“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 connectedso 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 withPuritas.Given his power set and his megalomania, if provided the means, he could wipe out The Shadowed and raise the threat thatPuritasis 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 theSupreme 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 thatPuritashas 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 eitherto a Guardian Movement black site or sent toThe Void. Morien doesn’t possess enough power. He was always just shy of being able to do something of this magnitude. But Sylasdoespossess 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.Thatis 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 alsoknowing 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,andexactly 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 entirePuritasrise was impacting him greatly. Of course it was. Just like for me, it was bringing up tons of trauma.
