Page 108 of Blood and Reign

She releases a harsh breath. “Guardians are created from the essence of Gods and powerful warriors, fully born with the knowledge of what we need to do. Among our strengths is the ability to absorb energy from those corrupted and filter it through the Underworld to protect and maintain the balance. But instead of filtering it back into the Underworld, King kept it for himself. He twisted it into something dark and vile. He fed on souls, both good and bad, tainting everything with his touch. All while growing more powerful, tilting the scales further.”

I hear what Rielle is telling me, but it doesn’t process as quickly as I want it to, my mind still stuck on the part that King was once a Guardian… like my mother.

How can someone so vile, soevilbe created from the same entity?

Rielle continues while I freak out internally. “When we found out about the corruption, the balance was already starting to become unstable, but he was still in the Underworld at this point, so it didn’t affect the outside. We immediately placed him in the Prison realm and had hoped to absorb and filter his energy to fix this mess but as you know that never happened. He was somehow able to escape his prison and found you, or your power.”

Which basically verifies King’s story from that point onward. My brain feels about ready to explode as it tries to come to terms with this new information.

King was once… good? Or was he?

I shake my head not letting myself go there. It didn’t matter what he was or did before. He made his choices in the end and now he must pay for them.

I glance up at Rielle as she watches me, gauging my reaction. “What about the other demons that have escaped into my world? Won’t they also add to the imbalance?” We already killed a load when they attacked Manhattan.

Rielle shakes her head. “Most demons born here are not as powerful as Guardians and although they have some sway on the balance, they won’t affect it as much as King and what he’s taken. He’s the only one thatmustbe brought back to the Underworld and absorbed.”

One less thing to worry about, I suppose. But maybe I’m just grasping at straws hoping we’ll get a break.

A puff of dark smoke appears beside the bed. It quickly gathers into a large mass before the shadow beast walks through as if he decided to take himself for a walk.

Instead of freaking out, Rielle reaches out and pats its head with a smile on her lips.

“I was wondering where you went to.”

My eyes move from Rielle to the shadow beast, the familiarity in Rielle’s eyes telling me this isn’t the first time they’ve met. “You know this… shadow beast?”

Rielle’s lips widen a warm smile as she continues to pet him. “This is Zillah. He was your mother’s companion. He’s been missing for a while.”

Zillahlets her pet him, lapping it up like an actual pet instead of glaring at her the way he does with me.

I narrow my eyes on the traitor.

“He stayed with me for a while but six years ago, he disappeared completely. I thought he followed Reyna to the afterlife, but it would seem he stuck around for another reason.” She gives me a look.

She can’t be implying that he stuck around for me. There’s no way.

“You think he stayed for me?” I give her an incredulous look.

The light in Rielle’s eyes glimmers with humor. “I can already see the connection formed. You won’t get rid of him now.”

“That’s because he’s stubborn and just does what he wants.” The shadow beast narrows his eyes on me, making Rielle laugh.

“Shadow companions are rare. Not many Guardians get one. It’s a great honor. They will protect you for life.”

“Then why didn’t he…” Why didn’t he protect Mom?

I don’t have to finish my question. As soon as I start, Rielle gives me a small knowing smile. “The connection was severed once Reyna lost her powers. She wouldn’t have been able to contain him or his energy. Not as a human, butyoucould. Zillah must have sensed your power, even as a child.”

“I’m not a Guardian.” I glance back at Zillah just as he rolls his eyes. I look at Rielle wondering if she caught the fucker but she’s too busy watching me.

“No, but you have the blood of one.”

Rielle’s eyes grow soft, reminding me so much of my mother. “He’s fiercely independent, incredibly intelligent, and loyal to a fault. Once your connection grows stronger, he’ll be someone you can rely on for a very long time.”

I glance back at Zillah just as he gives me one of his superior looks. The kind that says, I’m lucky to have him.

And maybe I am, in more ways than one. It’s nice to know he was around my mom growing up. In a way, it makes me feel closer to her.

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