Page 46 of Mantle

“What is the meaning of this?” Cornelius demanded, striding up to Cassius. “There is due process to consider in such matters.”

“Something the Guardian Movement staunchly enforces. Yet I know better where you’re concerned. You excel at coloring outside the lines. Dealing with thisheathenfalls within those parameters. Not only ishedangerous, he is deeply connected to even more dangerous individuals. We need to cut out the rot. We begin with him.”

“Cassius—” Cornelius started to protest.

“If he is not imprisoned inThe Voidby nightfall, I will take his life.”

Fuck me.

“I need to get back to my work with Mia and Jaxon. Break over.” His gaze flicked to Velra and his reluctance to leave was clear.

But he managed to overcome it, hissed at Sorin’s unconscious form, then teleported away.

“Hades,” Cornelius cursed. In the next moment, he was tugging at a chain that disappeared down his shirt. He pulled it out and I took in the Guardian ring hanging off it. He rubbed it with a spark of his magic. The gems in the ring sparked with familiar vibrant-green magic.

And then green light erupted and a hologram of Ryker materialized.

“Using our emergency line… what’s happened?” he spoke.

“I have just received Sorin Tenebris. He’s in my temporary custody.”

“What? How?”

“I’ll brief you fully later. For now, we need to secure him. I doubt very much with the special circumstances at play and his part in the Compound attack, that you want him anywhere near the Compound for processing. Given what he’s a part of, what vital intel he may also have regarding Puritas, I suggest you move to invoke the Veiled Directive.”

Ryker was silent for several moments, clearly deliberating.

And then he asked, “What is his precise location?”

“My foyer.”

“Clear the area and confirm.”

In the next moment, Cornelius instructed Velra to head back upstairs.

As soon as she did, he led me through the front door and out onto the steps.

He left the door open so we could see through to the area.

“Clear,” he reported to Ryker.

I watched as green sparks erupted around the foyer.

They gravitated toward Sorin.

As soon as they made contact, they swirled and completely enveloped him.

And then he dematerialized like he’d never been.

“Thank you, Ryker.”

“I’ll keep you posted. Velra, too.”

“You’ll need to include Cassius in that.”

“I felt your wards are shattered. Do you need help re-erecting them?”

“No. I have Kai here. He’ll assist.”

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