Chapter Aria

I shrug free from Kellan's heated arm, making him curse under his breath. He can get the hell over it. My head wasn't hurting until his heat touched me. Jase brings me relief and Kellan brings me pain.

That stupid ass kissed my best friend just before confessing his love . He loves me about as much as a cat loves a bouncing string. He's fascinated, not in love. Unbelievable. I may be bound to him, but that doesn't mean I have to forgive him instantly.

Jase tilts his head, looking from me to Kellan and letting me know he just heard that thought. His eyes soften, showing me pity before shaking his head. His teeth clench together, proving he's pissed. But why?

I assumed he would enjoy knowing Kellan isn't as strong willed as him. I even expected him to rub my face in it.

He shakes his head, answering my question, and my heart melts as I figure out what he's saying without words.

You love me too much to see me hurting?

He nods, his eyes staying fixed on mine.

I'm not hurting. I already told you, I don't love him yet. The last thing you need to worry about is me. Focus on the kids. And don't you ever watch my dreams again.

He laughs lightly, a burst of unexpected power breaking through his lips, startled by my last line as he shakes his head for a new reason. His eyes break away as my cheeks heat up once again.

I can't believe he told me he saw my dreams about him. That's so mortifying. He even had to give me great detail about what it did to him.

He smirks, his eyes focusing on the door just before the council walks in. They're a bit dramatic if you ask me. They're dressed in dark, hooded cloaks that cover their heads and drape to their feet to trail behind them with a small train. Their faces are hidden from view as they come to take their seats.

Fifteen of them sit down at an elongated table that faces the podium where Jase is standing. They leave their hoods up, not offering us a glance at the people determining whether twenty innocent children live or die.

Jase straightens his tie, seriousness taking over his face as he takes his commanding stance in front of the cloaked council.

"As you know, you've been assembled here today to decide the fate of twenty children we recovered during a bunker bust. We have an unwritten law about emergents and their children, until the past few hours, most of the people here didn't even know what an emergent was."

He pauses, allowing the whispers to roar free. He looks at me, nervousness in his eyes.

I'll keep them safe. I'm taking them north with me.

He smirks, seeming amused by that. Suddenly a guy appears from behind me, passing me a note addressed to Aralia Banner. I study the sealed envelope before looking up to see the ghost of a grin on Jase's face as he starts explaining emergents and their children to the ones who are still uncertain.

I tune him out as I read the letter from him, my stomach twisting in knots as I hide it from view.

Aria,

I'm getting the children out of here if I fail to convince the council to spare their lives. These guys are complete assholes, and they don't do well with change. More than likely, they'll vote against the kids, and I'll have no choice but to disappear. I want you to know I love you, and I hope I have the chance to see you again one day. As selfish as it is, I want you to come, but I know I can't ask you to leave your counter and become a fugitive for the rest of eternity. Please, please don't stay with Kellan if you never find the feelings you're searching for.

From the first day I saw you, I knew I was in love. I couldn't stop thinking about you, dreaming about you, wondering what it would be like to spend the rest of time together. It hurts to see you with someone else, but at least I got to have a part of you he never will... your heart, though you don't see that yet.

They'll come question you once I go missing, so burn this letter. Tell them you haven't spoken to me. And one last thing... I love you. I love you. I love you.

Your full blood,

Jase

I want to cry and smile at the same time upon finishing the letter. I push my knee to touch Kellan's just to keep from letting Jase overhear something stupid my mind might say. I love him too, and it's killing me.

Walking out of that RV was the hardest thing I've done in a while. It feels so natural, so easy, so perfect with him. With Kellan it all seems so forced. I have to keep reminding myself what Dad meant to Mom. It's the only thing keeping me from stringing Jase along the way Mom did Uncle Brazen.

"I'll take comments from the heads of the unions now," Jase murmurs, motioning toward a woman and snapping me out of my trance.

I pull my knee away from Kellan's as I speak to him using my mind he loves to read.

We have a van out back. You stay. The United needs you. I'll go. I... I...

Before my trembling mind can release the truth, a woman's words distract me and Jase, who cuts his eyes away from mine.

"They should all die. We can't afford for a new breed of hybrid to go on the loose. We certainly can't afford for two new breeds of hybrids to go free. We shouldn't have ever allowed any hybrid to produce a child. I knew this would happen," the full blood woman says, her racism clear.

