Page 166 of Rose and Shadows
“You’re just stating a fact that applies to the situation. Besides, Cassius has evolved.”
“Definitely,” Nyx agreed.
“Fucking majorly actually,” Kai spoke as he knelt down with Ariana, his black leather clad shoulder brushing her brown suede jacket and her gorgeous blonde waves. “Be careful with the black magic element,” he told her.
“You don’t need to worry. Ambrose was up at Haven Initiative. He imbued me with a temporary but very potent shield.”
“He used his magic on you?” Kai growled.
“The magic isn’t in me—it’s an external spell. One that can’t be seen or felt. He’s very… clandestine. About everything apparently.” She wove her silver magic through the wound. She breathed a heavy sigh. “And it’s coming in handy where this is concerned too—the black magic can’t interfere with my power at all.”
Thank goodness. She was wielding True Celestial power, so without that interference being a factor, she’d close the wound for sure.
Warlow registered it too and rose to his feet with a huge sigh of relief.
But then that relief turned to something else.
Now he knew his husband was out of the woods, it opened up to rage.
Before any of us could blink, he was roaring out into the night, then using his wolf speed to tear over into the battlefield, ripping into several enemy combatants at a time.
I was on the verge of raging too.
Cornelius taking that hit.
Gregor and his biting and severely damaging rhetoric, the fucker still so determined to annihilate us.
Cassius now in danger.
None of my men being here right now.
But I knew it was necessary for this battle, that they’d be here soon, that Cassius had this.
And when I raged, it wasn’t only a metaphorical red haze that took me over.
It became black.
It took me to a dangerous place.
And I’d promised my men that I wouldn’t go there again.
I’d promised myself.
I stroked my belly—I’d promisedhim.
Also, I could feel Cassius’ determination through the Soul Brand, but his guilt as well threatening to cut into it, thinking he’d hurt me by taking off and agreeing to do that.
But he hadn’t. He was doing what was needed, he was being amazing.
So my rage could not be surging through the Brand.
Not to mention, it could send the same through the Nexus Band ring I’d configured for Sylas and through Lazriel’s bracelet. It would panic them all, distract them during battle.
It would also make me super ineffective and unable to wield my power proficiently.
And so, I kept control and wove my shadows through the heart of the battle, felling dozens as they came into contact with them, clearing the way for our people.
I pressed my hand to the grass and my frost radiated out.
