The Aetherfae Read Online Free PDF Page A

correct, Sherman,” Ozara said, silencing the gathering. “Regardless of whether our chosen path was doomed to failure, our current problem is more pressing. In the future, if order is maintained, perhaps we can look at a different policy. The crisis at hand dictates that we leave those questions for another time. I would like to entertain fresh ideas on how best to proceed.”
    Zarkus stroked his broad chin, twisting the pure white whiskers on his goatee to a point. “The Second must be destroyed. I always thought it impossible for the original clans to overcome their differences. Alas, those differences were the key to our respective rise to power. If we are to believe this new evidence, however, it would answer a great many questions. If the clans unite under the Second and we remain at odds with one another, we will all be destroyed. As individual clans we are outnumbered. But with the Seelie and Unseelie united together, the original clans would not dare to confront us.”
    Sherman gagged on the word, “Together?”
    “Yes, Sherman, together,” Zarkus said.
    “I’m not entirely comfortable with it myself, but it does make some sense,” Ozara said.
    “It makes no sense,” Victoria countered. “For all we know, the Second is an Unseelie and these killings have been carefully orchestrated. I will never agree to it.”
    Zarkus glared at her. “I can assure you, we have nothing to do with this.”
    Ozara nodded in agreement while the Council carefully watched her reaction. Aunt May’s warning roared back into my head. She said the Unseelie were involved. My stomach was more than a thousand miles away, but I could feel the nausea over the distance. Still, I had no idea what was going on, and that made me feel helpless.
    A crack of thunder across the lake caught everyone’s attention. All eyes stared beyond the green haze. The Seelie guards standing just beyond the Aether barrier focused on the storm while the Unseelie guards filtered between them, staring as several more bolts cracked across the sky. Beyond the Aether, I could sense nothing. I guessed that no one on the Council could either. I moved closer to Sherman and Victoria. They were standing the furthest from Ozara. As I moved, I felt every Council member channeling energy. Sherman turned his eyes back to Ozara and asked “What is it?”
    Before she could answer, more than thirty Seelie and Unseelie guards popped out of existence in bright flashes, a massive charge of energy rocking the Peninsula as they were destroyed. The remaining guards instantly shifted forms and dove toward the earth. At the Aether Barrier, green energy mixed from two difference sources in a thunderous clap. Ozara screeched a curse in the Fae tongue and forced a ball of Aether out over the lake. All eyes watched as it met with an invisible source and stopped, crackling across the water surface like a novelty store plasma ball under the touch of human hands. A ball of green energy shot back in our direction. Half the council had already taken natural form before it hit. Ozara managed the attack, and returned another barrage. It blew the invisible source away from shore and toward the center of the lake. From the top of the bluff, at our flank, bolts of lightning and Quint rocked us from behind.
    Sherman conjured Quint in roiling bands of energy on his hands, readying himself for a breach. It never came. Ozara expanded her shield to a quarter mile—her limit, I assumed. It felt weaker, but the attackers turned and escaped. I had to know the identity of the Second, even if that meant piercing Ozara’s barrier again. I waited until Quint made contact with Aether, and willed myself through it. I felt nothing, not even a hint of recognition from Ozara. Instead, I focused on the invisible source hovering over the lake. I moved close, sensing the energy, but something was wrong. Halfway there, my tether pulled violently, yanking backwards. Past me, both sides exchanged volleys of Aether.