“The Council is gearing up for war, but their want for it isn’t right. One faction of the Council wants to eliminate humans from the planet and allow Primals to take their natural evolutionary path and another faction wants to change the humans into us.”
“What?” I ask. “How do you know this?”
“Because up until the war room meeting, I was on the side of changing the humans.”
A growl emanates from my throat as I stalk toward the man.
“Did you order the death of Clarissa?” I ask.
“We all did,” he says. “It was a conglomerate effort.”
“Did you order mine?” I ask.
“No,” he says. “That’s been taken care of. A hoard of Cats that broke off from their traditional ways and decided to take matters into their own hands.”
“What am I?” I ask.
“You’re their creation.”
So they have turned me into what Clarissa is.
“Whose creation?” I ask.
“The hoard of Cats that broke off. Led by a man by the name of Igo. But your mate—she was clever. She hunted them down and came after them, and almost slaughtered the lot of us trying to avenge your death.”
“Is she hurt? Is she alive?”
“Oh yes. Alive and well. That is why this war is still proceeding forward. She’s the inception point of all this. She’s the trigger point for both sides. The faction that wants human annihilation wants to use her as a weapon to kill them before destroying her.”
“That isn’t happening,” I growl.
“The other faction wants to use her as a distribution point for the serum that will change humans into being like you and Clarissa.”
“I’m not following.”
“Project Eden—the experiment that changed Clarissa—it was only meant for female fetuses. But the hoard of Cats that split off determined that they could use the serum on human men as a way to make them stronger, more capable Primals. Warriors. Soldiers. Men fit to procreate with the insatiable cravings mounted in the women turned by the same serum.”
“Women like Clarissa,” I say.
“Yes. But her and those men she hangs out with? They enjoy poking the beast. Timetables have been moved up, and the Council is out for blood. She challenges their superiority, and they don’t like it.”
“So you kill her? That’s your plan?”
“Not me. When the war room meeting took place—”
“What’s that?” I ask.
“It’s the meeting the Council holds to map out battle plans. When that took place, I suggested a diplomatic approach. I still believe humans and Primals can coexist. If the Primals want to go public with their existence, then we can give men and women the option of becoming like us. And whatever they choose, it doesn’t seal a fate. Everyone gets a say, everyone coexists, and no war has to happen.”
“So they threw you in prison for your opinion,” I say.
“Yes. They did.”
“I can’t stay here. I have to go find her. I know she’s here. I can sense her.”
“Then go. I’ll be fine.”
“You don’t look fine.”