Page 39 of The Lands Defying
Just as I’m about to pull him out of it, his eyes shimmer with tears as he looks at me.
“Forgive me,” he says. “I failed in protecting you all.”
I shake my head. “Sometimes the monsters are just too clever.”
He grits his teeth but nods, placing the crystal down on the table.
“The ritual he did was to steal the power of an Heir and instill it into himself. But he didn’t manage to get it all as your mother cursed the lands, or more so Zahariss did.”
“She did?” I ask, feeling the weight of my mother being the cause already lifting from me.
He nods. “I don’t think Zahariss was very happy with what was happening to her chosen Heir, and she is punishing him for it. But in kind, it is punishing us all.” We all sit with that knowledge for a moment. “When she did that,” Edward continues. “Most of Catherine’s power was drained, and therefore, Charles wasn’t able to steal it all.”
“And that’s why he’s still looking.” Darius fills in the blanks, a growl building up in his chest.
“It must be,” Josh says, a frown on his face.
“If Zahariss did curse the lands, how are we meant to undo it?” Leo asks, and silence fills the room.
I think about what Belldame said about the plane of the Gods and I catch Darius’s eye. He’s thinking the same thing, but also…
“Did you see the rogure?” I ask Edward, noting that he didn’t mention it.
“Yes, I saw them coming out of the ground before the memory stopped.”
I look at Darius. “No, the single one in there. It attacked us when we last went into the memory.”
Edward shakes his head. “No… I didn’t see that.”
Then why did Darius and I get attacked?
“If Charles never received the full power of an Heir,” Damian says. “It makes sense why he has never stopped stealing children.”
“The children we have a list of names on,” I tell Edward and his eyes light up.
“You do?” Taylor grabs the papers off the side and spreads them out along the table. “So many,” Edward says, “and these names are familiar to me. I recognize some I have spoken to when I have been out in the lands.”
“We were in Aliseon today to confront a family. They told us they sold their daughter to Charles.”
The room fills with curses and growls at the news.
“You said you knew where my pack may be?” I ask him.
“And others,” he nods. “I overheard Mathew and Frederick mention they are leaving for a while to a female servant. They ordered her to make sure their offices are kept clean, as well as their rooms that they stay in there. As they walked by the room I was in, they mentioned The Drylands, a place called Zaigar.”
My heart rate kicks up. “We have heard of that name too, in Darius’s father’s notes.”
“Then it must be important. You need to go there, but you have to be careful. If they find you there, there is no hope for us all.” Edward turns to me, gripping my hands tightly. “I wish I could help you more, but my hands are tied with the Higher’s bond. I can only do so much. I am sorry I am so useless to you.”
I shake my head and draw him into a hug. “You saved me Edward. Saved us. You have never been useless.”
And Darius must think so too as he doesn’t growl at the contact between us.
“I cannot stay long. I have to report back,” he says as he pulls back, his eyes sad. “Take care of her, Alpha Darius.”
“With my life.”
“I can take care of myself,” I tell Edward, not wanting him to go so soon.
