Chapter 20 Velra #2
“You are projecting your upset with your currently powerless state onto me.”
“It’s not projecting when you share a similar pain. You’re not powerless, but you are most definitely powered down. And you never talk about it.”
I frowned. Sylas wasn’t just coming at him. The two of them had been good with each other lately, growing closer.
But it was reading as very harsh on Sylas’ end—at least on the surface.
Because it was really him being vulnerable.
He wanted that, he wanted Cassius to talk about it with him. He needed it.
“You are actually lecturing me on not talking through something profound and painful? You will not even discuss your bound state.”
“Ah, so you admit that it is profound and painful for you?”
I grimaced as I felt a pang through the Soul Brand as Sylas’ heavy question—or accusation—hit Cassius deeply.
I watched as he took a moment and shoved a hand through his beautiful white-blond hair, then released a heavy sigh, the weight of which I could feel in my bones.
“Yes. Does that satisfy you? It… hurts me sometimes… to be this way… a lesser version of myself.”
There was a weighty pause in their conversation.
I went to step in, to ensure that Cassius knew that no one saw him that way, that he was stronger in other ways, ways that mattered.
But then I watched as Sylas reached out and rubbed his arm. “You’re not lesser. It’s actually the opposite.”
I smiled to myself.
“How so?” Cassius queried, his brow furrowing. “I do not think—”
“You were so disconnected before. You had the knowledge, but because of that disconnection from the world, from people, you couldn’t apply it in necessary ways.
Now you’ve built this family with us, strong relationships and unbreakable connections.
And, honestly, would that have happened if you still had your True Celestial abilities which put you too far above everyone—in power and snobby mentality? ”
A chuckle actually burst from Cassius. “Snobby mentality?”
“Calling it like it is, babe.”
“Babe. I must indeed have made an impression upon you if you are awarding me that affectionate nickname like you do to Lazriel. It is no Dark Beauty as you reserve for Velra, but I will certainly take it.”
“Well, Lazriel also gets referred to as my hot little wolf, so he’s good. To be clear, though, I won’t ever be referring to you as Immortal Hunk like Lazriel has taken to doing.”
Another chuckle from Cassius.
It sent a deep warmth through me, and I could feel his elation at the sense of adoration and comradery Sylas was demonstrating toward him.
He gave Cassius’ shoulder a squeeze. “And let’s not kid ourselves, you still do remain stronger than Cornelius Martel.
Me saying that, I was just needling you.
Your power as an Immortal eclipses most others across the supernatural world.
There is no need for True Celestial power and might.
Besides, that’s not what will see to these threats we now face.
It’s knowledge, us standing together, tactical know-how. ”
“You are employing a version of my words to you regarding your bound state.”
“Could be,” Sylas said with a lift of his lips. “Could also be that it resonated with me.”
Cassius grasped Sylas’ hand on his shoulder. “I do very much prefer my life now to what it was when I was… disconnected from things and the world.”
“Glad to hear it, Immortal bastard.”
“You are not calling me that.” His lips quirked. “Monarch of the Macabre.”
“Wow,” Sylas uttered. “Not bad.”
“Velra informed me that you did not care for her attempt to call you Dark Prince. It was beneath you, apparently. Only King or above was good enough for you, yes?”
“Well, my ego is a true behemoth, as you well know.”
“Something we share in equal measure.”
Sylas shook his head. “How do they put up with us, hmm?”
“I truly do not know,” Cassius said, grinning.
He pulled away then and the tone became a little more serious as he told Sylas, “I will replace Cornelius’ magic infused in some of your Specus Relics with my own.”
“You will?”
“It provides you with peace of mind, yes? To have that as a fallback should the worst befall us? Especially if I am not around or within immediate reach?”
“Yes,” Sylas actually admitted.
“Then it will be done. Although, I do believe you should inform Velra. She is close with Cornelius and Warlow. They opened up their home to her and care for her much like a family member.”
“I know, yeah.” He grimaced. “Shit.”
I stepped forward, revealing my presence. “Shit is right, naughty necromancer.”
Cassius smiled and turned to me, while Sylas spun, caught off guard.
“Velra… Dark Beauty… did you…” Sylas started.
“Oh, I heard the entire thing. It was really illuminating.”
“Listen—”
“I get why you did it.” I walked to him and grasped the sides of his jacket.
