Cam nudged him along.
Étienne wondered what the hell was going on. Seth had never done this before. Seconds were always privy to the business of immortals. They needed to be aware of every threat in order to better serve and protect them. What could Seth not want them to know?
The door to the basement closed. Boots tromped down stairs. The door to the training room closed.
“What do you think is going on?” he heard Sheldon ask.
“They can hear you, genius,” Cam reminded him.
“Oh. Right.”
Richart sighed and rolled his eyes.
Soon conversation began to flow below. Movies. Books. The latest goings-on at the network.
Here at the table no one spoke.
The tension rose. All present, like Étienne, believed an ax was about to fall.
At last, Seth spoke. “A situation has arisen. Something unprecedented. Something that has left even David and I uncertain how to proceed.”
Roland shifted slightly. “I thought you two had seen and done it all.”
“So did we. What we discuss here will remain between those seated at this table. Do not share this with your Seconds or with any other mortal members of the network. Torture will not extract this information from immortals. It will, however, draw it from most mortals. Considering the many enemies we have faced in the last few years, we cannot take that risk.”
All nodded.
What the hell was Seth going to tell them?
“I’ve misled you. I did it intentionally for the reason I just disclosed. I have kept from you a secret that was not my own to share and intended to keep it from you longer, but circumstances have eliminated any further hope of maintaining silence.”
Roland leaned forward. “Any secret you share with us will be guarded with our lives. Should anyone here betray you, I will take care of him or her myself.”
The pledge may have surprised everyone present, but none doubted the veracity of it. Roland may be antisocial and grumble, but he could be ruthless when defending a loved one and was a man any warrior would feel fortunate to have guarding his back.
“Thank you.”
A faint thumping began to distract Étienne. It took him a moment to realize it was the heel of Ami’s boot striking the floor as her knee bobbed up and down.
She stilled as everyone looked at her. “I’m sorry. I’m nervous.”
Marcus glared daggers at everyone.
Hell. This was going to be big, wasn’t it?
“As you know, Ami was a primary target of Emrys, who gained knowledge of her association with us through Montrose Keegan, then passed that knowledge along to Donald and Nelson.”
All nodded.
“Because mercenaries who may be linked to Donald and Nelson’s group have risen against us, I feel compelled to explain why it is more important than ever that we keep Ami out of their hands.”
It was unusual to order immortals to risk their lives to protect Seconds instead of the other way around. Immortals were very rare in the greater scheme of things, so the loss of even one had great impact.
Richart frowned. “Why did they want her so badly before? Did they find out she’s a gifted one?”
Seth leaned forward. “Ami is not a gifted one. She’s an extraterrestrial.”
Étienne stared at him blankly.
And he wasn’t the only one.
“She’s from another planet,” Seth clarified.
Dead silence.
Ami nibbled her lower lip. Marcus . . . was preparing to kill them all by the looks of his darkening features.
“That is so cool,” Krysta said, daring to speak first.
Étienne glanced over and found her staring at Ami with a combination of awe and delight.#p#分页标题#e#
“What planet are you from?” she asked.
Across from Ami, Sarah nodded. “Are you from Jupiter? Because I’ve always wanted to know what’s at the center of that big-ass storm.”
Some of the anxiety left Ami’s face, replaced by a tentative smile. “No, I’m from a planet called Lasara in another solar system. But I can tell you what’s in the storm on Jupiter.”
Seth held up a hand. “Let’s save that for later.”
Roland leaned forward. “Are there others from your world here?” His gaze remained on Marcus, though he spoke to Ami.
If either immortal were telepathic, Étienne would swear the two were silently communicating.
Then again, they had known each other for eight hundred years. Speech may no longer be necessary.
Ami shook her head. “No.”
“Will there be others?”
“No.”
Étienne felt Krysta tug his hand and listened to her thoughts.
She’s all alone? Do you think she crashed?
I don’t know.
A slew of questions leapt from lips all around the table.
David cleared his throat. “Your questions can wait. And, if Ami isn’t comfortable answering them, I trust none of you will press her.”