Page 84 of When Monsters Rise
Bloodspurted, and the watcher hit the ground on his knees, hands going up to try and cover the wound, while he stared up atBaraqelin shock.Buthis eyes quickly drifted closed, and he fell onto his side, dead.
Menuqelstepped back, hands going up to ward offBaraqel. “Please.I’msorry.I’m—”
Baraqeljerked his head toward his other scouts, who grabbed hold ofMenuqel.
“Youwanted to make a deal with theDominionat one time,”Menuqelsaid. “Youwere going to betrayShem.”
Baraqel’sjaw hardened, his lip curling in disgust. “Backthen, we didn’t know the truth of what they do to the humans in their care.Wedidn’t know that they’d orchestrated this mess.Backthen,Iwas a blind fool, but what is your excuse?”
Hedidn’t wait for an answer before snapping the watcher’s neck.
Heturned to me, chest heaving with emotion. “Youhave my support, human.”Hestrode from the room and out into the night.
Ilet him go.He’ddone exactly whatI’dhoped.
Therats were gone, and the standard had been set.
Traitorswould meet death.
Notrial.
Nojury.
Andgoing forward, that would be my way.
Chapter37
Beehelped me clear out the study and turn it into a sleep area.Therewas bedding and supplies in the basement of the church.Thewatchers had always kept this place as a potential hideout.LikeShemhad said, it was only the distance that needed to be traveled to get here that had kept them from using this place.Theyhadn’t wanted to risk losing any of the humans.
Weset out mattresses and blankets on the floor.Thisroom would be a nest for me and my watchers.BeeandBastianwould sleep in here too, andMiraif she wanted.Thewatchers needed to be close to me to feed off the residual power of theMorningstar.
Icleaned and adjusted until my limbs ached and my eyes were heavy.
“Hey.”Bastiangently cupped my shoulders. “Weshould sleep.”
Ilooked about the room to find it already filled with the watchers.Whenhad they come in?
TumielandBeehad taken a bed, andZaqandMiraanother.Sarqstood by the door looking uncomfortable.Iheld out my hand to him. “Youcan sleep beside me andBastian.”
Ourbed was in the center of the nest to allow the watchers to have contact with me during the night.They’dreach out to touch my hand or foot or stroke my hair, reacting to theMorningstarpower that resonated through me.
“I’llbe sleeping in the scouts’ room tomorrow.”
Bastiantensed. “What?”
“Iwon’t allow them to devolve.”Thewatchers were connected to theMorningstarpower throughShem, and his troop had been the closest to that power.Itwas how so many watchers had resisted devolution all this time.Butnow…now,Iwas the only connection to theMorningstar.Theyneeded me, and if we were going to fix this world, thenIneeded them. “WithShem…with him gone, the connection to the power is weaker for our group.Ineed to keep all our active watchers fueled.”
“I’llspeak toBaraqeltomorrow,”Tumielsaid. “We’llfigure out a rota so that every watcher benefits.”
Isettled onto the mattress withBastianplaying big spoon, andSarqlay facing me, his amber eyes gleaming dully in the gloom.
“Itwill be all right,” he said softly. “Wewill finish whatShemstarted.Ivow it.”
Mysmile felt out of place on my face, at odds with the sadness inside me. “Thankyou.”
“Sleepnow,”Bastiansaid. “We’vegot you.”
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