Page 119 of Rose and Shadows
“She did that for your father? To be with him?”
“Partly, yeah. Also because she saw what it can do to people when my father was corrupted by it for a long time, and it became a point of trauma for her and that process was the cure. But most don’t survive it. So much so that Cornelius destroyed the spell, one that took centuries to crack.”
Him and his unilateral decisions that impacted so many. The danger of that sort of thinking had been slammed into me over and over lately, and this was yet another instance of it.
“Fortunately, you have been found to be naturally immune to the effects of it.”
“Unfortunately, though, it’s not something you can replicate. The death magic running through my veins won’t allow that.”
Before he could answer, this time his phone buzzed.
He pulled it out and swiped it open, then I saw him frowning.
Then a smile spread over his face.
He stowed it away and told me, “Remnant has just contacted me. He’s raided the location of Victor Halrow’s hybrid army and turned them all over to the Guardian Movement.”
“That’s his version of a peace offering to you.”
“Yes. And it’s a powerful one.” He stepped up to me and laid his hand on my shoulder. “I need to head back now. You get to your loves. Keep me posted and I’ll do the same.”
“I will.”
“This must be done as a joint effort for us to succeed, Sylas.”
“I know,” I admitted. “I’m not planning any wild unilateral moves. Too much is at stake.”
He nodded, then led me out of his home flanked by a forest.
In the next moment, he teleported out.
I was about to do the same, when I realized I needed to take a beat before heading to Solumira.
Decisions would need to be made and they would be met with a lot of heat and worry that I’d have to allay. Kind of hard to do when I was worried myself.
Things were different now.
It wasn’t just about me.
It wasn’t just about saving unknown people to me either.
This was my family.
Our unborn child.
Before I knew it, I’d walked a good two hundred feet into the forest.
I pulled out my phone and sent a text back to Velra and Cassius, then one to Kai.
And then I called Lazriel.
It rang and rang, but he didn’t pick up.
Yeah, it had been a long shot, because I knew he was in deep talks with his mom, Jaxon, and Vorzyr right now. And when Jaxon was leading those sorts of meetings with the Shifter Stabilization Unit he didn’t like any external distractions.
I went to put my phone away, but rustling through the trees caught my attention, pulling me up short.
It wasn’t windy.
