Rising Darkness (A Rylee Adamson Novel, Book 9) by Shannon Mayer

Orion. She was dressed in a business suit that dampened her natural sexuality, but she still looked stunning, her long chestnut hair wound up in a fancy coif.
    Her voice was clear on the airwaves. “Thank you for having me here. I am so pleased to bring you this information directly. We have found a cure for the small pox, and we’ll have enough for everyone in a few short days.” She paused and took a deep breath, her bust swelling. Still using her old techniques, at least that much hadn’t changed. “Our shipments will be coming in four days, and there will be enough for everyone. Orion Starling is the philanthropist behind the cure. A generous man, he used his own money to make this happen. He asks nothing in return, and only hopes he can save as many people as possible.”
    A tiny voice spoke up and a microphone was shoved into Milly’s face. “Can you tell us more about Mr. Starling? Where is he from, how did he manage to discover a cure?”
    Milly gave the speaker off screen a beatific smile. Staged was the first thought that came to my mind. The whole thing was staged. But of course it was. Propaganda using the humans’ airwaves and fear against them.
    “He’s an amazing man, and even though he is hunted continuously by terrorists, he has fought hard to make sure this cure could be available for everyone. It will be an airborne chemical. Caught on the air currents of the world it will spread to everyone within a matter of days.”
    Deanna gasped. “They’ll push the chemical with magic. That’s the only way to make it go that far that fast.”
    “It’s probably not even a chemical,” Doran said. “They’re just saying that to cover for the fact that Orion is in charge of the pox. He can stop it with a single word.”
    They continued to talk behind me, but I just stared that the screen. Milly looked good, her eyes bright and skin glowing. She lifted a hand. “Yes, there is something we can do to help Mr. Starling. These terrorists, they are, as I said earlier, actively hunting him. If they were to find and kill him as is their plans, then all his efforts will have been in vain.”
    A new microphone was pushed into her face. “What can we possibly do?”
    “If you see these terrorists, you can alert the proper authorities. They aren’t dangerous to you, only to Mr. Starling.”
    And then the pictures flashed on the screen. Perfectly drawn pictures of me. Doran. Alex, which got more than a few gasps from the audience. Berget. And then a nice long shot of me.
    “Why isn’t Pamela or Frank in that line-up?” Berget asked the question that had just begun to cross my mind. My heart sank. All eyes turned to me, the question hanging in the air. Right then, I knew no one else would say it. It was up to me. Alex let out a whimper and clutched at my leg. “Oh no, Pamie.”
    “Because she’s not one of us anymore.” I closed my eyes and backed away from the TV and the den. Alex followed me, the click of his claws on the floor, a steady staccato. I slumped onto a bench halfway down the hall.
    “Shit.” I put my head into my hands. I should have taken her with me. I should have done more when I came back. Pamela had defected and it was my fault for not seeing the signs.
    Alex crawled up beside me and draped a fore leg across my shoulders. “Not your fault.”
    He’s right. The darkness has a claim on some souls. They have to fight it harder than others. Such was her path to make the decision.
    “That doesn’t mean I couldn’t have done more.” Suddenly I was very, very angry. Liam brought this on us, his stupid idea of chivalry. Or whatever the hell had gone through his pea-sized brain.
    I dropped my swords to the floor and strode into the den before I thought better of my actions. “Liam, get your ass here right now.”
    Faris glanced at me, his blue eyes fading to a deep burnished gold. “I know, this is my fault.”
    “Damn straight, you idiot!”
    Doran choked. “You . . . you really are