Primal Rising

Primal Rising PRIME SHIFTER ACADEMY BOOK 3 MELODY ROSE Contents Prologue 1. Sunny 2. Sunny 3. Dexter 4. Sunny 5. Sunny 6. Sunny 7. Talon 8. Sunny 9. Baron 10. Sunny 11. Sunny 12. Sunny 13. Sunny 14. Sunny 15. Slade 16. Sunny 17. Sunny 18. Deimos 19. Seamus 20. Sunny 21. Sunny 22. Sunny Epilogue A Note from the Author Prologue “It’s been a month since the catastrophe at the Capitol,” a green-eyed nymph said, using her perpetually perky newscaster voice as she stared into the glass eye of a video camera. “And there has been no word on what exactly has happened to the city’s water supply, or if there’s even a plan in place to do anything about it.” The nymph looked incredibly out of place against the dreary backdrop that was once a colorful, bustling metropolis, but was now a gray, lifeless wasteland. Word of Shade Clan’s infestation of the Council had traveled like wildfire across the city and beyond, causing nothing short of mass hysteria and an immediate, universal distrust among the citizens of New Hearth. A situation that was already tense had gone completely and entirely off the deep end. “Kind magic-wielders have been volunteering their time and skills to provide as much clean water as possible, but there’s simply not enough to go around,” the newscaster continued, her cheerful voice adding a surreal quality to the gloomy words. “Which has led some New Hearthians to go against safety recommendations and drink the water, anyway. I’m here this morning with small business owner and kelpie shifter, Tobias Fern, who has said he and his family have decided that the risk is worth it…” The cameraman adjusted the focus of his equipment and filled his screen with both the nymph and a wiry, middle-aged male in a dark blue jumpsuit. He had nervously jammed his hands deep inside his pockets. “So, Mr. Fern,” the nymph said, tilting her head just slightly toward the male. “Tell us why you’ve made your decision. I’m sure it comes as a shock to many.” “Well,” the kelpie rocked back and forth on his heels, his eyes darting between his interviewer and the camera lens that he couldn’t seem to stop staring at. “The thing is… What choice do we have? Drink the water, and then what? Nobody’s even given us a real answer about what’s even wrong with it. Frankly, nobody’s even around to give us any direction at all. Who’re we supposed to believe? The Council? The ones who swear that it wasn’t them that let those Shade Clan bastards ruin our world? Please!” “Oh, Mr. Fern.” The nymph chuckled nervously, obviously aware of the camera broadcasting. “I have to ask you to mind your language. Ahem, we are live on the air, after all.” “Aw, shit, I’m sorry.” The kelpie shook his head. “I mean, shoot!” “It’s fine, it’s fine,” the anchor insisted, shifting her weight and searching her mind for a way to get back on track. “So does this mean you’re not concerned with the suggestion that the contamination could be a direct result of Shade Clan’s involvement in New Hearth? Surely you must be aware of the claims saying it was done maliciously to make the residents of New Hearth quite sick.” She tilted the microphone back to the kelpie and politely awaited his reply. “Sure, I’m aware of the hypothesis.” He shrugged. “But I’m not real sure what’s worse—getting sick, or getting so thirsty you get sick, anyway. It’s not like there are enough mages around to make sure we’ve got the water we need. Wouldn’t even be particularly good of us to demand it of them, even if there were enough mages! S’not their job!” The male running the camera had to slam a hand over his mouth to stop himself from laughing. Not because it was funny, but because things had gotten so remarkably terrible that there truly wasn’t much else to do but laugh. “I suppose you do have a point there, my friend.” The nymph nodded and turned back to the camera, making absolutely certain to keep up her professional appearance. “It would appear we have all been given the impossible task of choosing between a rock and a hard place. Thank you for giving us a chance to hear from you, Mr. Fern. I’m sure you’re not the only one in New Hearth who feels that way.” The kelpie leaned over, wordlessly asking for another chance at the microphone. Confused, the nymph tilted the microphone back over to the male, who quickly snatched it out of her hand and held it too close to his mouth. “Be careful who you trust out here!” he bellowed, turning away from the nymph, who was trying her best to snag back her equipment. As he dodged her attempts, the kelpie kept his eyes locked on the camera. “If those damned shady fucks were in our city in our Council, you can bet your ass they’re all over this damned place. All over this damned world! There’s a reason folks have been disappearing left and right, and it’s because things are gonna get way worse before they get better, you hear me? Vandalism, crime, neighbor against neighbor, every good thing about our city went up in flames just like the Capitol, and everyone knows it!” “Mr. Fern!” the nymph yelled as she tried to reach around him once more. “I’ll remind you we are LIVE!” Her eyes were frantic, and she shot the camera man a look suggesting that maybe they cut the recording, but it was effectively either missed or ignored. The kelpie held out a stiff arm toward the nymph, preventing her from reaching the microphone. Behind the camera, the operator was full blown laughing now as he watched his tiny coworker try her hardest to maintain the integrity of the local media. He didn’t have the heart to let her know how unlikely it was anyone was watching their