Luca couldn’t see the folks by the digital camera flashes, however his solely job was to be seen. Those that didn’t see it dwell would see the video. He moved to indicate totally different angles of his physique whereas Ivanna saved anybody from getting near him. After ten minutes, he returned to his human type and dressed. He smiled and waved on the crowd and the cameras as he returned to the rostrum on the stage.

His eyes nonetheless glowing from the magic of the shift, Luca grinned as he leaned towards the microphone. “Now, who has questions?”

The attendees fired questions at him that he couldn’t hope to listen to, not to mention reply. “Please relax. I can’t hear any of you. In case you type a line, we’ll arrange a microphone. Everybody will get their flip.”

There was a mad scramble to type a line, however the world’s leaders managed to conduct themselves appropriately. The consultant from the UK was the primary in line.

“The place are Therians situated? How can an ‘historical sovereign nation’ simply seem?” he requested.

Luca smiled. “Now that the contracts are in place, I’m joyful to announce that Gaia Theria’s seat of energy is situated on the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia. After negotiating favored nation standing, we now have secured a one-thousand-year lease on the peninsula, though the Therians lived on that land lengthy earlier than Russia was a rustic.

“Although the peninsula isn’t closely populated, quite a few human cities exist in what’s now Therian territory. People are welcome there, however anybody who doesn’t want to proceed dwelling on the peninsula can contact the Therian embassy. We are going to buy your property for larger than market worth and assist cowl your transferring bills.

“Those that keep shall be granted twin Russian-Therian citizenship. We can have customs and an immigration course of like every other nation for guests and immigrants. We don’t need anybody to really feel trapped. Merely put, for those who don’t wish to be there, we don’t need you there. We are going to fee a number of faculties, the place people can research our historic archives and different collected data.”

The subsequent query got here from the Argentine consultant. “In case your seat of energy is situated in Russia, is that the one place Therians dwell? How does a rustic go about negotiating favored nation standing?”

“We’re authorized residents of each nation on Earth, and there are totally different species’ strongholds in a number of international locations. Relating to negotiating favored nation standing, contact the Therian embassy in your nation as soon as it’s established to inquire about particular necessities.”

The Italian consultant spoke subsequent. “What number of Therian species are there?”

“There are 100 Therian species. Some bloodlines died out over the centuries, although.” Luca nodded at Ivanna, who gestured for her six crew members to unfold throughout the open area whereas she remained by the king’s aspect. “In case you flip your consideration to the garden once more, you will notice representatives of the tiger, wolf, horse, bear, moose, and raven shifters.”

The shifters had been all a number of occasions bigger than their animal counterparts, and so they had been a powerful bunch. They every stayed of their Therian varieties for ten minutes because the onlookers stared in awe, then returned to their human shapes.

The subsequent query got here from the German consultant. “Why did the hidden world keep secret for thus lengthy?”

Luca laughed bitterly. “Salem. The Spanish Inquisition. Nazis. Apartheid. Slavery. Racism. Human historical past proves that something totally different or misunderstood shall be punished. Worry of the unknown can result in violence and misunderstandings. There was no want for anybody to die, and till lately, it didn’t appear that humanity was prepared for the reality. Superstition and an absence of correct data will be harmful. Rumors and lies kill as simply as weapons.”

The Australian consultant requested, “Why reveal yourselves now, then?”

“Nadya pushed the timeline by killing a information anchor on dwell tv and declaring the vampire race superior, however I had all the time deliberate to disclose our presence after I ascended to the throne. Additionally, know-how has superior to the purpose that this message shall be unfold worldwide earlier than the press convention is over. Till now, that would not have occurred, and it was a big consider our determination.”

“You’re asking us to belief vampires?” The French consultant scoffed. “By all accounts, they feed on human blood. How are we presupposed to reconcile that with the peaceable picture of them you painting?”

Luca shook his head. “It’s not my job to persuade you that vampires aren’t harmful, and it could be a lie. In fact, they’re harmful. So am I. So are you. It isn’t my place to discuss vampire affairs, and it violates our peace treaties for me to take action. I can prepare a gathering with their new monarch, however I can’t talk about her or her motivations past my honest perception they’re real.”

He answered questions patiently for one more hour earlier than calling the press convention to a detailed. Among the representatives had been shivering, and it wasn’t truthful to maintain them standing exterior.

“Thanks all for coming and in your curiosity in my folks. I’m afraid that’s on a regular basis I’ve for immediately. Please go to TherianEmpire.com for the solutions to a lot of your questions and the contact data to determine a Therian embassy in your nation.” Snow started falling. “I think about we’ll see one another once more quickly, and subsequent time, we are able to meet inside.”

Luca and the opposite Therians moved swiftly towards the car parking zone, desirous to be away from the noise of the group, who’d gathered in teams for frantic dialog. When he was behind the tinted home windows of his SUV, he breathed a sigh of reduction. That had gone significantly better than he’d hoped, however the subsequent few days would present how humanity reacted.

“Thanks, Ivanna,” he started as she drove towards the airport. “Please categorical my gratitude to your folks as effectively, although I’ll thank them in particular person. They went above and past immediately, and I gained’t overlook it.”

“You’re welcome, Sire. We had been all honored to serve you immediately. Additionally, thanks for permitting me to develop the King’s Guard.”

Luca smiled. “You had been proper, and it could have been silly to not hear. I spent a few years round Nikoli’s guards, and so they had no sense of goal or unity. Your folks really feel like a crew, and also you’re an amazing chief. We’re fortunate to have you ever, and it’s necessary that you just really feel valued and appreciated.”

Ivanna grinned at him within the rearview mirror as she skillfully merged onto the interstate. “Thanks, Luca. That’s a beautiful factor to say. You’ve been a rattling positive king to this point. We’re fortunate to have you ever, too. Now, let’s go dwelling.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Therian Palace, Friday, January 18, 2013, Morning

After a productive week spent recruiting vampires, Ash’s eagerness to return dwelling to her mate and put together for her mother and father’ go to had reached new heights. Luca’s reveal on the United Nations had gone much better than that they had hoped, and he could be tied up in conferences for months ironing out supernatural/human relations. He’d promised to fulfill her on the palace on Friday.

Dani’s name informing her that their mother and father had been coming had been a shock. They’d solely stated that they had a beautiful shock and would make their technique to the palace on their very own with the panthers. She didn’t know what to anticipate when she returned, however she couldn’t wait to search out out.

Supply: www.seynovel.com