The roof of the Integration Council building felt like standing on the edge of the world.
Twelve beings that predated human civilization stood in perfect formation around us, their presence making the air itself hum with ancient power. Up close, they were even more intimidating than they'd appeared from the window.
The dragon—because it was definitely a dragon—was the size of a city bus, with scales that shifted color like oil on water. The six-winged angel radiated light that didn't quite behave like normal illumination. And the phoenix... the phoenix was made of what looked like living starfire, beautiful and terrifying at the same time.
"Alexander Kane. Scarlett Hunter." The voice came from all of them simultaneously, a harmony that bypassed my ears and spoke directly to my bones. "You carry the first true hybrid in ten thousand years."
"Nice to meet you too," I said, because sometimes sarcasm was the only way to deal with the impossible.
