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Chapter Twenty-Five
Roark listened to the heated debate among Cadmon and his three stronghold commanders after Rein had shared what he learned in a meeting with Alarik. Nobody looked happy. Cerberus was probably getting it on with his captives, popping his proverbial clutch to jumpstart their powers.
Nace voiced the doom-and-gloom on everyone’s mind, claws extended, his jag spots flickering while he struggled to control his four-legged beast. “Even with our Firebrands, gaffers, and refugee citizens able to fight, we are outnumbered. If the portals fall, the human army, despite its advanced weaponry, will be no match for marauding throngs of Aeternals. They’ll spread across the world, feeding on Earthers. Arisen Dawn will conquer mankind with speed, spells, and breed powers on their side.”
Cadmon smoothed the lapels of his uniform, crisp as always. “Without finding the main garrison, we are handicapped.”
Roark nodded, the summation dead-on accurate. Firebrands could scramble from one hot spot to another. In the long run, they’d fail.
All eyes turned to Rein as the only warlock present when Cadmon asked, “Can our descendants stop the portals from falling? Or recreate them if necessary?”
“I don’t know. We don’t have a full coven. A mage from the Cambion’s line is missing. Only Cerberus carries his DNA. Even if we had someone from his line, Alarik’s mages have not found spells to reestablish the portals and Whorl.”
When Rein leaned forward, the hilt of the sword at his back caught Kole’s attention, the commander shooting a quizzical gaze Roark’s way. He ignored it, continuing, “Legend says Cerberus descended from the Cambion and Niviane. Another claims the great mage afterward paid a conjugal visit to a succubus on Scath. He implanted his virile seed in her. The offspring of the coupling would be the Blood Coven descendant to fill the gap.”
“But who is it?” Jarek kicked a worn boot onto the table, djinn smoke circling his head. He swiped a hand through it to brush it away.
Cadmon twisted toward Rein, speaking to the big mutherfucker who, as always, radiated icy control, containing his fangs through sheer grit. “Has Custodes Templii verified the legend? Surely Miller Nash has records of the Cambion’s descendants.”
Rein clenched his jaw, his eyes frosty blue. “The Brit and his compadres only track human descendants on Earth. They have no knowledge of offspring on Scath. Alarik’s people have been scrubbing family histories for a hint of this pie-in-the-sky succubus’s kid. Nada. Aunt Indigo has parked her ass at the river. Nada. Without a full coven in our hands or a spell to re-establish the portals, a military answer is our only fallback.”
Nace’s claws stretched out and retracted, leaving gouges on the table, its surface already marred by previous Firebrands. “We’re back where we started. We need to locate their garrison. Not one scryer has found it. Not even your mate, Kole.”
The animus demon was quick to respond, fire shooting from his fingers. “No blame on her. Skyler’s said enough mea-culpas. She needs a possession, an object from the garrison, in order to penetrate Cerberus’s spell. Without that, she can’t find it. There are no fucking miracles.”
Sitting beside Kole, Cadmon rested a palm on his shoulder. “Nobody’s criticizing your mate, demon. We’re just running out of options. The humans have tossed around nuking the garrison if found. With our input, they nixed the idea. The fallout would likely spread across Scath and Earth. Let’s get back to battle strategies for if and when we find the main Arisen Dawn force.”
Jarek withdrew a knife from the sheath which crossed his chest, fiddling with the blade. “The Cambion created the Karmic Schism to give humans a chance to develop without us picking them off, but I agree with Nacon. I doubt even after centuries of gathering strength they can defeat the number of Aeternals in Arisen Dawn. Which leaves the Firebrands as the strongest line of defense. And we have no fucking clue where Cerberus is. We need a strategy in case we find the garrison. I recommend we segment their forces. Divide and conquer.”
Kole scrubbed a fist across his jaw. “The move would spread us thin.”
Rein leaned forward in his chair, arms on the table. “A full-frontal attack.”
Nace’s eyes turned bright amber. “We could bait them with a small force, draw them out. Retreat. Trap them.”
Cadmon stroked his chin in thought. “Segment their forces, bait and attack, or full frontal. Those strategies assume Cerberus will come out of the garrison to confront us.”
Rein’s lips curled into a snarl. “He has too much arrogance to hide out. He’ll want to thump his chest in public.”
Roark ignored the chatter around him. What if? He snapped out of his revery when Cadmon rose.
The ylve commander drew himself up to his full height, a male who had never experienced defeat but was getting a taste of it. His expression said it was bitter. “Thank you for filling us in, Rein.” His gaze jumped from male to male. “We shall win because we must. The Phoenix chose us to protect those who cannot protect themselves because we refuse to accept defeat. We shall find the garrison. We shall throw everything we have at it. A full-frontal assault, my frerons.”
Each attendee drew a short blade, gripping it in a fist held high before ramming it into the table while shouting, “For duty. For honor.”
Roark barely heard Cadmon’s little pep talk or the commander’s response. Yep. He had an idea which might help. Damn. He was a busy little do-gooder.
****
“Hold on a sec.” Indigo broke off her convo with Lizzy before The Path Book Club was called to order. She announced, “I want to thank you for waiting until I returned from my adventure.”
Murmurs of approval accompanied a fruit platter around the room.
“Speaking of your adventure.” Margo flipped her red hair over a shoulder while she winked at Braelyn. “How’s your hot shifter? I hear his space in the barracks is vacant since he spends his time in your bedroom. I can arrange a larger apartment for you two.”
Indigo munched on an apple slice. “We’re not there yet.”
She accepted Roark had been spying for Cadmon. She had trusted him enough to put Blood’s Kiss into his keeping. Unexpectedly, he had passed it to Rein, refusing to answer her questions about the mystery. Nonetheless, she couldn’t escape the niggling feeling he guarded secrets. Until she knew what made him tick, she kept her heart in check, a hard task since he already owned a large chunk of it.
