Chapter 23 ~Velra~
~Velra~
“It’s nice having you back here with us,” Warlow said, smiling at me in that welcoming and warm way of his, as he led me through the foyer and deeper into the house.
“It’s nice being here again too,” I told him. The familiarity of it. The first place I’d felt safe ever since I’d been turned by Chimera Circle into something… more. “How are you doing with Blackline Protocol still being in effect?”
I knew he hated it, that it had come to that.
For all his efforts—our efforts—through Crossborn to bring hybrids in out of the shadows, to help them join the world all over again instead of being forced into hiding for their own protection, instead of being outcasts… now Puritas had caused this.
He eyed me over the shoulder of his red flannel shirt as he led me toward one of the salons. “Cor says I’m handling it graciously. Ry says my impatience is showing. And Jaxon says the territorial nature of my wolf side is raging on behalf of all hybrid beings like you and I.”
“Wow. That’s… intense.” I smiled sadly. “Right there with you, for the record.”
“I know you are.” He brightened a little as he told me, “I just got word a couple of hours ago that Wraeven Academy will re-open tomorrow to hybrids. Wards have been reinforced and an Underveil Shield is in place. You will be free to return.”
“Huh. More intensity.”
“I understand,” he said, as we reached the salon.
It was the modern one, as opposed to the other two that were full of ornate furniture and antiques.
This consisted of black marble flooring and a wraparound black and white striped couch with a matching armchair, abstract paintings on the walls, an edgy crystal chandelier in the center of the ceiling, along with curtains over the floor-to-ceiling windows at the far end that were silver with black tree branch patterns covering them.
He took a seat in the middle of the wraparound couch and patted a cushion beside him.
As I sat down, he told me, “But stopping your life in a crisis like this is never a good idea. It will wear you down. And it will keep you from experiencing, growing, and being who you are, enjoying yourself, and taking pleasure in things.” He sighed.
“I spent decades in hiding because of the hatred and fear of hybrids—and those like Chimera Circle who wanted to get their hands on me. Ryker hid me away, protected me, long before he was even Head of the Guardian Movement. Those years spent like that… they took so much of my life from me.”
“And prevented us from meeting far earlier,” Cornelius’ voice boomed, and I turned to see him gliding into the room, even in just his gray dress pants and charcoal muscle tee, looking so elegant and… almighty, honestly.
“You’re back earlier than we figured,” Warlow said.
Cornelius smiled at me, then walked to him and planted a sweet kiss on Warlow’s cheek, before then settling into the armchair across from us. “Yes, well, I was able to conclude my business efficiently and without as much pushback as I’d prepared for.”
“Business with Remnant, perhaps?” I asked.
The two of them stilled.
“So that’s why you’re here,” Cornelius said. “Given the dire circumstances, we didn’t think it was merely to catch up.” He smiled at Warlow sadly. “Although Warlow had hoped for as much.”
“So had I,” I admitted. “And when this is all over, we’ll do that. But with the way things are—”
“You have discovered my connection to Remnant and you wish to know how deep it runs in order to protect Lazriel Thaine—and Sylas Morgrave.”
I sighed. “I know you wouldn’t hurt me, but I also know that you do what you believe must be done in order to manipulate things to your liking.”
“Oof,” Warlow uttered.
Cornelius’ lips quirked. “Compliment accepted.”
“Cor,” Warlow chastised him.
Cornelius sat forward, clasping his hands in his lap. “I am an ally to The Shadowed, yes.”
“And the Guardian Movement’s awareness of this?”
“Is extremely limited. Ryker knows that I operate under the radar and he also knows that it is necessary given the way our world works. However, to lead he must have plausible deniability, so he is not privy to everything. And it needs to remain that way. The Shadowed can do certain things, can reach into certain places, reach certain individuals, that the Guardian Movement cannot. Me maintaining some semblance of control over that influence and power is imperative in order to protect us all. Remnant accepts that and we have a mutually beneficial agreement.”
“Like you shielding him and The Shadowed with your magic?”
“Ah, Sylas felt my magic when he performed that Blood Trace on Lazriel.”
“He did. Victor Halrow also outed you as an ally to Remnant. He even stated that you handed the stake that can kill an Ancient to Remnant.”
“All true.”
“Lucian just gave up that weapon, knowing it can kill him? How did Ryker, Jaxon, and Mia accept that?”
“Because Ryker has found a way to nullify it against Lucian.”
“He… what?”
“You did not come here to discuss that. You came here to find out why Remnant has the stake in his possession now, as given what you’ve already revealed, Halrow obviously claimed that he and Remnant are tethered.
Lazriel is afraid that his father who he has only very recently been reunited with will perish should you eliminate Halrow. ”
“Not exactly a jump, is it?”
“Remnant is steps ahead. Lazriel does not need to worry.”
“What does that mean?”
“The information I am able to convey is limited, Velra. As per my agreement with Remnant.”
I frowned in thought. “Is this why the both of you really had that talk with Lazriel months ago, before I was ready to acknowledge his interest in me?”
Warlow pinched the bridge of his nose and admitted, “We hoped we could keep you from all of this. Falling for Lazriel Thaine, the son of Remnant… it forever connects you to the underground. We wanted better for you. We wanted peace for you.”
I shook my head to myself. “And trying to stop Sylas from performing the Blood Trace?”
“He sensed my magic because it protects Remnant, not because it was trying to prevent the Blood Trace,” Cornelius clarified.
“Protects him? More than shielding him? Like, bolsters his abilities or something?”
