Page 160 of Rose and Shadows
“Myself and a unit of The Shadowed were decimating the last outlyingPuritascell and at the tail end, a force of Dark Fae arrived on scene. They were sent by Morien, not Gregor. And they were infused with his necromantic abilities like we first encountered at the CRS facility.”
“Shit, no,” Lazriel breathed.
Cassius, Ketheron, and I exchanged a look at the disastrous implications.
They captured my unit and I in Undead Domination.” He grimaced. “That was when I was wounded. They tore the hearts from the chests of twenty of my agents. I was next in line until Undead Domination was shattered as they were ripped apart.” He looked out at us, before returning his gaze to Lazriel. “By Vorzyr Titanus, Jaxon Silver and your mother. She’d led them there to assist as they were nearby scouting out resources for Vyrn Hollow when your mother felt my distress.”
“Dad,” Lazriel rasped, grasping Remnant’s hand on him.
“Your mother is well.” He looked out at us. “Before my almost untimely death, Morien’s force delighted in telling me that Morien has located one of the hybrid sanctuaries. As Ryker had feared, a recent transfer of more seeking safety and care inadvertently drew attention and outed the location.”
A chill rolled down my spine.
At the same time, adrenaline surged like a motherfucker.
All eyes were on me in the next moment.
“This is Morien lashing out and panicking after what happened during your captivity,” Cassius spoke, nailing it completely.
“Those in a reckless state of mind are doomed to make catastrophic errors in judgment,” Ketheron said.
I smiled. “Absolutely.”
That’s right—smiled.
Because this was it. My father had made a serious mistake.
One that would shortly become afatalmistake.
I snatched up my journal and tore out the page I needed. No time to test the theory I’d worked out here.
It was down to the wire now.
It was fucking time.
“I’ll head to Cornelius and Warlow to ready the hybrid group to draw out Gregor and the rest ofPuritas,” Velra spoke. She eyed Cassius. “Get Ketheron to Haven Initiative with Ariana andthe children, then come to me so you can determine the energy signatures of eachPuritasmember using Celestial and black magic. We need to get them to the Celestial children as soon as possible for them to lock onto, so they can draw out the power.”
“I have already alerted Ambrose, who has made himself reachable now, fortunately,” Remnant spoke. “He will arrive at Haven Initiative within the next few minutes.”
“Perfect,” Velra said. She looked at me. “You’ll need to send the Dark Fae signatures from your end too for the Celestial children to draw on.”
Ketheron went to Cassius, and Cassius tucked him into his side.
Ketheron had the means to do this and to do it well, but it didn’t mean he was fond of this sort of thing. Fuck, all he wanted was peace, care, and belonging.
Soon he’d have it.
That was what this would bring into being. Through sheer force of will if needs be.
I focused back on what Velra was conveying and confirmed, “Will do. Luring that fool and his followers into a trap that will mean their demise will be due justice.”
Sort of.
They’d still be alive because the Guardian Movement wouldn’t kill if there was another option—like taking them down and de-powering them.
Remnant caught my eye as I spoke the words.
Because he knew me well at this point, having studied me deeply.
