Chapter 5 Cassius #2
“He told me about your potential cure.” I ground my jaw.
“If my power had not been compromised at the time, I could have retrieved Sorin with assistance from Lazriel’s hunting skills, and thrust him into the Valley of the Dead alongside Sylas, carried out your solution to use Sorin’s death as a sacrifice that would have fueled the death energy and necromantic reset for Sylas, essentially restoring him. ”
“Sylas wasn’t tethered when he entered the Valley of the Dead to save Velra.
He sacrificed his life to return hers. The fact that we pulled him out after he’d done that is already a major violation.
Let alone what you’re talking about. Performing that spell to essential reset him by piggybacking off another would have piled violation upon violation.
Moreover, it would have likely corrupted the spell and resulted in failure anyway.
And using a sacrifice to return him to his natural state sans sickness would cross into black magic territory—something you are well aware of.
If that spell is to ever be performed, it must be at the hands of another learned necromancer.
” He shook his head with disbelief. “While it’s nice to see you becoming more emotionally evolved, be careful.
Your clear affection and care for Sylas that I’m seeing now is impacting your tactical mind.
And your morality. There’s a balance that needs to be struck. ”
“We do what we must to protect the downtrodden and those we care for.”
“You know that was my way of doing things for a long time. But I came to learn that there’s a time and place for such actions, a right way and wrong way.” He eyed me. “Don’t you teach Ritual Ethics now?”
“That concerns restraint upon institutions, the dangers of them exerting too much power and control over individuals, of compromising their freedoms.”
“But institutions are not the only ones who can be guilty of that. Draco, for instance? Corvin? Vorzyr’s grandfather, Malrik Titanus?
Those who wield seemingly indomitable power can impact individuals, can harm and destroy if they are not checked.
If they can’t check themselves and use said power responsibly. ”
“You told me that you would hunt down Puritas alone if you did not receive actionable intelligence and remain looped in.”
“Not without authorization. And the hell I would raise would be controlled, rational, and targeted. No violation of natural laws, causing collateral damage, or becoming one of those unchecked megalomaniacs with too much power that I’ve fought against my entire life.”
“I can draw that line, Kai.”
“Make damn sure you can. Especially as you’re evolving emotionally. Or there will be severe consequences. They’ll come for you, Cassius.”
Before another word could be spoken, a rush of power rolled down the corridor, and Ariana’s silver magic erupted as she teleported in.
Her golden waves cascaded down the shoulders of her signature brown suede jacket and she cocked her hip, slapping her hand to her jeans as she caught sight of Kai.
And she wasn’t alone.
As Kai ended the spell and rushed over to her, wrapping her up in his arms, the corridor reverberated as her companion ran at me, forgetting to check his power in his haste.
“Ketheron,” I choked as he crashed into me, rattling my bones.
“I heard all from Ariana,” he breathed, holding me in an overbearing bear hug. “Thank goodness you are well.”
“I am fine, I assure you.”
He eased back, stilling holding my arms tightly. “It was a close call, as Ariana explained.”
I caught Ariana’s eye and she winced.
It was okay. I knew of her policy to always tell Ketheron the truth, even when it was difficult and upsetting, as was clearly the case for him here when it came to my wellbeing.
After him being manipulated and used and abused for so long at the hands of deplorable beings, she was adamant that he not be lied to in any shape or form.
“It was, yes,” I admitted. “However, I stand before you now well and restored.”
He pressed his hand to my Soul Brand. “This is dangerous.” His eyes flicked to Velra inside the facility, before returning to me. “To both of you.”
“I do not want it gone.”
He eased his hand down. “Of course not. It links you deeply and that connection is important to you and your sweetheart.”
“His sweetheart. That’s adorable,” Ariana commented, coming over to us, now that Ketheron had calmed and gotten that much-needed embrace out of the way.
Kai joined her. He went to tuck her into his side, but she shifted so that she was actually wrapping her arm around him, essentially supporting him in his depleted state with angelic strength without drawing overt attention to it.
She definitely knew him well. Much like Sylas, Kai did not do well with demonstrating any sort of weakness—even temporarily.
“Where are Nyx and Vorzyr?” I asked Ariana.
“Nyx is locked down at Solumira. Vorzyr is keeping him company and trying to take some of the weight off how awful this whole thing is.”
“I helped with an additional ward,” Ketheron said.
“Yeah, Nyx wasn’t exactly happy about it. He wanted to be here to check on Velra. But with Puritas now known to be out there and activating again, we’re not taking any chances.”
“Fuck, no,” Kai agreed, before warning me, “You’ll need to do the same with Lazriel.”
“I’d wager that Grandfather already has a safehouse prepared for him.
Wraeven Academy will need to be reinforced with protections before it can perform such a high-level of safeguarding.
Lazriel is a chief target as stated by a high-ranking Puritas member themselves.
That’s in the process of being confirmed and validated, because the Guardian Movement can’t afford just to take the word of one being, even if it is Lazriel, especially given that he was deep in grief at the time with Velra dying.
But as soon as it’s officially confirmed, it’s likely that Blackline Protocol will be activated.
And in the meantime, they’ll protect Lazriel. ”
“They do not need to. I will see to it.”
“Yes,” Ketheron said. “He will need to be with those he cares for. You now qualify. He needs connection and support, especially while Sylas and Velra remain incapacitated. Isolating and trapping a wolf, even for their own good, will not do well at all.”
He had a great deal of insight into that—being trapped and alone. The fact that he was calling on such horrific memories now in order to help and advocate for another was truly admirable.
I went to reach out to him, but then I was startled as Lazriel rounded the corner with Warlow, the latter growling in our direction, obviously having overheard us moments ago.
“Blackline Protocol and these protections will only be temporary,” Warlow told us.
