Page 10 of Rose and Shadows
“The concerning thing is how deep Remnant will try to pull Sylas into his world as a result, though,” Lucian pointed out.
Ryker nodded. “Morien is a severe threat to the vampiric underground with his Undead Domination ability. But it’s come to my attention that Remnant’s intentions for allying with Sylas may run deeper than tackling that threat together. Fortunately, Cassius, Sylas is now tied to you, Lazriel, and Velra, so there’s a barrier there to him sinking too deep.”
“So, what’s the deal here?” Lazriel’s voice came, and I looked to see him bursting beside us with his vampire speed.
I turned my head to see that Velra was now where Ketheron had been, on the bench and talking with Ariana. Ketheron was standing with Kai, Vorzyr, and Nyx, while Nyx held his glowing blue hand to Ketheron’s temple, soothing him with his Incubus abilities, the empathic and dreamwalking aspects, clearly trying to assist Ketheron’s mind healing.
Lazriel came up on my side, acknowledged Lucian with a chin lift, then glared at Ryker. “Putting a hunting party together soon to go after Sylas? Is that it?”
His aggression was expected, given what had happened. But it was definitely a jolt from the calm discussion we’d been having.
“There won’t be ahunting party,” Ryker responded coolly, completely bypassing the aggression.
Well, he was intimately familiar with such a thing as Jaxon Silver was one of his loves and especially in times of crisis and threat to their family, he reacted in a very similar way.
Lucian’s lips twitched as he regarded Lazriel. “You certainly possess your father’s forthright nature. Yet, not his restraint at this juncture. You’re young, though. There’s time to learn.”
Lazriel started. “What?”
“They know Remnant is your father,” I informed Lazriel.
“Huh.” He took a moment to absorb that, then asked Lucian, “So, you know him?”
“We’ve crossed paths once or twice over the centuries.”
“As allies or adversaries?”
“Neither. Passing acquaintances.”
“Well… good. I guess.” He eyed Ryker. “So, you’re really not going after Sylas? Because what he did… those murders… he had no choice. You get that, then? Sylas isn’t like that, he’s not a killer. It makes him sick to his stomach. He only did that to save you all. Morien forced his hand.”
“And he may very well attempt to force his hand again,” Ryker spoke. “That’s where he needs to be extremely careful, where the Guardian Movement would also be forced to take action.”
“It won’t come to that. But you forcing him into hiding is gonna not only hurt him, but everyone. I get that it’s risky with Morien wanting to take over Sylas’ power and maybe even his whole body, or whatever the fuck, but Sylas is also needed to put that bastard down.”
“The situation is already clear to me and to the Guardian Movement. Sylas will not be sidelined.”
He wouldn’t be, but it was clear the Guardian Movement would be watching closely.
No wonder. There was a great deal at stake.
So very much.
“Your father’s intentions where that’s concerned remain to be seen, though.”
“You think he wants to keep Sylas underground?”
“Don’t you?”
Lazriel flinched. “He needs Sylas’ help right now with the threat that Morien is to all vampire kind. But beyond that… I don’t know.”
“Then it’s a good thing you have influence over the likes of Remnant, isn’t it?”
“Influence… I don’t know about that.”
Ryker smiled kindly. “Something to think about.”
His intention hadn’t been to obtain specific answers, I realized, with the way he’d phrased all of that. He’d just wanted to plant certain notions in Lazriel’s head.