I glare at her, just as all the hybrids do, venom seeping from our eyes.

"Shouldn't have let us?" a hybrid woman scoffs. "You ignorant bigot. If anything your kind shouldn't be the ones reproducing. You're nothing but inferior to our kind."

Shit. This will get us nowhere.

An uproar of arguments break out as hybrids verse full bloods. Kellan gets a few snarks in, forcing me to roll my eyes. Jase pounds the gavel on the podium, demanding everyone shut the fuck up... sort of.

"Damn it. This is a meeting to decide the fate of twenty children. Get the hell over your racist issues. All of you!" he blares, making me stifle a grin.

I happen to be a hybrid who is very fond of full bloods.

It's easy for me to joke since I know the kids aren't in any real danger. I'll have them out of here in no time. Mom should be arriving soon. She'll sneak into the meeting and get ready to work her magic.

Jase smirks, having read all of my mind.

"We have hybrids and full bloods who are happily married all throughout the United," he says, delivering me a message with a cryptic seal. "Can we not have the room of the two get along for five minutes? These are children we're talking about. Let's not forget that. Most of which are projected to not survive past puberty as it is."

That part breaks my heart, stinging me with a sobering piece of reality. It's not a joke anymore. I can save them today, but five years from now is another problem entirely.

"And the full blood hybrids?" a man asks, standing to show himself more prominently. "Will they have such a short life span?"

Jase tightens his lips, looking at me for some sort of guidance.

I'm getting all of them out, so it doesn't matter what they decide. Just be honest with them.

He looks back to the man, shaking his head. "According to what little we know, their life span isn't shortened."

"They're too powerful," another man interjects. "I've read the research we were offered. They'll be just as strong as some of our gifted fleet. Some of them could even be stronger. We don't know enough to risk it. I say we exterminate the threat before they have a chance to exterminate us."

Jase lets out a burdened breath before looking around at the room full of terrified people. They're all a bunch of cowards who are willing to sentence children to death for fear of the unknown. Panic is a ruling emotion. It's amazing what monsters they are.

Jase looks to the council who will rule based on the opinions of the majority. No one is speaking up on behalf of the young ones besides Jase. Everyone knows they'll be flogged for doing so. It's pointless.

"Well, if that's the way you feel, then I'm sorry. I can't be a leader to-"

The doors blow open, interrupting him as my mother stalks in while holding the hand of her full blood. Everyone turns to gape at her bold entrance, and I bury my head in my hands. Unbelievable.

She was supposed to sneak in unnoticed. I should've known better than to think Araya Crush could use such discretion.

"How about I take a shot at it before you do something stupid like resign and leave the United in the hands of someone who'd be willing to kill a bunch of kids just to appease a nation of cowards," she barks, her eyes fearlessly scolding everyone in the room for the verdict she must have heard from somewhere else.

Jase motions to the podium, offering his approval. "By all means."

Everyone cowers down from her disgusted glare. Uncle Brazen comes toward me, followed by Rex, Melania, Uncle Grayson, and Aunt Angelica. Aunt Angelica pauses to pull Simone by the arm, leading her over to join us, and making me tense.

Kellan's eyes find hers momentarily, but I ignore it. I should be jealous, fuming mad, but I'm not. Not like I would be if it was Jase.

I look away, focusing my eyes on Jase as he too comes to join us. Uncle Brazen's hand comes to rest on my shoulder, and I eagerly await the relief his full blood touch should bring. Waves of confusion and disappointment reach me when his touch does nothing to affect the aching pain in my head.

It makes no sense. Jase's touch is like medicine. Uncle Brazen is a full blood too. I should be feeling the same relief.

Jase shifts down the row of seats we're in, and a woman scoots over to offer him the other seat beside me. Kellan huffs, but he doesn't say anything. I think he feels my disconnect from him. I'm trying, but I just don't feel it. If we're counters, shouldn't it be easier? I shouldn't have to work so hard to feel something .

Jase's hand finds mine, making Kellan's eyes burn with fury, but I ignore the fuming hybrid and cling to the full blood who washes me clean of the pain I feel.

"So Brazen's touch doesn't work?" he whispers, a faint smile trying to play on his lips.

Apparently not. Yours does though. Thank you.

He smiles bigger, covering it with his free hand when it grows too big for him to suppress. Considering the circumstances, he'd look a little odd smiling.

He wraps his arm around my back, pulling me into his chill. I instantly feel my body temperature lowering, offering me a reprieve from the vicious heat.

