Page 168 of Wicked Heirs

“Go? Why? What’s—”

“I’ve felt an attempted assault against one of my barriers. You’ve just given me vital intel to determine which one is under threat.”

“Your ward around theVitalium,”he choked. “Hell.”

“That’s exactly what will befall us if I don’t stop this.”

“Dad, no. It’s too dangerous. With theHellbornin play—”

“Son, it’s my duty. Stay withinthe domeat the Academy. Be safe, for the love of the angels.”

With that, I hung up.

And in the very next moment, I was teleporting to one of my lesser known estates where I was housing the key to keeping the monstrous entity that was Constantine Vale apart from the world.

As soon as I arrived, I noticed that my ward was down.

Not just down, ripped apart and burned by the work of aHellborn.

I sent a quick magical SOS to Abigail.

I just hoped she’d get it in time, considering she was currently off-realm in the Empire of the Dragons at their bi-annual peacekeeping summit.

I called my magic, my indigo flames sparking on either upturned palm, and I carefully made my way into the house.

Right away, as soon as I stepped into the entryway, I heard commotion coming from the worst place possible—my lab in the basement.

I took a risk and teleported just outside.

Sure enough, voices reached me, as well as sounds of scraping, thuds, and hell knew what else.

To break into one ofmyproperties… it was unbelievable.

Then again, Constantine’s acolytes were known for their hubris.

They mistakenly believed they were serving a god.

He was nothing but another madman abusing his power.

A madman who’d hurt my son.

These fools succeeding in freeing him was unthinkable.

I peered around and down the rough stone steps that set the tone for the rest of the space, the walls and ceiling white stone also, the place more like a cave than an actual room. My potions and magical ingredients covered the walls, set into the stone shelves. Ancient weaponry including suits of armor were set around the space too.

Over to the right was a large protective golden case housing volumes of my grimoires, including those passed down to me by my parents and my ancestors.

To the left was my white marble work table where I conducted experiments and performed new spells, while practicing known ones to keep my skills sharp.

I shuddered as I saw it wasn’t empty anymore.

No, there now, sprawled across the entire length of it was the unconscious form of Constantine Vale.

They’d also freed him from the incubator Abigail and I had stored his body in to preserve it so it didn’t rot over time.

You should’ve killed him when you’d had the chance.

I gritted my teeth against that voice that still plagued me every now and then three years later.

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