Page 168 of Cursed Heirs

I peered closer and caught sight of none other than Saryan Hart flying above the field of battle, his hand clasped in Edgar Marlowe’s, who was grimacing with each blast, indicating that Saryan was channeling him.

In moments my opponents were wiped out.

I looked to see that they were miraculously still breathing.

Miraculous, because Saryan had been involved.

He touched down with Edgar at his side and I watched him stumble in his step, Edgar having to stabilize him and wrap his arm around him as they approached me.

“You didn’t kill them,” I spoke, more than a little surprised, given his policy when it came to the rules of engagement during battle.

“I made peace with Abigail. I wanted to honor that.”

I frowned. “Made peace?” And then something more shocking than that occurred to me. “She healed you. How? The two of us were working on a long-shot, but—”

“She siphoned me, El.”

I shifted my weight, the awful implications sending a shudder through me. “Excuse me? You’re certain?”

“I’m free of all black magic. She absolutely siphoned me. Every drop of it. And not just me either. She’s doing the same for Alena as we speak, and every being infected. She’s latched onto the infection itself and she’s drawing it out of every single being, wiping it out of the supernatural world entirely and drawing it all into herself.”

“No, she wouldn’t… it would… she wouldn’t allow that level of corruption….”

I dropped my shield in my upset and he laid his hand on my shoulder. “I’m sorry, El. She intends to extinguish it tonight by sacrificing herself.”

“Father!” Orpheus cried, suddenly teleporting right beside us. He reached out and studied his father in utter astonishment. “You’re well. What happened? She found a cure already? How is this possible?”

Saryan reached out and ruffled his son’s hair. “I am well, my son. Unfortunately, the price is Abigail.”

He put the pieces together impressively quickly. “She siphoned you. Fuck, that was what all that talk about me becoming a member ofExemplarwas about, claiming she was no longer what the supernatural world needed to safeguard it.”

“She spoke those words to you?” I asked.

He nodded.

I cursed under my breath. “She’s tired. She’s tired of it all.” I gritted my teeth. “Foolish woman, that doesn’t need to mean her demise.”

“I agree,” Saryan said. “Let her draw the black magic out of Alena and Constantine, then put her in stasis, and you and I will work together to find a way to cure her of it.”

“You would offer DFR resources for this?”

“Yes. No more separation. It’s time old upsets and vendettas were risen above.”

“Thank you,” I said, taking his hand.

He smiled. “Of course. Now go to her.” He gestured around the battlefield, how many opponents we’d already downed. “It seems things are under control here.” He eyed his son. “Impressive.”

I nodded, then took one look back at my son who was holding strong against two magic-wielders in the distance now that he had his magic back.

And then I teleported out to stop this awful strategy of Abigail’s from coming to pass.

38

~Talon~

I woke up with one hell of a pounding fucking head.

I remembered shortly after Constantine had snatched us, he’d brought us to a fancy mansion and the moment he’d dragged us through the double entrance doors, Orpheus’ traitorous mother had been there and blown some Dark Fae dust at us that had knocked both me and Alena out in seconds.

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