Page 61 of Amethyst and Iron
She turned gracefully, yet also with force and command, in her dark blazer and navy jeans. Her eyes softened. “We were told there was nothing that could be done.”
“Well, our friend has a talent for making the impossible possible,” Velra told her.
“And this is Sylas Morgrave? The necromancer?”
“Yes,” Velra confirmed.
Rhyza smiled. “He has been taking care of my son.” She scented me. “As have you.” Her gaze darted to Velra. “And I already know about you. Laz has barely stopped talking about you ever since he first encountered you in the first Crossborn team meeting many months ago. I’m glad you were finally able to let him in the way you both needed.”
“He’s part of us. All four of us are a unit,” she told Rhyza.
“Yes, that’s my understanding.”
I frowned as I watched the interaction carefully.
“You already knew?” Velra asked. “Even though you’ve been out of contact with Lazriel for a while?”
“I knewofyou, not what you looked like. I had eyes on Lazriel. Eyes that weren’t my own.”
“That protection.”
“That was part of it.”
“Using his father’s resources,” I stated.
“That’s right.” She turned, rather than speaking more to it, and we followed her around a corner to the rear of the property.
It was a patio area complete with a four-seater carved oak table and chairs surrounding it that were upholstered with forest-green cushions.
I noted the expansive garden just beyond that was meticulously tended. Rows of herbs, fruits and vegetables, and climbing flowers wove through stone pathways that were flanked by rose bushes.
My gaze fell to the two torches of multicolored light at either end of the patio area, which were secured into ornate golden holders. Heavy magic gravitated from them.
“These alert me to the presence of magic. It’s how I detected you.” She held up her right hand, gesturing at a thick black skull ring with flaming amber eyes. “This enabled me to seek out the illusion you were casting with your shadows. However, all I could see was the outline of two forms within it, not your identity. I couldn’t scent or hear you either. Borrowed magic has its limitations. I can only use it as it is, not command it to my liking.”
“Being that prepared and possessing these magical resources leads me to deduce that you allowed yourself to be found by us this day,” I spoke.
“Lazriel and I have always been very close. Me being out of contact recently was regrettable, but necessary. And it continues to be.” Her gaze hardened. “I allowed you here today so I can make it clear that the same must apply to you. Laz needs to remain where he is for the time being. It’s actually vital. And I won’t allow anybody to interfere in that.”
She tapped her fingers on her bottle, the ring connecting making a sharp clinking sound.
“I know why you’re here. Lazriel sought his father out to obtain information onPuritas.Rest assured, he will be given more than just information. But not immediately. The Shadowed thrives because information is closely guarded, not given away without great forethought, nor even under extreme duress. All agents of The Shadowed are trained to withstand even the most sadistic and invasive interrogation techniques.” Her eyes flamed. “And, myself, being an agent-adjacent, I am no different. In fact, despiteRemnant’sinitial objections to subjecting somebody he loved to that torturous training, I insisted. To protect our son.” She sighed and perched on the edge of the patio table, swishing the amber liquid around in her bottle. “Only whenRemnantdetermines it safeandLazriel ready will he convey the information that Lazriel seeks.” Shecasually called her claws on her free hand forth and swiped them across her finger. “Also, I’m afraid you can’t use my blood to track my son through me either. I’ve made sure of it, should our enemies ever attempt to use me against him.”
I swept a wave of my magic over the trickle of blood seeping from her skin. As soon as it made even brief contact, a shock assaulted me. A mild one, much like a static shock, but definitive nonetheless. “Your blood has been protected to repel magical influence and interference.”
“Yes.”
I looked at Velra, who scrubbed her hand over her face, distressed that our one viable path to finding Lazriel had been cut off.
Rhyza told us, “If it makes you feel better, know that The Shadowed has already laid waste to five Puritas cells in the last few weeks. The threat is being dealt with, but it’s vast and widespread, more than the Guardian Movement or those beyond the shadows are privy to. It’s also a delicate balance. The danger is when an organization likePuritasbegins to see their enemies coming, to identify their patterns. The Shadowed operates in a way that circumvents that, that allows them to continue to surprise these cells and get to thembeforethey disappear. The Guardian Movement is too infamous a force, requiring protocols to be met that don’t allow for this approach.”
Velra stepped forward. “I understand the need for all this secrecy, but we can’t just leave Lazriel out there.” Her voice hardened and I watched her eyes flame amethyst. “Like Isaid,Lazriel is one of us. Ours.”
Pain lanced through me, making me wince.
It was hers. Through the Soul Brand.
I instinctively went to reach for her, but she evaded my touch, focused on staring down Rhyza Thaine instead.
