Page 65 of Rose and Shadows
He’d sensed it—heard it, perhaps?
Rhyza, albeit an Alpha wolf, didn’t possess senses as incredibly intuitive as that of an Ancient Vampire, so she didn’t determine it as quickly.
Remnant’s hand slipped from her and he walked to Velra. “You are with child.” His lips curved into a genuine and heartfelt smile. “Congratulations. A child is a great blessing. And they willbe so very fortunate to be born into so much love. My son will cherish this turn of events so very deeply. Thank you—for all that you have provided him.” He looked out at Sylas and me. “All three of you.”
Velra stared at him, unmoving.
I felt her uncomfortableness through the Soul Brand.
She had yet to accept the new state of things, yet here she was now being revered for it in a way, it being stated as reality, not only a fresh revelation.
Sylas caught my eye, then intervened just before I was about to, telling Remnant, “It’s still being absorbed.”
“Ah, understood.” He smiled at Velra and stepped back. Then he was all business again as he asked Sylas, “You’re certain you are well?”
“I am.”
“Then let us move.”
Velra stepped forward and I grimaced.No. Don’t, please.
Rhyza blocked her path.
I tensed, remembering their last meeting where Velra had been very worked up. I knew she wanted to be on good terms with Lazriel’s mother, but circumstances really hadn’t facilitated that.
But then she reached out and took Velra’s hand. “You are a warrior. You wish to fight. For my son right now and always for those you love. Your family that you have taken great pains to build. It’s especially precious to you because your blood family failed you. And youwillfight, pregnant or not.” She glared out at us pointedly, before returning her focus to Velra. “I did.”
“And you did very well, might I add,” Remnant spoke.
Rhyza smiled, then told Velra. “But you need to sit this particular mission out. The location is protected by Morien Morgrave’s ward. Your child is no longer hidden. You passthrough into that place and Morien will sense a baby fueled by necromantic energy. He won’t stop coming for you.”
Sylas steeled himself. “That will become his new obsession. His obsession needs to stay focused on me. I can fight back, this baby cannot.”
“Between us, we can re-erect the veil that was previously shielding it,” Velra pointed out.
“Not with the baby having ingested my necromantic energy,” Sylas explained. “He’ll be able to feel that through it. I need to create another one, something I’ll imbue into the solution I’ve determined to feed it my energy without the desiccation occurring. I just need some time to develop the spellwork.”
“Yeah, okay,” Velra uttered, sucking in a breath. “All right.” She eased her hand from Rhyza’s, then looked out at us. “Just bring him back to us.” Her eyes narrowed. “And end Victor’s reign of terror upon Lazriel.”
Remnant stiffened at her words. We were about to go into battle, so he needed his wits about him, to remain levelheaded. Yet this was what Lazriel himself would likely term anemotional gut punchfor him. His sireling had kidnapped and tormented his son.
“We’ll see to it,” I assured her.
Then, in the very next moment, Sylas teleported us out.
We’re coming for you, wild one.
11
~Lazriel~
I threw my head back, a wolf howl tearing from my throat once again, followed by a hiss from the vampire with my fangs dropped as another bolt of pleasure from the accursed device sent me over the edge once again and I spurted all over myself.
I panted as I tried to come down from it.
But as usual, I wasn’t granted that brief break from this madness, the device Victor had left strapped to me continuing its relentless pleasure pulses immediately after I’d already come.
I could no longer even tug or thrash in the chains.