“Hybrids won’t be forced into hiding once again without an end in sight.
We’ve come too far to allow that. It would only be giving Puritas what they want—allowing fear to define us and control our actions.
” He walked to the windows, staring through at Velra, muttering to himself.
“As if she hasn’t already endured enough of this. ”
I clenched my fists down by my sides. “They believe this is their re-genesis, but it will mark the path toward their ultimate demise.”
My words hung there, falling heavily and profoundly over us all.
Then Lazriel came to me and patted my shoulder. “Nice speech. Just the kind of uplifting shit we need right now.”
His tone appeared sardonic, but I knew better at this point with him.
And even if I hadn’t, the way he clutched at my shoulder, before pulling away made it clear how much he’d needed to hear that, to have that conviction and positive call to fight injected into the despair and pain that was threatening to rule all.
As he was pulling away, something on the back of his hand caught my eye and I snagged his wrist. “What is this?” I asked, drawing it down between us and examining it.
Red veins crawled up his skin.
“Lazriel?” I urged, as I pushed up the sleeve of his crimson tee.
Well, one of Sylas’ rare long sleeve ones that he’d changed into, along with a pair of black cargo pants, when Kai and him had gone to Sylas’ home to retrieve the serum.
Lazriel had been covered in blood, but I doubted changing into those clothes was just about cleanliness—he wanted to smell like Sylas.
I noted that he’d also cleaned the precious bracelet that Velra had made for him and it was near sparkling.
I’d also noticed that he hadn’t once looked back inside that room since he’d come in from his wolf run with Warlow. In fact, he had gone out of his way not to do so.
“It’s nothing.”
Ketheron leaned over to inspect the situation as well. “Blood poisoning.” His eyes flicked to Lazriel. “You ingested the blood of a being touched by death magic? Why? It is known the realm over for its extreme toxicity to vampires.”
“Why are the veins red? They shouldn’t be. Blood poisoning of this nature expresses itself as black veins, sometimes brown in rare cases.”
Instead of answering, he was focused on Ketheron’s question, telling him, “I didn’t… ingest it.”
“Whose is it?” I demanded, an urgency taking me over that I couldn’t contain for the life of me. “Sylas or Velra? If the blood belonged to Sylas, you are in grave danger, given the addition of his sickness on top of the natural toxicity of his blood.”
“When you were unconscious, I fed Velra my blood, before I then moved to do the same to you. I’d gouged open my wrist and it… her blood… it was everywhere. It must’ve gotten inside my system.”
“It absolutely did,” Warlow said, coming over. “Our wolf run was interrupted by him vomiting all over the grass. Have you ever seen a wolf vomit? It’s not a pretty sight.”
As he ruffled Lazriel’s hair, Lazriel grunted, “It wasn’t pretty doing it either.”
Warlow’s magic sparked briefly and then a two-inch glowing green vial sealed with a cork materialized.
“Fortunately, it already occurred to both me and Cor that something like this would happen once we found out Lazriel had gotten so close to Velra, so we took precautions. Ryker contributed some of his defensive magic that has the ability to nullify most other magical properties, and we engineered it into this tonic with a mix of herbs that will soothe his system and hurry the remnants of Velra’s blood out of his system faster than would normally be possible.
It also possesses repairing properties. I gave him one dose outside, but he’ll need another within the next couple of hours.
This dose needs to be taken with a meal. ”
That explained the veins not being what was expected—the tonic was already healing him.
I took it from Warlow and stowed it away with my magic. “I will see to it that he takes it.”
Warlow frowned. “He needs to enter protective custody tonight.”
Yes, no one outside of the four of us were aware that Lazriel already had protection. Given the clandestine nature of those who sought to protect him, it was best no one else was made aware at this juncture.
Just as Lazriel moved to protest, I cut in, “And he will. With myself and Ketheron. He will stay at our apartment.”
I saw a smirk spread over Kai’s lips.
Ariana smiled.
Curses. I had given myself away. Not something I had intended to do yet, especially at this early stage of things.
But I would not allow Lazriel to be shipped off somewhere alone.
He needed to be with those he cared for.
He needed comfort.
And… it was possible that I did just as much.
Lazriel stared at me for a moment.
Then his gaze finally did go to Sylas and Velra inside the facility.
“I can’t leave them.”
Yet, he couldn’t remain here either. It was causing him great distress.
“You need to rest and see to the blood poisoning. They need you strong when they awaken. According to the Healers, Velra won’t rouse for another day. And Sylas… beyond that. Remaining here is not conducive to what is best for the situation or anyone involved,” I told him.
“He’s right, Lazriel,” Warlow said. “They have round-the-clock care here. They’re in experienced hands. And if anything changes, both you and Cassius will be contacted immediately.”
Ariana stepped forward and told Lazriel, “I’ve been asked to seal this Wing anyway, to put up a ward that will only allow the Healers in and out. They’ll be safe and cared for here, and no one outside of the medical staff will be permitted inside.”
“Basically, if you stay here once she puts the ward up, you’re trapped in there until morning,” Kai spoke.
“Even under calm conditions, confinement is torture for a wolf,” Ketheron said.
“All too true,” Warlow stated. He rubbed Lazriel’s shoulder. “Go with them. Your loves will be well. Let them heal and allow yourself to as well.”
Lazriel took their words in, then looked out at me and nodded. “All right,” he acquiesced with a heavy sigh. “Yeah. It’s for the best.”
It was settled then.
Tonight he would stay with us.
Velra and Sylas would heal.
In essence, it was the calm before the storm.
Because this would not go unpunished.
No matter how the politics of the situation played out, I would not let it lie. I would not stop until Puritas was annihilated and utterly ruined.
Justice or vengeance?
It did not matter.
The result would be the same.
They would all suffer my wrath.
They would all fall.
Agonizingly.