43. Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Two
Heart
I stood inside the room with my fighters around me, annoyance coursing with me at the briefing Varik and the Spade King had given me before we entered the room. I didn’t like how this would go but it was going to be needed.
"Alright, everyone," I called out, my voice carrying the authority earned through years of leading desperate raids and impossible missions.
The golden patterns beneath my skin pulsed with controlled tension as I surveyed the assembled fighters—men and women who'd followed me through hell itself, now potentially harboring enemies in their midst.
Martha stepped forward, her scarred face impassive but alert.
Through the protective shadow magic Seth had placed on her years ago, she appeared completely normal to my enhanced senses—no corruption, no foreign influence.
Just the steady, reliable lieutenant who'd saved my life more times than I could count.
"Sir?" she prompted, noting my hesitation.
"We're implementing enhanced security protocols," I announced, hating how the words tasted like betrayal on my tongue. "After the recent attacks, we need to verify that everyone with access to sensitive information hasn't been compromised by enemy magic."
"How certain are we?" she asked, her voice carrying the authority of a leader. Even as a beta she had more Alpha leadership qualities.
I met Martha's gaze directly, seeing the understanding in her eyes. She'd been with the resistance long enough to know the implications of what I wasn't saying.
"Certain enough that we can't afford to take chances," I replied, the golden patterns beneath my skin flickering with the weight of command decisions. "Varik has developed detection methods that can identify blood magic corruption. Everyone in this room will be tested."
A murmur ran through the assembled fighters—some concerned, others indignant. I raised my hand for silence, feeling their emotions through the bond that connected me to Alice even at this distance. Her strength flowed through our connection, steadying my resolve.
"I know this feels like a violation of trust," I continued, my voice carrying both authority and regret. "But we've identified at least three sources of blood magic corruption within the Sanctuary. Someone we've welcomed, someone we've trusted, has been feeding information to the enemy."
The murmur grew louder, anger mixing with fear as the implications sank in. I watched their faces carefully, noting who seemed genuinely shocked versus those whose reactions felt rehearsed or calculated.
"Sir," called out Marcus, one of my newer recruits, his voice tight with concern. "What kind of testing are we talking about? Some of us have... complicated magical histories."
"The process is non-invasive," I assured him, though I could feel my own discomfort with the partial truth. "Varik's devices can detect corruption without causing harm. But it does require direct contact."
"And if someone refuses?" asked Elena, a veteran fighter whose loyalty I'd never questioned until now.
The question hung in the air like a blade. I felt the golden patterns beneath my skin pulse with territorial heat as I considered my response.
"Then we'll know exactly where to focus our attention.” Chi muttered loud enough for everyone to hear as he materialized beside me.
His form, solid and imposing as he surveyed the assembled fighters.
His unexpected appearance caused several to step back, the patterns dancing across his skin casting an ethereal glow across the chamber.
"This isn't optional," I added, grateful for Chi's blunt intervention. "The pattern is at stake. Alice's safety is at stake."
Martha nodded firmly, stepping forward with the decisive action that had made her my most trusted lieutenant.
"I'll go first," she announced, her scarred face resolute as she turned to address the others.
"If the commander needs to verify our magical signatures, then that's what we do. No questions, no hesitation."
I felt a surge of gratitude for her leadership, even as the knowledge of Seth's secret protection made my stomach twist. How many other decisions had been made for me without my knowledge?
"Good," I said, hoping my voice didn't betray the complex emotions churning through me. "Varik and the King of Spades will be conducting the screenings. I know some of you have... reservations about His Majesty's involvement."
Several fighters shifted uncomfortably at the mention of Seth. I couldn't blame them—the Shadow King's reputation preceded him, and trust didn't come easily to those who'd survived this long through paranoia and careful calculation.
"The devices require specific expertise to operate safely," Chi added, his tail flicking once with emphasis. "The King's void magic can detect corruption patterns that might otherwise go unnoticed."
"Where's Alice during all this?" Elena asked, her eyes darting between Chi and me with obvious concern.
"Safe," I replied immediately, feeling the golden bond pulse with protective heat. "She's with the Tweedles, away from any potential threat.”
Varik bounced into the chamber at that moment, his wild green eyes gleaming with manic enthusiasm as he brandished his collection of detection devices.
"The magical stabilization is complete, and my beauties are ready for their debut performance!
" He adjusted his precariously tilted hat, nearly dropping the primary detector in the process.
Several fighters instinctively stepped back from his chaotic energy, but Martha held her ground with characteristic steadiness. "What do you need me to do?" she asked simply.
"Just hold still while this lovely device makes contact with your skin," Varik replied cheerfully, approaching with the crystalline detector Seth standing behind him, his shadows at his feet. "You might feel a slight tingling sensation, but nothing more dramatic than a mild static shock."
Martha extended her arm without hesitation, rolling up her sleeve to expose scarred flesh earned through countless battles.
The moment Varik's device touched her skin, it began to hum with quiet energy.
The crystalline components remained clear, showing no trace of red or purple corruption.
Seth's shadows curled briefly around the device, confirming what we already knew—Martha was protected, her consciousness shielded from the Red Queen's influence.
"Clean as a whistle!" Varik announced with theatrical flourish. "Not a trace of blood magic corruption to be found."
