"By doing what? Serving in our shops? Cleaning our homes? Cooking and fetching things for us? Not that I'm saying there's anything wrong with the above if they get paid for their services, and if that is all they aspire to. The problem is that they don't have choices and opportunities to better their lives."

Silence followed. The uneasy kind.

"We should learn from humans when it comes to this. They once treated each other the way we treat Subsixers. We call them minions; they called them slaves. Time and opportunities showed they were wrong in their thinking. I know it's going-"

"Stop!" Solange's voice whipped across the room and cut the air like shards of gla.s.s. "Is this what Master Rahm"-she said it like my tutor was a slug-"has been teaching you? That we ignore the needs of our people? That we are less civilized than humans?"

My tutor and I had discussed a lot of things during history-how Queen Coronis had ruled our people, how humans had changed their methods of governing over the centuries. The humans were still making strides while we were stuck in the Dark Ages, despite our abilities.

"No, he hasn't, Solange," I said, leaning forward, begging please listen to me with an open mind. "I listen to our people when they talk. I know that we feed and clothe them."

She glared. "And what's wrong with that?"

"Nothing if you like to be treated like a child," I retorted this time. "They don't. They want to work, get paid for their services, and decide how to use their wages. If they can take care of themselves, the time spent taking care of them will be spent elsewhere." I looked down the table, but no one met my gaze this time except one. Lord Snow. He smiled encouragingly. "Lord Snow, do you employ Subsixers?"

"Yes, Princess. I also pay them wages." He smiled.

"Good. That is what they all need."

Lord Snow puffed his chest.

"What positions do they hold?"

The smile disappeared from his face.

"They are low-ranked," I said with certainty. I didn't wait for him to verbally confirm what I'd already read from his thoughts. Once again, I studied the other members of the Council. This time, my gaze locked with Sir Malax's. The head of security wore a weird expression as though he was constipated.

"Sir Malax, do you have any guards in the castle or on the island without powers?"

"No, Princess," he said, speaking slowly.

"Can Subsixers be trained to protect us?"

Amus.e.m.e.nt flickered in his mismatched eyes, but I didn't get the same emotion from him. He was smug about something. "Yes, Princess. In fact, because of your intervention, we've started training min...Subsixers. They are picking up skills fast."

"Thank you," I said. "Despite lack of special abilities, they can still be trained to use weapons." I glanced at the women, and something in Lady Urius's thoughts had my eyes returning to her. "Lady Urius, do you have humans ranked higher than minions in your chain of hotels?"

She hesitated before saying, "Yes. Lawyers and upper management."

"Why?"

She sighed. "They are more educated and there are times when we need to deal with human employees or government officials. They see to such things. We don't own all of them." She looked around and added, "Yet."

Laughter filled the room.

Own? Interesting way of putting it. "So, if we had our people live and learn with the humans, they could easily replace them as your lawyers and upper management, couldn't they?"

She glanced at her husband and then leaned forward. "Yes, Princess, but after Coronis Isle was destroyed, our people tried living among humans and failed to be integrated into their society."

"They turned to criminal activities," Lord Urius piped in.

"And against each other," an older lord said from the other end of the table.

"Bringing them to the island was our way of protecting them. If we send them out there, they will return to that kind of life," Lady Urius finished.

"They weren't prepared to live among humans," I said. "That's why they had to do whatever they could to survive. If you educate our people here on the island and follow the human education system, they will be prepared. Finding employment will not be a problem, because from what I've heard here tonight, our people are already running one-third of the world's businesses."

The silence that followed this time was different. I could feel them becoming less defensive and actually listening to what I was saying.

"Master Rahm reminded me in the last couple of weeks that we are naturally brilliant. Geniuses, even. We can educate most of our people in half or a third the time it takes humans to get education and have them out there working alongside you in your companies and gaining the trust of humans."

I had everyone's attention, and from their mood, they were finally seeing things my way, except for a couple of die-hard skeptics and Solange.

"We talk about preparing our people to take over the world. How will we do that when we don't know how to interact with the average human? Right now, we head businesses, control politicians, and are part of the top one percent of their population. Uh, how did Lady Urius put it? We don't own them yet. Who is going to help us control the remaining ninety-nine percent? When we take over, we shouldn't just be running things. We should be in all levels of the human society."

More nods. Solange was looking rather lonely out there on a limb.