Kellan stands, going to join Simone at her side as though that's going to spark a jealous bone in my body. I don't care. I wish he wasn't my counter. The draw isn't strong like it was... it was never as strong as the draw to Jase - not even close.

"Stop thinking or I'm going to do something stupid like kiss you," Jase whispers to only me, managing to even escape the ears of the emergent hybrid just behind me.

I squirm, remembering my mind doesn't have a filter.

Sorry. I can't help it.

He smiles, delighting in my thoughts about him. I just feel guilty because it's only keeping him from finding someone he can love.

He squeezes my shoulder with his hand, his way of scolding me, and I lean into him more, resting my head on his shoulder as my mother speaks.

"It's unlikely there's a person here who doesn't know who I am, so let's cut to the chase. Let's start with a little history, shall we?

"So, so many centuries ago, humans created a virus they thought would build a better army - men who wouldn't die so easily while in combat. After several disasters, desperation pushed the madmen to only work harder, make the virus as strong as possible. Each failed attempt proved more hopeless when the virus killed the men instantly instead of changing them. But alas, perseverance finally paid off, and the first full blood was created.

"Others who weren't so desperate weren't as excited as the few who had created this new being, one full of strength and amazing abilities. They hadn't foreseen the allergy they would have to the sun, therefore ruining their indestructible vision. They also didn't plan on the blood thirst that would follow their science. It became wild, crazy, out of control even.

"One full blood took down an army of humans, and then he smelled their blood, craved it, had to have it. In a matter of days, he had infected thousands. Wide spread hysteria broke free, and humans fled, fought, and then they fought even harder, learning the weaknesses the immortals suffered - sunlight and uranium.

"Why bring this up? It's simple. We were created out of panic. Then we were killed out of panic. Humans obliterated so much of their world by trying to kill the very thing they created out of fear. They didn't seek a way to alleviate the blood thirst, they only sought to destroy. It wasn't until much later we learned to dilute the blood, something that could have saved the feud spawned by predator and prey.

"Following the creation of the full bloods was the birth of the hybrids. Full bloods feared hybrids, a fear that stayed in place for centuries. We learned it was safer to inject the virus with the bite rather than a syringe. There's no such thing as a condom strong enough to withstand our sex, and there was once no such thing as birth control, so most of the time, a blood fuck between a human and a full blood resulted in a hybrid child, if the human survived the sex, that is."

Everyone snickers lightly, except for the few humans in the room. I wouldn't find it so funny either if I was them.

My full blood is definitely strong enough to break a human. I almost throb just thinking about it.

"Stop," Jase cautions, chuckling lightly.

I smirk as Mom continues, my smile falling fast when I hear what she has to say.

"Hybrids were bound, beaten, and shackled for so long. I know because I was one of the forgotten. I was a child of the world who feared the unknown just like many others in here."

She pauses, casting her gaze to all the hybrids who were willing to do the same thing to these children that was done to them. Rex nods, agreeing with her as he stays focused on her.

"What does this have to do with the emergent hybrids and full blood hybrids?" a full blood asks, his voice timid and crackling as he addresses the powerful hybrid he should fear.

Mom cracks her neck to the side, trying to control her anger as she continues.

"The point is, it was wrong. It was terribly wrong. All we did was create broken bodies and hearts. To this day, I still have scars not visible to the eye. My husband is all that keeps me together some days. It's fortunate I have my savage under control.

"Men like Ty Silvers weren't born monsters, we forced them into being monsters. Full bloods who craved the vein more than others were confined, forced to live in pain. They too became monsters. Once cured, they weren't monsters anymore. My point is we need to find a way to coexist with all of the evolution our world will face. We need evolution to keep surviving.

"It wasn't too many centuries ago that full bloods couldn't walk in the sun or eat food. They lived with the pain of a craving they couldn't satisfy, feared a sky out of tint, and dreaded the day they would thirst through. Do you know how that was cured?"

Oh shit!

Jase's eyes widen, realizing why my family has come to congregate around me. How the hell weren't they thinking about it?

I understand why Aunt Angelica made Simone come along as well. We're about to be running for our lives, children in tow.

Jase sighs out loudly, leaning over to whisper in my ear.

"I just read Brazen's mind. The kids are already loaded up in your van, and some guy named Corbin is behind the wheel, ready to whisk them away when he sees the signal."