Martha nodded once, rolling her sleeve back down with military precision. "Next?" she asked, already turning to organize the remaining fighters into an efficient line.
I watched as one by one, my most trusted lieutenants stepped forward for testing.
The process moved quickly for most—Varik's device remaining clear as it made contact with their skin, Seth's shadows confirming the absence of corruption.
Each clean test eased the tension in my shoulders incrementally, the golden patterns beneath my skin pulsing with cautious relief.
Until we reached Marcus.
The moment Varik's device touched the young fighter's forearm, the crystalline components flared bright red. The humming intensified to an almost painful pitch, and Marcus jerked back as if burned, his eyes wide with shock that looked entirely genuine.
"I don't understand," Marcus stammered, staring at his arm where the device had made contact. "I've never... I would never betray the resistance!"
Seth's shadows immediately coiled around Marcus, not restraining but examining. The darkness writhed with obvious distaste as it encountered the blood magic corruption, and Seth's expression grew grim.
"The corruption is layered," Seth said quietly, his voice carrying centuries of experience with such magic. "Passive surveillance, not active control. You may not even be aware of it."
Marcus's face went pale, his hands trembling as the implications sank in. "Are you saying I've been uncourteous betraying everyone?”
"Not betraying," Seth corrected, his shadows flowing around Marcus without quite touching him. "Being used as an unwilling conduit. The blood magic signature suggests observation rather than control—a passive listening post rather than an active agent."
The room had gone deathly quiet, every fighter watching with a mixture of horror and suspicion. I felt the golden patterns beneath my skin pulse with protective heat as I moved closer to Marcus, studying his shocked expression with centuries of experience reading people.
"When did you join us?" I asked, keeping my voice deliberately neutral despite the rage building inside me. Not at Marcus, but at my mother for her insidious methods.
"Three months ago," Marcus whispered, his face ashen. "After the raid on the southern outpost. I was the only survivor."
Seth's shadows coiled tighter, forming brief analytical patterns before dissolving back into formless darkness. "The corruption is approximately that old…it is probably why you were the only one left alive.”
"They wanted you as a spy," I said grimly, watching realization dawn across Marcus's features. "Not just any spy—an unwitting one."
Marcus swayed, his legs nearly giving out beneath him. Elena caught his arm, steadying him despite the revelation of his corruption. Through our bond, I felt Alice's distant concern pulsing golden as she sensed my emotional turmoil.
"Can you... remove it?" Marcus asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "Whatever she put inside me?"
Seth's shadows flowed closer, examining the blood magic with cold precision. "Yes, but the process isn't pleasant. Blood magic this sophisticated has likely embedded itself throughout your consciousness. Extracting it will be... painful."
"I don't care," Marcus said immediately, his face hardening with determination. "I'd rather die than be her puppet."
"No one's dying," I stated firmly, “After everyone is tested we will make sure it is removed…for now Chi will take you to a sealed chamber so no more information is passed along.”
Marcus gave a nod, though I could see he wanted to say more but the look of defeat was on his face. I glanced at Chi who moved toward us.
Chi's form solidified as he approached Marcus, his tail wrapping loosely around the young fighter's wrist. "This way," he said, his voice gentler than I expected. "The isolation chamber will block any magical transmissions while we prepare for the extraction."
Marcus nodded numbly, allowing Chi to guide him toward the door. As they passed, Marcus caught my eye, his expression haunted with betrayal—not directed at me, but at the circumstances that had made him an unwitting tool.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, and through our bond, I felt Alice's distant empathy pulse golden and warm.
"This isn't your fault," I assured him, clasping his shoulder briefly. "We'll fix this."
After Chi led Marcus away, the tension in the chamber thickened. Every remaining fighter looked at their comrades with new suspicion, wondering who else might be carrying corruption without knowing it.
“Who is next?” Varik asked cheerfully, but I could hear the undertone of sadness but covered it quickly.
The testing continued with agonizing thoroughness.
One by one, each fighter stepped forward, extending their arms for Varik's crystalline device.
Most remained clear—the detector humming softly before going quiet, Seth's shadows confirming the absence of corruption.
But the atmosphere had changed. Where before there had been nervous anticipation, now there was cold dread.
Elena stepped forward next, her weathered face set in grim lines. She'd been with us for over a year, surviving three major raids and countless smaller skirmishes. When Varik's device touched her skin, it remained mercifully clear.
"Clean," Varik announced, though his usual theatrical enthusiasm had dimmed considerably.
Two more fighters passed without incident. Then came David, a communications specialist who'd joined us six months ago after his village was razed by the Red Queen's forces. The moment the detector made contact, purple light flared making everyone in the room tense.
David looked at the device with annoyance before a bitter chuckle left him, “It seems like I have been found out.”
The air in the room thickened as David's eyes hardened, shifting from shock to cold calculation in an instant. Unlike Marcus's genuine horror, David's expression revealed a man who had been caught but felt no remorse.
"How long?" I demanded, the golden patterns beneath my skin flaring with barely controlled rage.
"From the beginning," David replied, his voice eerily calm as he glanced around the room. "Your mother sends her regards, by the way." Before anyone had time to react he moved, dagger out and lodging itself into my chest, causing pain to explode through me.