“Aisha’s really great with hexes and poisons.”
“Quite a find.”
Valentine, a human necromancer, held two powerful magic users in her control, showing her obvious power. But that didn’t account for the mass of death he could feel from the direction of the garage.
She followed his gaze. “Ah, yes. Want to see our army?”
“Please.” He followed, aware the shifters at his back followed as well.
The large garage could easily house several buses. But he found nothing mechanical inside. Instead, dozens upon dozens of dead lay stacked on the ground. More than any sovereign necromancer should be able to command.
“It’s okay. They’re in stasis.”
Khent stared from the dead to Valentine then back again. She had gathered witches, mages, lycans, shifters, and if he wasn’t mistaken, an upir or two amidst the many bodies lying passively on the ground.
He reached out a hand and splayed his fingers, feeling her power then seeing it with his special senses, a blanket of energy covering the death that refused to fade.
“Valentine, this is beyond what I imagined.”
She sighed. “It’s not bad, but it’s not enough. Vladimir’s been consuming our kind for as long as I’ve been alive, if not longer, amassing power. I can work this group, but I’m kind of at my limit.”
He scowled at her. “You shouldn’t have a limit this big to begin with. How are you still functioning?” A glance at Grizz and Aisha, her more powerful servants, showed them attentive and ready for action.
The dead in the garage didn’t stir, but he knew they would if she gave the word.
“None of this makes sense.”
Talon frowned. “What’s so confusing? I thought you were an expert on death.”
“I am, traitor.”
Talon groaned. “I really wish you guys would let that go.”
“Seriously, Khent.” Val sighed.
“Who taught you to collect so many souls?”
Val shrugged. “My parents taught me a bit a long time ago, but finding necromancers isn’t easy. MEC and other magir want us gone.”
“Can you blame us?” one of the large bears muttered.
“Hyde, hush,” the young woman with them snapped. “Ignore him, Val.”
Valentine waved her comment aside. “What exactly am I missing here? Khent, you said it yourself. Vladimir is a problem. I know that. That’s why we’re getting ready to fight him. Especially if he’s working with Nergal.”
“Who’s Nergal?” Talon glanced from her to Khent. “I think it’s about time you filled me—us—all in.”
Khent had felt the shifters pressing closer, but not alarmed at the weak threat they presented, he didn’t turn to face them. Instead, he kept his gaze on his remarkable mate and nodded.
“What?” she asked him, looking annoyed, and, as always, lovely.
Mila chose that moment to settle on Khent’s arm. “Hello, Mila. Yes, you did a wonderful job watching over this house.”
The shifters looked from the raven to Khent and scowled.
In a magnanimous mood, he decided to explain. “Your lack of exposure to other necromancers makes sense, as most of them are no longer in this city.”
“Or this country,” Talon murmured.