Corbin. Good grief. That's Uncle Brazen's wild ass friend from Metropolis - the old full blood colony from way back when. He's so obnoxious, but he has always had Uncle Brazen's back.

"They weren't thinking about it?" I ask, keeping my voice quiet, though I should have just used my mind to ask.

"I... um... well... you're very fucking distracting, so I didn't catch on to what was going on," he murmurs, stifling a grin while making me blush.

"How?" one guy finally asks to end the suspense, bringing my conversation with Jase to a halt.

"An emergent had a child, and that child survived to live past puberty, and that child's blood healed the full bloods of their blood thirst and sun allergy."

Everyone gasps, some demanding to know who authorized such a thing without the council's consent.

"Does it matter who gave the order? Is there a full blood here who regrets feeling the touch of the unobstructed sun? Does a single full blood miss hiding from the full glow of the sun when the tinted sky's timer opened up for the rays to shine through? Is there a full blood who doesn't enjoy food? Do any of you miss the ache you had for the vein?"

The chatter dulls down, everyone carefully assessing that, knowing she's right.

"And hybrids. You're the ones I'm disappointed with the most. After centuries of oppression, forgotten children were no longer forgotten. Life changed because of two men - Clay Jude and Hale Banner. How could you turn your back and act the same as the ones who deemed you too powerful to be free? How could you deal out a death sentence to children just as innocent as you all once were?"

They all cast their shame to the floor, their gaze not moving back up to meet her eyes for fear of what disgust she'll toss their way.

"Tell me something, is there a hybrid here who regrets having their womb healed? We spent centuries as sterile - unable to have a family of our own. Do you know what healed your wombs?" she asks, bordering on shedding tears and revealing the biggest shock of them all if her contacts dissolve.

"No," one whispers.

"No?" she snarks. "The phase three blood of an emergent hybrid healed your wombs."

The hybrids keep their heads down, their own disgrace ruling them.

"Humans, do you regret the world being filtered, cleaned up, and radioactivity being brought down? Just over seven hundred years ago, your species didn't have but forty years left to survive. It was determined we would all die. Humans would die of cancer cells growing before they could even come of age to bear children. Full bloods would die because they had no chance of survival without their only food source at the time. And hybrids would cease to exist when no one was around to create them, given the fact they couldn't have children of their own before this miracle cure.

"And finally, do any of you regret Ty Silvers being killed? The man who damn near created his own version of hybrids that had no choice but to be a slave to him because he ruled their minds? Do any of you remember how close we all came to becoming slaves to a madman?"

They all grow quiet, absorbing the information very slowly.

"All of our kind has good and bad. There could be ten good hybrids and one bad. The same with all full bloods and humans alike. Blood doesn't make you the enemy, gifts don't make you the enemy, none of that matters. The only thing that makes someone bad, is society's expectations or their own free will. If you condemn someone to be a monster, they feel that's all they have the right to be. These are children. Children."

She takes a deep breath, letting her words fall down and resonate before continuing.

"That's right. Clay Jude, my best friend, healed you, saved you with the very blood you all fear right now. My blood. I'm the daughter of the emergent who survived past her fated end. My blood brought this world back to life. Do you fear me for saving you? Do you fear my gifts? The ones who saved you from the man no one else was powerful enough to defeat?"

Everyone gasps, fully understanding now. They dare not whisper aloud, worried about what she'll hear them say. A few glances pass to me, and Jase pulls me even tighter to his body in a protective motion. Not that he could do anything if they all came after me. He took an oath to serve the people.

"Fuck my oath," he laughs out, not caring who overhears, acting as though I'm crazy to think he'd let anything happen to me over his promise to his rank.

Mom lets the roar of surprise simmer down before continuing. Jase smiles, apparently listening in on the minds of everyone.

What are they thinking?

He smiles bigger, leaning over to whisper. "They're thinking they really, really don't want to piss your mother off. They feared her before they knew her secret. They think you've been holding out, so they're worried what might happen if they piss you off as well. Not to mention, the hybrids realize how right she is about them and their pointed out hypocrisy. The full bloods realize they'd be dead by now had it not been for the woman the nation has adored for hundreds of years. Your mom just kicked ass. That's what they think."

I smile, wishing I could somehow tell her that.

