Page 145 of Mantle

“You’re right, they do need your help. We all do.Ido. But they’re also scared, just like you’re scared of them. When fear is leading the way, mistakes and bad decisions are made.”

“I don’t want to hurt them. I don’t like hurt.”

“I know. I know you don’t.”

I conjured the Encompassing Inhibitor with my free hand that Arcanum Order had merged into the physical form of a gold medallion hanging from a thick black chain. “When you put this on, it will fuse with you. It won’t cause any pain, just a brief rush of warmth as it fuses. If Corvin tries to reactivate that leash, this will repel it. It will provide a warning to give you time to activate it.”

“It’s my choice?”

“Yes. You’ve been denied every choice for so long. No fucking more.”

Ketheron looked down at the medallion in my hand

I felt him hesitate—felt the fear, the history, the hope—all tangle in the space between our clasped hands.

Then he gave a small nod.

He took the medallion with his left hand and slipped it around his neck.

A hush rippled across the room.

The gold flared once—warm light spreading outward, threads of protective magic seeping into Ketheron’s skin as the medallion fused to him.

He exhaled.

Behind me, I heard Pops speak—quiet, controlled, the voice of the leader I’d always known him to be. “Stand down.”

All across room, gauntlets dimmed, magic was pulled back, and the room finally began to relax.

As Nyx walked to us, Pops stepped up to me. “Go. Head to Meforian Forest.”

“Without this army here surrounding us and watching his every move?”

“Yes. I’ve now seen this interaction and bond between you for myself.”

“She’s my friend. I don’t like hurt,” Ketheron told Pops.

“I see that now, yes.” He looked at me. “I trust in you.” He pressed a kiss to the top of my head. “We all do. Cornelius and Cassius are waiting for you. Today we finally end this.”

Abso-fucking-lutely.

30

~Vorzyr~

The place was a nightmare come to life.

It actually had me shuddering.Me.

The magically-generated light that the Guardian members leading the charge ahead of us were using unfortunately illuminated all the many horrors surrounding us.

I heard Lucian choking, on the verge of retching.

It was the stench of death and rank blood every fucking where. With my animal senses, I could scent it strongly too. But Lucian’s senses were far beyond even mine and he was extra sensitive as an Ancient Vampire to blood. It had to be killing him.

Ryker had sent him in his stead while he dealt with Ketheron and enacted a massive, temporary lockdown of the supernatural world—one that far exceeded even Blackline Protocol—in preparation for the expected Celestial Plane response to the Severance spell beginning at any moment.

There was no point suggesting he wait outside, he wouldn’t leave.

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