“Some risks aren’t worth risking,” he spoke softly. His eyes changed to a bright pink then back to brown. “You’ve waited too long to die now, right before it’s over.”

Everest crouched back down and took the man’s hand in both of his, squeezing it tight. “Thank you. But don’t you think of dying on us⁠—”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.” When Everest dropped his hand, the man ran his fingers through Saber’s black hair. “My secrets would start unraveling eventually.”

Everest stood and turned to Riah. “Will it be the same for him as the others?”

Riah pursed his lips like he was thinking about it. “Similar, but different. He will need the magic of his mountains to help him heal at first. Then he will need Issale.”

“Magic of his mountains?” Tyce scowled. “That’s not Issale?”

“Appalachia,” Savannah whispered. When everyone looked to her, she shrugged. “There’s magic in them mountains, ain’t no other talk’d ‘bout like them.”

“The Darkling is correct. From one Appalachian to another.” Riah winked at her. “Akecheta needs⁠—”

“Akecheta?” Koth flinched. His head whipped back and forth to everyone else like he was seeing if they’d heard what he had. “I don’t understand. No, wait, no. That’s no—-how—no.”

“My Lord?” Dace whispered.

“Akecheta was the first Shaman of Issale.” Koth put his hands on his hips and stared down at Akecheta. “Eight hundred years ago, minus a few months, a man named Akecheta arrived by escort of angels to Issale. Akecheta was our first Shaman. Our race’s survival is a product of Akecheta’s arrival.”

“I know the legend.” Silas narrowed his eyes. “Shifters are not immortal. You cannot be Akecheta⁠—”

“Oh, but I am. I am Akecheta.” Everest and Saber helped him sit up then slowly slid him over to lean against the wall. Akecheta let out a shaky breath as fresh blood trickled from his wound and slid down his bare stomach. The rest of us moved in close again. His eyes flashed different colors rapidly and those black lines spread across his face. “I am also Elan.”

“How,” Koth whispered.

“The what, how, and why I am is not a conversation for today. I am not yet free to divulge all my secrets, for the consequences of doing so would put other lives at stake. Lives I am not willing to risk.”

Saber squeezed his hand and held it up to cradle against her face. He stared at her with affection in his eyes.

Saber sniffled.

“OH.” When everyone looked to me, I blushed. “Sorry. I just realized—ignore me, keep going.”

Saber grinned. Everest frowned.