"People tend to trust people they know, people they work with, people they believe are just like them or have things in common with. Subsixers would blend perfectly with humans. They don't have to worry about using their powers and revealing their ident.i.ties."

My heart was pounding hard by the time I finished, but I felt good. I had laid out my plan and it was solid. I glanced at my father. The expression on his face made me feel invincible.

"So, as the representative of the Subsixers, I want to see them trained, educated, and contributing members of our society. They have an equal stake in this world, just like you and me."

Everyone started talking at once, but I focused on Solange. She was studying me with a frown, not particularly pleased with my ideas. She was also super jealous. The lessons in diplomacy I'd received from Lady Nemea flashed in my head.

I can't do this without you, sis, I said. I need your help.

Her eyes narrowed.

You're in charge of education, I added. Without your approval, I can't get this project off the ground.

Solange gave me a slow smile. It wasn't the yeah-I'm-eager-to-helpyou kind. She was going to make me pay for calling her a b.i.t.c.h.

Okay, little sis. Leave everything to me.

Thanks, Solange. This is going to be...huge, I telepathed her excitedly.

She rolled her eyes and then glanced at our father. "Lilith and I can work together on this project, Father."

He didn't respond to her right away. Instead, he studied the others and then glanced at Sir Malax. The head of security telepathically demanded silence.

"When my daughter joined us after the Great Battle, most of you thought it wasn't a good idea. You suspected her of spying for the Guardians, doubted where her loyalties were." He paused and studied the faces around the table. He leaned forward. "No need to be embarra.s.sed or apprehensive. I understood your misgivings. However, I didn't doubt her for one single moment." He glanced at me and smiled. "She's been conscious for two months now, and within that short time, she's figured out something we all overlooked in our hurry to solidify our hold on the world-preparing all of our people. The little things she pointed out could easily foil our grand plan if ignored." He reached out and gripped my shoulder, his eyes on my face. "Lilith, I'm very proud of you. You have my support." He studied the others. "We all are going to do what we can to make sure her plan works."

"Father?" Solange asked from his other side.

He reached for her hand. "My dearest Solange, I love your suggestion. The two of you will work together. Lilith is going to need your help with the students at the Academy and your guidance."

Oh, he was good. I had felt Solange's jealousy from across the table, but he'd smoothly defused it by making her feel good about my problem.

The rest of the meeting pa.s.sed fast. As I left the table, Lottius's mother placed a hand on my arm. "That was well done, Princess Lilith," she said.

"Thank you."

The praises followed me out of the room, but Solange had the last say. She was waiting for me outside the conference room. She put an arm around my shoulder, and said, "Looks like we're going to work together, little sis."

"Yeah, us," I said weakly. Solange chuckled, though there was no humor in the sound. Over her shoulder, my eyes met Father's. He smiled.

"Listen," Solange snapped, and I sighed. "This is how it's going to be. You want the students to work on your beach project, go to the Academy and ask them."

"But you said-"

"I know what I said, but I'm going to be busy jumpstarting your minion education program."

"But I don't know the students and they don't know me."

"There you go. I knew you'd get it," she said. "They need to know you and you them. On Monday, you will start at the academy as a new student. Your tutor agrees with me." She smirked. "I'll notify the princ.i.p.al to expect you. Have fun." She pinched my cheek playfully, then walked back into the room. I fumed, wishing I could scream at her. And why hadn't Rahm told me himself I was starting on Monday?

"It's okay, princess. She's just a little miffed because you came up with a brilliant idea," Lady Nemea said from behind me. When I faced her, I was surprised to see her eyes bright with unshed tears. "You made us proud in there," she added, and enveloped me in a hug. "Very proud."

This was huge, coming from her. She hadn't approved of anything I'd done since the day of my party. "Thank you. But we still have a lot of work to do."

She stepped back. "Just not right now. Go with them." She indicated Ruby and Callum. "Your friends are waiting upstairs."

They were finally my friends? She disappeared before I could say anything. Not that I wanted to antagonize her. I glanced at the guards. "Come on, guys."

"Excuse me, Princess," Ruby said before I could teleport. "Thank you for what you said in there. We"-she glanced at Callum-"have family members who are Subsixers. My older brother," Ruby added.

"Oh. Does he live here?"

