I am not willing to address these issues right now. We are here to discuss an alliance to protect our interests. Our clans are at risk from the Second.”
    Toci interrupted. “You’re more at risk than you realize.”
    Both Zarkus and Ozara stared at her. They seemed bewildered and frightened by her comment. Ozara nodded.
    “I have news,” Toci began, “that I am sure you will find most disturbing. The Ometeo are sending an envoy—an envoy to seek out the Second.”
    “Toward what end,” Zarkus said in a dry voice.
    “Toward our end,” Ozara muttered angrily. What? What does that mean?
    “That would mean death for every Ometeo. They are certainly aware that they cannot stand against us,” Zarkus said.
    “They labor under no delusions. They are sending an envoy to contact the Second, and the Alux—all the southern clans, in fact. They spoke of ending the hegemony of the two clans.”
    “Hegemony?” Ozara scoffed.
    “Yes,” Toci replied. “They live under our rules—rules they have followed for thousands of years. They believe now the time may be ripe to make new treaties with the Second. They see this as an opportunity to decide their own future. They fear Unseelie rule as much as they do Seelie. To them, we are both hegemonic powers bent on enforcing our will. The question is, what will we do in response? I fear all the clans will be watching.”
    Sherman shook his head. “I have feared this. We all have. We knew one day our power would be challenged.”
    Ozara turned to him. “And what would you have us do? We have protected the human race. You above all have sought the same protections.”
    “Indeed, I have,” Sherman said. “That has always been my ultimate goal, but with any goal there are always different courses of action to take. Removing all Fae influence from the human race has proven unworkable. Had we directed them, I believe we would have done a better job of protecting them.”
    Several Council members agreed with Sherman. I did. It was exactly what Aunt May told me the day she handed me the Earth stone and told me about the trials.
    “Perhaps you’re