Page 111 of Rose and Shadows
She staggered back and dropped her hands, breathing heavily.
But a little smile played on her lips.
“Truly remarkable,” Darethor breathed.
With the mind-meddling down,Thrynearrived, blasting away the minions assaulting the shield, and Darethor disposed of the remainder.
Thrynewas gathering around the victimized, assisting them, and Graceyn and Kelsana had their phones out communicating with the Unity Council and reaching out to the Shifter Stabilization Unit to get those harmed some help.
They would be well.
The fact it had come to this in the first place was the despicable thing.
“Cassius!” Velra cried, rushing over to me.
As she did, I saw Lavra and Arvent stagger to their feet.
Before I could so much as utter a warning, Darethor was there in a burst of teleportation, barring their way.
He snagged their throats, holding them in place.
His blue power glowed, spreading over their skin where he was grasping them.
“Woven by blood. Trusted in blood.” His eyes narrowed and he growled, “Betrayed in blood.”
Velra came to a jarring stop as Darethor’s magic surged to a blindingly-bright degree, and tore into their bodies, blue shimmering cracks forging all over their faces, their bodies, shattering them bit by bit.
Their screams rang out, their struggles futile.
And then Lavra and Arvent began disintegrating into billions of sparks until they were nothing, and they whispered away on the wind.
“Oh my God,” Velra breathed.
Darethor called his power back and turned to her. “I’m sorry you had to witness that. They could not be allowed to survivethis battle. They were so very dearly beyond redemption—and reason.”
“I know. Honestly, I made my peace with their cruelty and rejection already.”
“But your brother was recently killed, another necessary and just kill, so witnessing this has it all too fresh.” He laid his hand on her shoulder. “Grieve. Not them, but what they brought upon you. Then concentrate on moving forward. They do not deserve your regret, nor another moment of your pain.” He smiled. “And I thank you. You andThryne. When steeped in darkness for so long it is hard to see the spark of light through the rest, and that is what can lead to corruption. You and Graceyn have spared me from that, and I will be forever grateful.” He squared his shoulders and adjusted his crown. “As will the Realm. You are welcome going forward.”
“I’ll keep my promise. To heal you.”
“I don’t doubt that you will. In exchange, know thatThrynewill no longer be considered a resistance movement, nor outlaws. In fact, I have discussed it with Graceyn, and they will stand beside me as a revitalized incarnation of the Royal Fae Court.”
“Wow. That’s gonna change a whole lot.”
Graceyn strode up to them. “Hopefully also the negative way the supernatural world currently sees Dark Fae beings.”
“There is more work to be done,” Darethor stated.
“More out there being used by Morien Morgrave and Gregor Varsellis,” Graceyn grunted.
“Indeed. They will be seen to. We continue on,” Darethor spoke.
As Graceyn and he began to delve deeper, Velra said her goodbyes, blew a kiss to Kelsana in the distance, then rushed the rest of the way to me.
Her arms were around me in the next moment. “Let’s get you to Ketheron right away to siphon that Celestial power out of you.”
I let out a strained chuckle. “I am all for that.”
