Page 98 of Fallen Heirs

“And you’ve become nothing but that madman’s bitch.”

Holy. Fuck.

Lenora’s eyes flamed dangerously, just like his when he was beyond pissed.

He watched warily, bracing himself.

“How dare you speak to your mother in that manner?”

Ore scoffed. “Mymother?You haven’t been that to me in a long time. Let’s face it, you never really were.” As bold as he was, he took another step forward and seethed, “And now you’re a stain on the Hart name. An enemy to us all.”

“I see your father has been poisoning your mind.”

“The only one who’s poisoned is you. You allowed Constantine to corrupt you beyond salvation. All for a warped version of power. The sad thing is, you already had that with my father and I. Or you could have had it if you’d been capable of loving anyone but yourself. Your punishment for siding with Constantine and your crimes against the supernatural world was supposed to be imprisonment in Valmont. But now you’ve signed your death sentence.”

“Wielding celestial magic—”

“I’m not talking about the damage that’s doing to you with every second that you use it. That will take time to bring about your destruction.Obsidianisn’t willing to wait that long. The damage you could do is too severe. Your threat level now matches that of Constantine Vale, andhe’snow marked for death byExemplar.You, mother, are now marked byme.”

She sneered, “You think I won’t do you harm because you’re my son?”

“On the contrary, I expect that you will. I don’t believe you have a single maternal bone in your body. You’ve also allowed that psychopath to warp your mind to such a degree that you’re completely beyond reason.”

“Orpheus—”

“You’re not leaving here with Elliot. You’re not destroyingExemplar.Turn away now, or your acolytes will fall here this night.”

“You’re far too confident. Arrogant, my boy.” She burst out yelling again in the unhinged way she had earlier, “I’m wielding celestial magic! You foolish child!”

“Then give it your best shot,mother.”

She levitated above Talon’s phoenix flames and went to call her power.

“Shields up!” Orpheus called out to his army.

In the next second, they all responded to his order collectively, and I watched as they all slapped what looked like a metal bracelet to their wrists. They pressed a button in the middle of it and then a four-foot metal shield sprung forth with a mixture of magic and technology.

As Lenora’s magic fired their way, it bounced right off and was deflected right back at her, sending her stumbling back.

“MyIlluminex Shields,”my dad breathed, looking out at Orpheus.

Orpheus grinned out at him. “Frederick was very gracious when I requested a fast-tracked supply.”

“I mentioned them once to you in an off-hand manner.”

“I remember everything.”

“He stores information like no one else,” I told my dad.

Ore signaled to Talon, and the latter was speeding over and grasping my dad’s shoulder. “Let’s get you out of here.”

“I can’t leave the battlefield.”

“Obsidian’sgot this. Ore says they can’t get a hold of you, no matter what. We’ve gotta go now.”

He didn’t leave my dad any more choice and there was nothing he could do in his weakened state, as Tal winked at me, then swept my dad up and flew him away at rapid-fire speed into the depths of the sky.

“No!” Lenora cried, catching sight of them, a second before they disappeared from view.

---