Page 93 of Dark Night of the Soul

“Safe for now. But not too much longer. They’re casting a wider net. It won’t be long before you have to move again. There is one more thing.” His gaze slid to Anna. “They want to recalibrate you. They think they failed.”

“Because he’s still breathing,” she said flatly.

Silas nodded. “They expected you to finish what they programmed you to do.” He reached into the open driver’s side window and brought out a thick file. “It’s not much, but it’s all I was able to get.”

“What is it?” I took it, flipped it open. She leaned closer to peer down at it.

“Locations of the Knights facilities. Vulnerabilities. Schematics. The ones where they’re doing the same type of procedure.”

“They’re helping the Brotherhood build soldiers,” I said.

“Yes. And they’re doing it as quickly as possible. Some take to the new wiring. Some don’t. Those are killed.”

“Why are they doing this?” she asked.

“When Sebastian took over, he lost men. He needs to build the numbers back up. But it’s more than that.” His jaw tightened. “The Brotherhood has always been extremists, but Sebastian’s taken it one step further. He’s convinced that supernaturals—Watchers, Fae, everything—are abominations that need to be eliminated.”

“Ironic,” I said, my tone bitter, “since he’s a Watcher himself.”

“He thinks he’s above them all,” Silas said.

“A dangerous place to be,” Anna said.

“They’re building an army,” Silas said. “Soldiers who can’t be turned. Programmed to hunt and kill specific targets without hesitation.” His gaze flicked to her, then. “You were meant to be the prototype. Turn someone supernatural-adjacent, someone bonded to a Watcher, and, well, you know the rest.”

She nodded, her expression grim.

“And the Knights are mercenaries,” I said.

“They provide the technology, the facilities, and the expertise. Brotherhood provides the funding. Knights don’t care about the cause. They care about perfecting the procedure to sell it to the highest bidder. And Vormund’s expensive prize walked. He wants her back.”

She bristled at that.

“How many soldiers?” I asked.

“Not sure. If they’re killing the failures, there could be dozens in production.”

The implications turned my gut cold. They weren’t coming for her. They were building something much bigger.

“And Walker Manor?” she asked, clearly thinking about her home, her family. “Are they still safe?”

“For the moment. I have eyes on them,” he said.

“Good,” I said. “Keep them there.”

“They’re waiting for you to return,” Silas said. “That’s why you can’t yet.”

Her hands clenched into fists. She didn’t like it anymore than I did.

“What else is in that file?” she asked. “Anything about Vormund?”

I knew why she was asking. I didn’t like it.

“Not much yet. I’m still gathering. All I do know is he’s on the Brotherhood payroll.”

“I want him,” she said. Her tone was flat and unforgiving.

Silas looked from her back to me, question in his one good eye. He knew me well enough to know I wasn’t going to deny her this.