Page 92 of Red Ruin

“Not yet. It’s resurrecting lesser monsters.”

“Any ghouls?”

“Possibly,” I hedge, stomach sinking. Ghouls only appear at the highest levels of necromancy.He’s trying to downplay the threat.“The seal is a slow break. But I’ve spent years beside the Kyorgos bloodline. I promise, this thing is stronger than their duke.”

“Your promise is noted.” Unimpressed, he turns back to his keyboard. “Which monsters have youwitnessedrising?”

“It’s kobold season,” I answer carefully.

“Kobolds?” Hetsks. “I’ll pass your report along.”

“Wait.” I clutch the orb. “This monster feels above S-class. Apocalypse tier. When it rises?—”

“Call back when it does,” he says curtly. “Otherwise, handle it yourselves. Imperial forces are stretched too thin to hold your hand for mob-class dregs.”

“It’s not?—”

“Good day, Major Azrid.” The man waves and his image disappears.

I stare into the lightless orb. It reflects my irritated scowl and Remy’s fixation on my throat.

“I should’ve sent scouts to take an official power reading.”Silly me, expecting my word to be enough.

“Faervaine won’t assist,” Remy murmurs. “Not here. Not us.”

I chew my lip, hating the words I’m about to say out loud. “Duke Kevan might come.”

“For you?” Remy asks roughly.

His shadows bite my flesh.

“No.” I snort and calm his silks. “He’d never come for me.”

But Kevan would be interested in devouring all the undead magic leaking from that seal.

A few years ago, I had the plague so bad the duchess called for a priest. While I was dying, Kevan left to raid a tomb. After my miracle recovery, he came home with new powers.

At the time, I was so proud, watchingmySentinel grow stronger. He did apologize for leaving me alone. Even thanked me for letting him go in my time of need.

Stupid, stupid Guide.

“Tell me,” Remy drawls. “How did you become tangled with that lich?”

“Doesn’t matter. You’ll forget the story, anyway.”Like I wish I could.

“I’ve memorized your name.”

“Wow. Amazing.”

Remy licks my neck bones. “Iris Azrid.”

“Be serious.” Shivering, I jump off his lap. “We need to plan for the worst. It would help if we knew what the ancients buried down there.”

“Thereisan archive,” Remy offers. “But it may be difficult to access.”

“Why? Where is it?” I’m open to anything that saves me from death by shambling horde.

“In here.” Remy taps his smooth forehead. “Perhaps I was present when the seal was laid.”

---