Chapter 12

12

I ndy stood in the hallway, Deac next to him, watching everyone rushing around them. The call had come. The president had decided. It was a go. Thinking about it had been one thing, but the reality was something completely different. Indy had been unprepared for the emotions this moment would provoke, and he inhaled, held his breath, then slowly released it.

His heart raced, his hands were clammy, then he shook his hands out, trying to think of anything that would help him calm the fuck down. The last thing he needed was to have a full-on panic attack, especially when he was about to stand in front of the world and tell them what he was.

Deac moved next to him and whispered, "How much longer? I think I need to piss again."

"You went less than five minutes ago." Indy was not going to mention he needed a piss too. He'd been five times in the last thirty minutes alone.

"So did you, but you don't see my reminding you about it."

Indy chuckled, then coughed when a member of the president's security team glanced at him. He could feel how on edge they were and knew they were aware of what he and Deac were. Their nerves washed over his skin and made his tiger want to come out and play, but Indy remained stoic.

I am with you.

I wish you were actually with me, but this helps.

Deacon?

As nervous as I am. This is monumental. A change that can't be undone. All shifter lives will be affected.

You can still leave. You can still change course. I will support you either way.

I know, and thank you, but this needs to be done. We will not be hunted like the dogs they think we are.

Noise from the press briefing room filtered through, and Indy glanced at Deac, seeing his skin pale as the enormity of the situation truly hit. I think he just told them.

He did. I'm watching the announcement live with your family. I think your mother is about to faint.

Indy stepped forward, then held up his hands when a guard reached for his weapon. "Sorry. Nervous is all."

The guard didn't respond but kept a careful eye on him, his hand close to his side arm. Licking his lips, Indy nudged Deac, who glanced at him wide eyed. Deac blinked a couple of times, then breathed deeply, moving his head from side to side.

"Sounds like things are getting exciting in there." Indy detected the slight tremor in Deac's voice but said nothing. He was in the same position. Now he wished they'd decided to watch the announcement live, but the thought of watching it, then standing in front of everyone…

"He's told the world about us. Things are going to be interesting for a while now."

"As long as they don't want me to do interviews."

"We should let Manu and Preston handle that."

Deac coughed and turned to look at him, an incredulous look on his face. "What? Are you insane? They can only stand to be in the same room with each other if they're fucking, and you want to put them out on TV for people to see? They'll think we're nut jobs. Preston on his own could mess up everything. As soon as he opens his mouth, we'd be doomed."

"Please remain calm," the guard said.

Deac stared at him. "You haven't met them. Trust me, if you had, you would know what a huge mistake it would be to have them out there for everyone to see. Preston is batshit crazy."

The guard's lips twitched, but that was the only sign he heard what Deac said. "Remain calm, sir."

Deac stared at him, then looked at Indy, seeing the smile on his face. "You bastard."

Indy chuckled and paused when he heard their names mentioned. "I think my ass just twitched."

"Lovely. Between you and your ass and Manu and Preston's asses, we're having a great day."

"I have never seen you act like this. It's interesting."

"I've never been in a position where I'm about to stand next to the president and tell the world what I am. I'm allowed to have a moment of panic." Deac huffed, then closed his eyes. "I need a drink."

A woman came through the doorway that led to the briefing room. "He's ready for you now." Her calm voice helped Indy, and he took a couple of deep breaths, looked at Deac, and nodded.

"We're coming."

Indy followed her through the doorway, and she pointed to the stairs that led to the stage. Indy walked up them, Deac following, and soon stood on the stage next to the president. Jacques smiled at him and gave him a discreet thumbs up. He stood facing the audience, his heart racing in his chest, and his vision narrowed, seeing all the faces staring at him. The collar of his shirt dug into his neck, cutting off his ability to breathe. The world disappeared, and then suddenly, warmth flooded him, pulling him from the panic that had him in its grip. He blinked and breathed again, then nodded when the president stepped back and looked at him.

James smiled, and Indy stepped up to the mic, glancing at Deac, who stood next to him. The time had come, and there was no going back. Their future depended on this moment. No pressure at all.

"Hello. My name is Indigo Dubois, and I'm a shifter."

Later, sitting in a room far away from the briefing room, Deac held his head in his hands. He could barely remember anything of the past hour, and if it hadn't been for Costas talking to him, he would have probably run with his tail tucked between his legs.

The noise, the lights, the cameras flashing, were seared into his mind, and he knew, without a shadow of a doubt, Washington was not for him. The pressure of standing there, answering questions, some of them so stupid he'd stared dumbfounded at the person asking it.

