Page 44 of Cursed Shadows

The only thing I do care about, the only purpose that drives me, is revenge. Revenge against Variant. And I believe this angel crossbreed is the answer to defeating Variant, because she has power within her that none of us has yet to fully understand. Even Eilish doesn’t understand just who she is and what she’s capable of.

My thoughts return to the moment I followed Cambion into Eilish’s bedchamber. As soon as I passed through the doorway, bright, white feathered wings burst from her back, proving she was an intact angel—and intact angels are and have been outlawed for quite some time, according to one of Variant’s many edicts.

Interesting that not only does she possess white, angelic wings but she also possesses dark and rubbery demon wings,I think.

She’s clearly a crossbreed. And as a crossbreed, I’m convinced, she’s all the more powerful, able to draw on the powers of light and dark. Furthermore, I must also admit this darkness within her appeals to the darkness within me. I knew there was something about her that called to me. Something that existed beyond the glow of her lightness.

Unlike Dragan, I’m not attracted to her angelic nature. Her lightness might entrance him, but it does nothing for me.

It’s her shadows that pull me in,I tell myself.She’s a creature of the darkness as much as I am. And yet, she also exists in light. She’s able to travel both realms.

Then why did she appear to be dying when she was in the Shadow Realm?I wonder. I don’t have an answer just yet, but I ponder the question all the same.

I must admit I find the girl to be quite fascinating…

For a long time, the only sound comes from our footsteps crunching the dirt and rocks underfoot. We encounter no other travelers, but my ears stay piqued for thieves and others looking for trouble. Occasionally, Dragan or I stop and strain to listen to the wind, hoping for clues as to what may lie on the road ahead.

“Regardless of what Eilish wants,” Dragan starts in a low and confidential tone as he catches up to me. He faces me with a dour expression. “Do we have an agreement that you’ll find your own way once Cambion creates the stone and your memories are returned?”

I smile at him but my smile is hard. “I want out of your company just as much as you want out of mine,” I assure him.

“Very good,” he says and drops back, presumably to walk alongside the girl.

Dragan doesn’t trust me and, more specifically, he doesn’t trust me with regard to Eilish. I believe he can detect the connection between the two of us and he doesn’t like it. I can’t say I like it much either, but it’s there, all the same.

I remember the first time I laid eyes on her in Grimreap. Although I was bathed in shadow and as such, invisible to the naked eye, Eilish was able to detect me anyway. We locked gazes and it was at that moment I realized there was something quite… remarkable about her.

When she channeled a vision of my rebirth, in which she watched me crawl from my grave, I was further stunned. And once I learned she, too, heard the voice of Morrigan, the Midnight Queen, it only cemented our connection. At least in my own mind.

Yes, I will be on my way once Cambion attempts to restore my memories to me. Regardless of the pull I feel towards Eilish, I prefer my solitude.

The sound of an engine echoes in front of us.

“We need to hide,” I announce, spotting an unkempt graveyard not more than ten feet away. The headstones are old but still erect. They’re large enough to conceal a grown man.

“Whoever it is, they yield to us,” says Cambion proudly.

As a general rule, I seek to avoid confrontation. Furthermore, it’s paramount to know who or what I’m dealing with before I find myself in a bad situation. I tell him as much.

The sound of the engine is followed by the crunching of tires traveling slowly along the dirt road. Whatever the vehicle is, it’s old and heavy. The engine sputters and then dies. Moments later, we hear it rev back to life.

Dragan’s low growling voice rises in contradiction to Cambion. “Baron is right. We need to get off the road.”

“They won’t see us,” Cambion argues, waving away our concern with a disinterested hand. “I’ve magicked us to pass without notice.”

“Your magic isn’t immune to other magic,” Dragan says simply but his tone is one of acid. In general, Cambion and Dragan have been at each other’s throats since we began this merry adventure.

“And Variant’s emissaries will be very aware that all of us possess magic,” I add.

I see Cambion’s face flush in annoyance and I turn toward the curve in the path. Our visitors are still shielded by the outcropping of poplar trees that line the road, but it won’t be long before we come face to face. We don’t have time for another ego war. We need to move out of the way, and we need to do so quickly.

Cambion’s voice rises, drowning out the approach of the vehicle. “We are kings; we don’t hide from threats.”

“We are kings, yes. We aren’t fools,” growls Dragan.

Cambion laughs. “Is that your plan moving forward, then? To shrink away from anything we may encounter?” He shakeshis head and scowls at the larger man. “You’re weak, Dragan. I never thought the day would come that my courage would surpass yours. Don’t forget who and what youwere.”

“There’s no room for pride here,” Dragan lashes back at him. “Only strategy. No one doubts you’re a fucking king, you stupid son of a bitch.”

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