Page 156 of Obsidian and Frost
“And what supposedly needs to happen?”
“They need to die. Simple as that.”
“Delivering death is never simple.”
“It is when they’re members ofPuritas.”
I stilled at his revelation.
His awful revelation.
“What are you talking about? How can that be?Puritashas disappeared without a trace. It occurred when Corvin Morvain fell that day right after the Severance. If they had returned, it would be all over the place. The Guardian Movement would know. Alerts would be sent out. Perhaps even Blackline Protocol would be activated, sending a warning across the entire supernatural world for all hybrid beings to be on alert and even sequester themselves away.”
“They are rising, not yet risen again.” He gestured at the establishment. “Those in there are an early contingent. I need to stomp it out now before they spread like the cockroaches they are. If I don’t—”
“It will be a direct threat to Velra and Lazriel. That’s why you are doing this in secret. Even if they are not immediately physically harmed, them knowing of this would likely trigger their deep trauma regardingPuritas.Especially Velra.” I grimaced, an ache within hurting awfully. “And she has finally come into herself, come so very far.”
“I know,” he said, scrubbing his hand over his face. “I know. These assholes are fanatics, they can’t be reasoned with, intel can’t be extracted from them either as they are impervious to torture and even magical coercion. The only viable option here is to end them. Here and now. Wipe them out.” He steadied himself and ground out. “With or without your approval, Iwilltake their lives.”
His words sparked a memory from several months ago.
I breachedthe warded estate of Cornelius Martel, barely breaking my pace at all, my wings outstretched and moving almost violently as I carried the heathen, Sorin Tenebris, in my unrelenting hold, the evil spawn now unconscious due to an overwrought beating at my hands. I wouldn’t usually be so aggressive, especially not to take down a lesser being. But he had warranted such a response.
He'd deserved it.
Several times over.
For what he’d done to Velra.
How he’d harmed her.
That his ruthless hunting of her had almost led her to give into death.
I reached the doors to the mansion, then tossed him through them, his body hitting the floor with a satisfying thud.
I was aware of Cornelius Martel and Kai Hunter emerging and witnessing it.
But I cared not about them.
Especially when I felt her in the next moment.
And then she was descending the stairs in all her dark glory and absolute beauty, giving rise to sentiment and sensations in me that both unsettled and intrigued me.
She looked between me panting with fury and her unconscious beaten brother at my feet.
“Cassius,” she breathed at me, the way she uttered my name almost sending me into a tailspin. My goodness.
I swallowed hard and somehow managed to respond steadily, “As promised, little shadow.”
I’d made a vow to her that I would deal with her poor excuse for an older brother and ensure she never had to worry about him and what he might do to her again.
“How did you… I mean… holy hell.”
“You need not fear his foolish and despicable actions anymore.”
“Thank you,” she uttered, overcome.
“What is the meaning of this?” Cornelius boomed, stalking up to me. “There is due process to consider in such matters.”