"Do I bark?" He'd repeated the question, and when the reporter nodded, he'd responded, "Are you stupid?"

James had stepped up and smiled at the reporter. "Please do not ask questions that might be offensive."

"I'm curious. They've done nothing to prove they can do what you all say they can."

"Want me to strip naked for you and let my inner wolf out?" Deac regretted asking as soon as the words left his mouth. Pretty much everyone in the room said or shouted yes.

"You should have done it," Indy murmured. "It would have been fun to see the looks on their faces as you whipped your dick out before you shifted."

"Next time." Oh, hell there was never going to be a next time.

Indy snorted, then placed the bottle of water he held in his hand against his forehead. "I would rather lead an army of shifters into battle than go through that again. Now I know why presidents look fresh faced when they enter office and look like they've been put through the wringer when they leave. Holy fuck, I could not do that again."

The door opened, and the same woman who spoke to them earlier stepped in. Deac thought she was one of James' secretaries but couldn't remember. He was trying to wipe today from his memory. "You did well."

"I didn't piss myself, so yeah," Deac whispered.

"Thank you for saying so. We only want the best for our species."

"Well, early indications are… Humans are angry at what has been done to you and your kind. We'll know more in the coming days as we release more information."

"Do you know what's happening with the labs?" They'd arrange a coordinated attack on the labs with military personnel—something Eli and Vir had muttered a lot about.

"They think because we can shift that we have no idea how to infiltrate a place." Eli had paced Deac's office as he growled over incompetent humans. "Had to show them how good I am and what rank I was before they'd listen to me. I growled in one man's face, and he pissed himself." Eli had shot him an evil grin. "Felt fucking good too."

"All locations we have available to us are in the process of being secured." The woman, Rebecca or Rachel or something beginning with R tapped her tablet. "We have already secured half of the locations targeted."

"How many shifters in them? Do you know?" Deac stood and approached slowly, giving her time to move away. She showed him the tablet and the figures on screen. Deac closed his eyes at the number he'd seen. "Over three thousand dead?" He opened them and looked at Indy.

"We knew there would be casualties," he murmured quietly. "As soon as they became aware of what was happening, they would have to cut their losses. Shifters are disposable to them. Doesn't matter that we are living breathing sentient beings. We're nothing but a means to an end."

Deac sat heavily and dropped his head into his hand. "I always hoped we'd save them all. I knew we wouldn't, but I lived in hope that we somehow would. I wanted to bring them all home."

"I'm required elsewhere. If you need anything, ask or use the phone. I'm sorry for your loss." Rachel, Rebecca, whatever, left the room, and Deac lifted his head from his hands reaching out to his mate, Costas.

Over three thousand shifters dead so far.

We have two hundred here with more incoming. I'm glad the army provided support, or we'd be overrun.

The locations closest to us?

Yes. All cleared. The army, along with Vir and Eli, are combing through the information now. I think they wanted to remove Vir and Eli, but they refused. There was an altercation.

Deac closed his eyes. Of course there was. How many did Eli and Vir re-educate?

Quite a few. Deac could sense Costas' humor at the situation. When will you be home?

I don't know. We've been asked to stay here while the labs are being hit. They want us on hand to provide any necessary information they'll need.

I have to go. More are coming. Love you.

I love you too.

Deac opened his eyes and glanced at Indy, who had a faraway look in his eyes, and he knew he was speaking to Balor. Sitting back in his chair, he closed his eyes and simply breathed. When this had all started, shifters disappearing, rarely seen again, he'd had no idea what was happening. As time passed and more information came to life, the enormity had shaken him. They had made plans, attacked labs, freed shifters, but their work seemed like a drop in the ocean, and now they were here. Sitting in the White House, on a first name basis with the president, and no longer hidden from the world.

The door opened, and James walked inside, his people trailing behind him. "The news, so far, is positive. The general consensus is no one likes what is being done to shifters, and they want it to stop. We need to continue reminding them what shifters have suffered, bringing King Jacques in to help with that. Having him there today helped since most humans appear to have a soft spot for him."

"He's worked hard to right the wrongs of the previous king." Indy stood. "I want to thank you for what you've done for us."

"You're American citizens, and as such, deserve to be treated as one. We'll put a stop to this and prosecute those involved. Make sure the public can put faces to those who have committed these barbaric acts against you."

A man approached and whispered, "Your next meeting is ready."

James shook both their hands. "Take as much time as you need. I'll speak to you later."

James left the room, and Deac and Indy stared at each other. "I think I need a drink."

"You and me both." It had started, and they had a long road ahead of them.

They would free all their people.