Page 42 of Reign of the Beast

She was getting off on the power rush, a hell of an unspoken compliment from her, the most powerful magic-wielder on earth, bar the true Immortals.

“This is why you were meant for the Covenant. I was wrong about what I said before. It’s less about your connection to me than I’d assumed. It’s your abilities. No other non-Immortal magic-wielder can do what you have here. You’re the only one in the world who is this powerful, Ryker.” She pulled back and muttered, “My father was so consumed with his dislike for you that he blinded himself to your true potential, your true value.”

“Well, it’s no wonder. Hewason the verge of losing his mind with Draco rising.”

“For good reason,” she said, coming to his defense. Her face clouded with grief. “He’s… gone now.”

“The likelihood that he’s dead is slim, Mia. They can’t kill each other, remember?”

“If Draco had the right weapon, he could’ve had one of his acolytes do it.”

I stopped short. “What weapon? There’s no record anywhere in the Guardian Archives of anything like that existing. I searched for it while you were gone.”

When she hesitated and turned away, I grabbed her arm, easing her back around to face me. “There’s no more place for secrets. If there’s a weapon out there that can kill an Immortal, we all need to know. Until now I’d thought the only way was supercharging your magic with all three of us binding our power with yours.”

“To wield it, that still needs to happen. Draco would need to infuse his power into one of his acolytes in order to be able to use it against my father. Of course, the chosen acolyte would perish quickly after ingesting his power, as regular supernatural beings can’t withstand or hold pure Immortal power.”

I stepped up close, looming over her. Had she forgotten how well I knew her? It was really obvious she was stalling. “What is the weapon?” I demanded.

“A dagger,” she said. “It’s known asThe Wrath of Hades.”

“Where is it?”

“Hidden beneath layers upon layers of magic.Angelmagic, Ryker. Notfallenangel, Immortal magic. This weapon was never meant to exist. Draco forged it in the fires of Hell when he was a True Celestial, before he fell. Once it was discovered, it was confiscated from him and taken to earth. A weapon like that couldn’t exist on the Celestial Plane. It was too dangerous, having the means to wipe out every being there. Extreme measures were taken to bury it and to ensure it would never be unearthed by any being.

“You aren’t justanybeing. You’re one of them.”

She scoffed. “You thinkIcan find it? No. Even if mymagic was stable and I was once again operating at full capacity, I couldn’t summon enough power to track it.”

“When we join and form the Covenant, you could manage it.”

“Maybe. I don’t know.”

I frowned at her reluctance. “I don’t get it. There’s a weapon out there that can kill our enemy and not only did you fail to disclose it ages ago when we first got word he was coming, but now you’re not even willing to try to find a way to track it?”

She broke eye contact and looked down at her thigh-high boots. “I’m just off my game, I guess. Overwhelmed. My father’s responsibilities have abruptly fallen on my shoulders. I woke up to find we’re steeped in a brutal war. My mate is back in my life, but he’s lost everyone he loves.Andon top of that, he’s apparently far more than a mere wolf. When Lucian had brought up his suspicions, I’d all but dismissed them. But now, after what Draco said yesterday, that’s impossible. He was right.”

“Immortal blood runs through his veins,” I finished for her.

Her eyes shot back to mine. “You knew?”

“I tested his blood a while back. There were tiny traces of Immortal magic. I realized then that Draco’s infection had been his attempt to unbind Jaxon from afar, hoping that he would break through Cornelius’ barrier himself, saving Draco from having to go to such great lengths to see to it. ButIstopped it, wiped out Draco’s magic with Cornelius'.”

“Why didn’t you say anything? He has no clue. That much was clear with the way he was dismissing Draco’s claims.”

“It wasn’t the right time. He was on edge with not being able to find you. He’s still part wolf and with thatcomes an extremely volatile temperament. Telling him that his whole life had been a lie, that his mate’s father was responsible for keeping him in the dark would have complicated everything.. Learning he’s that monster’s descendant? It’s a fuck of a lot to take, Mia.”

“If anyone understands that, it’s me. But he has a right to know.”

“Soon. When we’re ready to join. Once you take in our power, you’ll have the means to stop him if he loses it when he’s unbound. Not everyone can handle great power. It can twist people up. Draco is the living example of that.”

She pinched the bridge of her nose. “Draco told him, Ryker. Why hasn’t he said a word about it since?”

“He’s in shock. His pack was wiped out. Once his brain has been able to play catch up, I’m sure he’ll come to us demanding answers. We can’t risk allowing him to be unbound until one of us is strong enough to stop him if things go south. He’sDraco’sdescendant, not Cornelius'. There’s a darkness in that bloodline.”

“He’s meant to bemymate though. Him going dark doesn’t fit with that.” A gasp escaped her. “Unless that’s why the fates tied us together, to pushmeto the darkness.”

“No.”

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