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Authors: Jennifer Thibeault
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human, despite his leanthan heritage, since the mutation didn’t fully manifest itself until later generations. Only the tiny points at the top and bottom of his pupils hinted at the change that would be so striking in the modern leanthans.
Never one to wear the corporate straightjacket that many of his “board members” seemed to live in, Arratta wore dark blue jeans with a black tank top underneath a well-fitting leather jacket. His black combat boots skimmed silently across the sidewalk as he crossed to the door. He moved with a grace that seemed impossible for a man standing well over six feet tall, with a body thick with muscles from years of mixed martial arts training.
He pulled a large set of keys from his jacket pocket and carefully unlocked each of the five bolts that ran down the side of the large steel door. While he knew that such precautions would do nothing against any immortal creature, he had no desire to clean up the kind of mess that humans made when they decided to take up residence in what they assume is an abandoned building.
The small room just inside the door looked just as one would expect. It revealed nothing of the true nature of the structure. Only those who passed the next set of secured doors had any idea that this was the headquarters of a multi-million dollar organization.
Arratta flipped the switch on the wall once he’d passed through the second set of doors. Illumination flowed over the large open room, used for meetings, rallies and training. The right side of the room was flanked with rolls of mats that he laid across the room when he led battle exercises.
Today, though, the room was empty. He called his board in to meet with him tonight, in just a few hours, but now Arratta had some business to take care of. He had something very serious to think about and an important decision to make.
There had been a rebellion the week before. One of his strongest lieutenants led a band of leanthans in the acquisition of a warehouse down the street from their headquarters. Arratta had denied Leus the request to move forward with the raid but Arratta found out the next day that Leus disregarded his command and in the process blew the cover of the entire organization, when the rest of the teams weren’t ready to fight.
On the plus side, Arratta now had an extra holding that would come in handy when the real fight began. Still, he had never been one to let insubordination go unpunished. Public humiliation was only fitting. Tonight, he would meet with Leus in front of all the other lieutenants in his army. Make an example of the rebel, while securing the loyalty of the rest. The question now, was whether to allow Leus to remain a commander in the leanthan army or strip him of his title and hold him in custody until the battle ended. Whichever choice he makes would likely control the fate of all the leanthans.
Chapter Five
“Let’s say this whole thing is true.” Abby attempted to sound casual, her face losing all color and revealing her fear. “What does that make me and Alex?”
“Human right now. And you can stay that way if that’s what you prefer. Or you can join us. You each have the choice. To live your life as if you were one of them, or to follow your heritage, accept your destiny and become part of our team. To become a guardian.”
Bradley walked around the table, the first time abandoning his position of power at the head of the table. Stepping past Abby’s chair, he stopped abruptly behind Sam, grabbed hold on the back of the leather chair and swiveled it away from Abby, pointing Sam at the open door to the foyer. “You will be marked, like all those before you.” He gently moved Sam’s hair away from the back of her neck to reveal Sam’s tattoo to Abby.
It was a small pair of wings, the mark of an angel. As Abby watched, the tattoo changed expanding on the delicate wings to include a small dagger directly between the two.
“Sam and Vance have joined
Never one to wear the corporate straightjacket that many of his “board members” seemed to live in, Arratta wore dark blue jeans with a black tank top underneath a well-fitting leather jacket. His black combat boots skimmed silently across the sidewalk as he crossed to the door. He moved with a grace that seemed impossible for a man standing well over six feet tall, with a body thick with muscles from years of mixed martial arts training.
He pulled a large set of keys from his jacket pocket and carefully unlocked each of the five bolts that ran down the side of the large steel door. While he knew that such precautions would do nothing against any immortal creature, he had no desire to clean up the kind of mess that humans made when they decided to take up residence in what they assume is an abandoned building.
The small room just inside the door looked just as one would expect. It revealed nothing of the true nature of the structure. Only those who passed the next set of secured doors had any idea that this was the headquarters of a multi-million dollar organization.
Arratta flipped the switch on the wall once he’d passed through the second set of doors. Illumination flowed over the large open room, used for meetings, rallies and training. The right side of the room was flanked with rolls of mats that he laid across the room when he led battle exercises.
Today, though, the room was empty. He called his board in to meet with him tonight, in just a few hours, but now Arratta had some business to take care of. He had something very serious to think about and an important decision to make.
There had been a rebellion the week before. One of his strongest lieutenants led a band of leanthans in the acquisition of a warehouse down the street from their headquarters. Arratta had denied Leus the request to move forward with the raid but Arratta found out the next day that Leus disregarded his command and in the process blew the cover of the entire organization, when the rest of the teams weren’t ready to fight.
On the plus side, Arratta now had an extra holding that would come in handy when the real fight began. Still, he had never been one to let insubordination go unpunished. Public humiliation was only fitting. Tonight, he would meet with Leus in front of all the other lieutenants in his army. Make an example of the rebel, while securing the loyalty of the rest. The question now, was whether to allow Leus to remain a commander in the leanthan army or strip him of his title and hold him in custody until the battle ended. Whichever choice he makes would likely control the fate of all the leanthans.
Chapter Five
“Let’s say this whole thing is true.” Abby attempted to sound casual, her face losing all color and revealing her fear. “What does that make me and Alex?”
“Human right now. And you can stay that way if that’s what you prefer. Or you can join us. You each have the choice. To live your life as if you were one of them, or to follow your heritage, accept your destiny and become part of our team. To become a guardian.”
Bradley walked around the table, the first time abandoning his position of power at the head of the table. Stepping past Abby’s chair, he stopped abruptly behind Sam, grabbed hold on the back of the leather chair and swiveled it away from Abby, pointing Sam at the open door to the foyer. “You will be marked, like all those before you.” He gently moved Sam’s hair away from the back of her neck to reveal Sam’s tattoo to Abby.
It was a small pair of wings, the mark of an angel. As Abby watched, the tattoo changed expanding on the delicate wings to include a small dagger directly between the two.
“Sam and Vance have joined
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