“No. Those are all his. It merely assists with keeping The Shadowed hidden. And it provides a warning should the Guardian Movement come too near, so they can remain off their radar and continue to operate underground as is needed.”
“And his interest in Sylas?”
“You mean, his temporary cure?”
“Oh my God, yes. You know about that too?”
“He has plans for Sylas. Plans that will serve Sylas well also, so do not fret. However, while he is sick and I’ve had to even bind him because it became so severe, none of that can come to pass, hence The Shadowed working on a cure.”
“Hold on… he thinks he can use Sylas to break the tether between him and Victor Halrow, doesn’t he?”
“Yes.”
The look on his face, his easy answer… that was just the tip of the iceberg, though, it seemed.
“Is there anything else you can tell me, anything at all that could help with all of this, help those I love?” I beseeched him.
“Cor,” Warlow pushed, reaching out and stroking his fingers. “Please. If you can.”
Always looking out for me.
God, it had emotion welling, and it took me some noticeable effort to check it.
Cornelius shook his head at Warlow, but a smile lit his eyes as he grasped Warlow’s hand.
“You were right from the very beginning. She is so much like you. Especially when you first emerged from hiding and ventured back into the world. Despite all that pain, being hunted and hated by fanatics, she connected so deeply with her men, formed her own new family, and now fights to do anything to protect them and what she’s fought so hard to build.
” He looked out at me. “It is admirable and truly shows your strength in a way far beyond magical prowess.”
“He’s trying to say that we’re proud of you,” Warlow said.
“Oh God, stop,” I said, having to wipe tears from my eyes.
Warlow chuckled and Cornelius beamed out at me.
Then he shifted his weight and told me, “Morien Morgrave is a significant threat to The Shadowed. He is currently also aligned with Puritas. Given his power set and his megalomania, if provided the means, he could wipe out The Shadowed and raise the threat that Puritas is already to a level that would be apocalyptic to hybrid kind.” He gestured to Warlow who was shuddering, and Warlow came to him, then Cornelius settled him onto the chair with him, wrapping him in his arms. “Morien Morgrave was once referred to as the Supreme Architect of Necromancy. His power reached such a point where it had the ability to wipe out thousands in a single act through his blending of black magic with his natural necromantic abilities—a warped version of Risen Reckoning. Remnant and I believe that Puritas has aligned with Morien in order to use him to determine a specific signature for hybrid kind that he could latch onto in order to perform a mass Risen Reckoning that would murder every single hybrid alive en masse. Ryker is aware of this specific aspect being researched and he is working on developing a solution using his defensive magic to nullify this so that if a spell like this was ever enacted it would pass over hybrids instead, they would be rendered immune in effect and not marked with his unifying signature for Morien to latch onto.”
“Holy hell,” I choked.
“However, Ryker does not know that Morien Morgrave has risen. If he or the Guardian Movement, or even the Unity Council, were made aware of this, Sylas would be confined either to a Guardian Movement black site or sent to The Void. Morien doesn’t possess enough power.
He was always just shy of being able to do something of this magnitude.
But Sylas does possess those means. He is the only necromancer who has ever lived who can reach such power.
With them being blood linked as father and son, Morien can take that power from Sylas.
To do so, he’d have to kill him and essentially take his place in a way.
While the Guardian Movement has to favor caution and protection first, Remnant and I disagree.
And because we are not directly tied to that, we have that luxury.
Sylas cannot be contained. He cannot be powerless.
He is needed to vanquish Morien. That is why this has been kept secret, as regrettable and complicated as it is to achieve that.
And it will not be possible much longer. ”
“Things are already in motion.”
“I’m aware. The drop happened earlier.”
“Were you… is that where you were before you arrived home?”
“I was there as extra insurance. Sylas’ blood couldn’t end up in enemy hands.”
“Do you know how the hell The Shadowed is able to perform a necromantic core transplant?”
“All I can say is that I am monitoring that situation. Very carefully. So if you should come to know, if Remnant allows it down the road, rest assured, all will be well.”
That was several levels of cryptic.
“And you should also know that Sorin has been marked for death by The Shadowed. It’s a personal assassination order.
That heathen harmed the love of his son’s life.
He will not survive it.” He gave me a look that was kind of like dark amusement.
“So, should he be released from wherever he’s being held right now, the moment he is, they will descend on him.
” He lifted a shoulder. “Just in case you find yourself in a moral quandary of not wanting to resort to taking a life, while also knowing that he is too dangerous and too far gone to be left alive without forever being a threat to you.”
Holy. Hell.
“Furthermore, in case you worried that him being released—again from wherever he happens to be, or whoever happens to be holding him captive—would be akin to signing his death sentence, The Shadowed has his scent. So there is a ticking clock, anyway. And it would be best that once that clock runs down to the last second, they are not led to a location that, perhaps, could be akin to a supremely powerful magical black site, which could inadvertently reveal the last-resort protection plan of those who deserve to have that safeguarded—against everyone.”
I scrubbed my hand over my face, trying to absorb the weight of his words, and exactly what he was doing for me.
Freeing me from that monster.
Freeing me, while ensuring I was also absolved.
Protecting me so amazingly.
“Thank you,” I choked out.
He and Warlow smiled.
“Of course,” Cornelius said, winking at me.
“No more poison,” Warlow seethed.
This entire Puritas rise was impacting him greatly. Of course it was. Just like for me, it was bringing up tons of trauma.
But we wouldn’t let it win.
We were stronger than that.
Hell, we were stronger than them.