“And knowing Cornelius as well as I do, he would be well aware that his magic is being used by you. After Ryker stole some of his magic decades back as retaliation for a brutal dust up they had, he put measures in place to track even traces of it being siphoned from his wards and protections, or whatever else, all over the supernatural world. He knows, Sylas. And the fact he hasn’t come to you means he’s fine with it.
He is a big-picture strategist, so I’m sure he knew somebody like you being in possession of Specus Relics powered by Immortal magic could come in handy. ”
“They’re not all powered by his magic. Many just contain mine.
” He eyed Cassius. “That shield was an emergency. I couldn’t take any chances after Victor regained the upper hand with Lazriel.
” He gritted his teeth. “I couldn’t let him touch him again.
It was already bad enough that it had to occur at all, that I couldn’t stop it instantly like I would normally have been able to if I wasn’t bound.
But with only the Relics, I had to be strategic, be careful how and when I made a move. ”
“I know. I understand.” I tugged on his jacket, jerking him against me. “But stop now. No more. Do you hear me? We work as one. You’re not alone. I need you to get that.”
“Yeah, aren’t you supposed to be a quick study, Sylas?”
We looked to see Lazriel striding out.
He settled in between me and Cassius and smirked at Sylas, folding his arms across his chest. “Well?”
Sylas took my hands in his and looked out at each of us in turn. “You all know I’ve been trying. Not just that, but I’ve made great strides.”
“We do know that,” I assured him. “And don’t forget that I also know how it is. I was a closed-off loner for a long time because of all my baggage with my family, Chimera Circle… changing me, being hunted. But you can also see from how far I’ve come, that there is a way through.”
“And despite your trying, there have still been notable incidents of unilateral action on your part,” Cassius pointed out.
“Well, Cas, it wasn’t all unilateral, was it? I recall some bilateral actions involving the two of us,” Sylas retorted with a bit of an edge, indicating that he was getting agitated, feeling cornered.
That really wasn’t what we were trying to do.
We were trying to bring him in closer, to even bolster him.
Lazriel frowned. “What?”
I already knew. Cassius had told me about him and Sylas murdering an entire Puritas cell weeks ago.
Actually, the murdering aspect had been Cassius.
He’d acted to spare Sylas the burden, one he’d been willing to take on.
Cassius had told me during our training at Mordrek Mountains, his goal to warn me of what my vengeance-fueled state at the time toward Sorin and Puritas could lead to—things that couldn’t be undone.
“They wiped out a Puritas cell,” I told Lazriel.
“Huh,” he said, looking between them. “Wish you’d called me in, but I’m glad you dealt with some of those fuckers.”
“They didn’t call you in—or me—because they terminated them.”
“Oh.” He thought for a moment. “Sometimes there’s no choice, I guess. Especially under these sorts of circumstances.”
“What?” I questioned. That didn’t sound like him.
“While I was with Remnant, he took out a massive recruitment gathering of Puritas fuckers, along with a high-ranking member.” He held up his hand. “That stays only between us.”
“That was a powerful display,” Cassius commented. “A definite blow to their operations. Hmm… a sound tactical move.”
I shoved my hand through my hair and asked Lazriel, “By took out, you mean he murdered them all?” At his nod, I pressed, “And you?”
“I didn’t kill anyone, Velra. You know that doesn’t sit well with me.” His gaze flicked to Sylas and Cassius. “I mean, for me. It’s just not—”
“You can’t stomach it,” Sylas said. “We know.”
No. He couldn’t. But the fact he’d been around all of that, and that he wasn’t actually condemning it either… it was concerning. Would his stance change, would he be pulled into that sort of thing deeper when he spent more time with his father?
Sylas didn’t kill as his opening move, but he could take it to that place if he had to. It was a line he would cross if push came to shove.
And Cassius wasn’t from the mortal plane. He’d been a warrior to the Celestial Plane for centuries on end, so his thinking was different on the matter of taking lives like that. He’d take anybody out to protect me, to protect us.
But somebody had to draw that line.
Of course it had crossed my mind to go that route with Sorin.
But when I’d assaulted him and incapacitated him with my magic earlier, my intent hadn’t been to actually kill him.
I’d wanted to show him how insane his actions had been, how far gone he was.
And, yeah, maybe there had been a little bit of vengeance thrown in.
But I’d drawn a line and I wouldn’t go over it.
It was why I had to be the one in our foursome to check Cassius and Sylas as well.
I just really hoped that didn’t come to include Lazriel.