"Do you understand what's happening? Someone is desperate. They could be creating an army of emergent hybrids, and we just found one of their honey holes. Do you want to be the monsters they come after because of your ignorance? They'll give you a reason to fear them if you keep killing them for the blood they have. Do you want to face an army of emergent hybrids with none of your own to defend you? Because I'll sure as hell walk away from here with my life, and I can promise you that I won't be here to save you ever again."

Jase stands, adjusting his tie and releasing me as he goes to join my mother again. He looks to the committee, and one of them pulls off their hood before addressing the commander of the United.

"Commander Ericson, were you aware of Mrs. Mordel's lineage before today?"

He smirks, not feeling worried at all. They're about to relieve him of his title or take his life. I'll kill everyone here before I let them touch him. My gift will be too afraid to fail me.

Jase smiles back at me, letting me know he just heard my protective thoughts, and then he turns his attention to the uncloaked woman.

"Yes I did. As commander, I was granted access to such things. I also knew what Aria Banner was before I started dating her, if that's where you're going with this. After learning about how Araya gave us a much better quality of life, I decided it was information I could live with. Do you disagree?"

She squirms uncomfortably, her eyes shifting behind her to gauge the reaction of the crowd. Then she shakes her head while leaning back.

Jase stands beside my mother, not wavering on his stance as he stares fearlessly into the eyes of everyone.

"Does anyone disagree with the decision I made? If so, you're welcome to vote for impeachment."

He stifles a grin as he listens in on all the inner thoughts of everyone. Then, a hybrid general stands. I know him. General Dyson. He's a level seven hybrid, and he's gifted with some type of fire gift.

"I think these children should have the chance to prove all the bullshit wrong, Sir," he says very formally. "Personally, I'd love to welcome them to the United force one day."

Jase smiles, nodding in appreciation. "Anyone else have anything to say?"

And from there, everyone stands to agree with the commander, which makes Mom visibly relax. Jase pats her arm, and she winks at him before heading toward us, smiling at my Uncle Brazen like she wants to do disgusting things with him.

Ew.

"Then it's decided," a committee member says while reading the votes passed down by all the others. "The children will have their chance to live, and evolution will occur. May they all turn out like Araya Crush."

Suck up.

"Stand down, Corbin. Araya just managed to rock the house," Uncle Brazen says into the phone.

"Fucking really? How?" Corbin gasps, disbelief in his tone.

"She's Araya," he says with adoration dripping from his tone before hanging up and pulling my mother to his body.

Watching their connection, I realize it doesn't have to be a counter to make you that crazy in love. But in the end, Mom chose Dad. Dad had a span. Kellan doesn't.

"Let's get out of here," Mom murmurs as the meeting adjourns.

I nod, looking over my shoulder for Jase, but I frown when I see him being flogged by the whole damn building.

"He'll be busy for a while. He'll come find you," Mom murmurs, apparently thinking I was expecting him to join us.

"Oh, actually-"

"Aria is with me now," Kellan says, stepping up out of nowhere and possessively draping his arm around my shoulders.

"When did... I thought... how did... huh?" Mom says, probably confused since I was cuddled up with Jase during the meeting.

"Jase can make my headaches go away. He's the only one who can. They're getting worse," I grumble, suddenly aching more now that Kellan's hybrid heat is warming my sensitive body too much. "Kellan is my counter."

I say it so casually when I should be too excited to contain myself. Her mouth drops in an attempt to become unhinged along with Uncle Brazen's. Uncle Grayson slaps his forehead, and Aunt Angelica buries her head in his chest.

"When did-"

"Not here, Mom," Rex says, chiming in and coming over to feel my head. "We don't need to make a scene and Aria is sweating like crazy."

She nods, not trying to say more, as we start to walk toward the doors. Simone walks by us, not saying anything. Mom calls to her, but she ignores us and heads on, pretending as though she didn't hear when we all know damn well she did.

"What's wrong with her?" Mom asks, scoffing slightly.

I look to Kellan, my jaw tensing, and he drops his arm from around my shoulders while squirming uncomfortably.

"It's a long story," I exasperate.

She frowns, glancing between us, and then she motions toward the stairs as we round the corner.

"Well, I think it's time you catch me up. We'll start with your new counter, then Simone, and then we'll discuss these headaches you shouldn't be having."

Crap. I really need to be going. I need to find the snow.

"While you're at it," she adds, her eyes narrowing, "You can also tell me why you didn't tell me about the scorpions and this thing that is leveling the world."

Fuck!