She shook her head. "No, Princess. He works on an oil rig off the California coast. He always wanted to be an engineer, but-" She broke off in a wobbly voice, her chin trembling.

"Then he will become one." I closed the gap between us and hugged her. At first, she was too shocked to react. Then she hugged me back. My eyes met Callum's.

"My parents and my little sister are all Subsixers," he said.

"How old is she?" I asked.

"Twelve." A sheepish expression settled on his face. "I taught her to read and write, but that's all the education she's ever received. She wants to be an author when she grows up."

"And I look forward to reading her books."

-14-.

"You did it," Katia yelled, and ran to give me a hug. I have a message for you from Lord Gavyn. I'll give it to you later, she added.

Over her shoulder, I made eye contact with the others-Lottius, Skylar, Ravan, Gus, and Jazreel. Everyone converged on us, talking and laughing. Lottius pulled Jazreel along, the poor girl not sure whether she should be included in the hugs. They wanted to hear what I'd said, word for word. I did what I could, but I wasn't a parrot. I finished with "I'll be starting at the Academy on Monday." I hoped Solange hadn't made that up.

Katia squealed. "We have a few weeks till the tourney, so this is perfect."

I laughed. "I'm supposed to charm the students into signing up to fix Rocky Beach, not win tournaments."

The kitchen workers streamed in and out with drinks and food as we talked. The bold ones thanked us. Even Bilal came upstairs to see if we wanted anything else. I don't know how long we talked and plotted before Katia indicated my bedroom with a nod, and we excused ourselves.

"Gavyn asked me to give you this." She pressed a clairvoyant crystal in my hand.

I looked at the CC and frowned. "He said he supports what you are doing and this should help. It is for your eyes only."

I nodded, my heart pounding.

"I'll, uh, leave you alone."

"Thanks. Tell the others I'll be out shortly. Are you meeting Lord Gavyn later tonight?"

Katia blushed and nodded. "Ten o'clock. We have a date."

I glanced at my watch. It was almost eight. She had time. "Don't leave yet, okay? Please." She nodded. "Oh, and make sure I'm not interrupted." I disappeared inside the bathroom, closed the door, sat on the lounge, and activated the crystal.

Light shot from the crystal and Lord Gavyn's face appeared. The picture zoomed out and showed him seated on some sofa, legs crossed and elbow resting on the arm of a chair. He looked furious. Not exactly what I'd expected.

"Listen, Lilith," he said through clenched teeth. "Once again, I'm asking you to send my brother home. You don't need him here. In three months, you'll be together again, so you shouldn't allow him to risk his life." He paused and glowered.

I shook my head in confusion. What was he talking about? I didn't know his brother.

"Celeste is threatening to come to the island to search for Bran. I can put up with his bulls.h.i.t because he loves you, but I will not allow him to drag her down with him because of you. If you truly love Bran, get him off the island before someone discovers his presence and he ends up in your father's dungeons." He scrubbed his face and then disappeared from the image.

My heart pounded with both excitement and dread. Bran. The name sounded familiar. "Bran." I practiced saying the name out loud and closed my eyes to see if an image popped up in my head.

"Celeste has changed," Lord Gavyn said, and my eyes snapped open. He was back with a bottle of water. He chugged and scowled some more. "She took it hard when you left and even harder when Bran disappeared. She left the Guardians and came to find me. If you are her friend as she claims, you do not want her on the island, being brainwashed by your father's minions. I'm begging you"-he made a face as though he'd swallowed something rotten-"get Bran off the island before it's too late. Use Katia to get in touch with me if you run into trouble. Bran can be stubborn." The light dimmed and the recording ended.

Bran.

Whoever he was, he loved me and was on the island because of me. I hadn't met any guy who claimed to love me or know me...

Green Eyes. It had to be him. He knew so much about me, and my reaction to him always defied logic. No, it couldn't be him. He looked nothing like Lord Gavyn, who had silver hair and gray eyes.

I had to know more. I had hours before my midnight date with Green Eyes...with Bran. I couldn't wait that long for answers. Besides, Bran had refused to tell me anything. On the other hand, Lord Gavyn seemed to have no problem talking to me about the past. I was friends with his sister Celeste, whoever she was. I didn't like the part about "brainwashed," though. What did he mean?

I hid the CC in a stack of towels and left the bathroom, almost b.u.mping into Katia, who was pacing in my bedroom.

"Well?" she asked.