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“I don’t get this at all.”
“That’s why I needed you here to see this.”
When Zane saw the town square and all the normal activity, he shook his head repeatedly, hands on hips. “So this isn’t just a few wraith families.”
“A complete community of twenty thousand.”
“Holy fuck. So many.” A long curse followed.
Still holding Willow’s hand, Malik let Zane have a good look and more importantly he gave him enough time to feel the vibrations that came from the Nine Realms.
When Zane finally looked down at his feet, his eyes were wide. “And what the hell is that?”
“We’ve been told by the Elders here in the colony that we’re standing on the heartbeat of the Nine Realms where everything began.” He didn’t hold back either, but told Zane about the genome. “We’re all part wraith.”
Zane drew his lips back in a sneer. He wasn’t a fan of wraiths because of the nature of the Invictus. During a battle, he never spared any of them. Even though Samantha, bonded to Mastyr Ethan of Bergisson Realm, had the power to dissolve the bonds that forged each wraith-pair, Zane had never once made use of her skills.
“This is fucking bullshit.”
Malik didn’t try to argue with him. Instead, he asked, “Is there room on Swanicott Island for them?”
“It would be cramped, but I don’t think I care. Until the Invictus are gone from our world, wraiths ought to be policed to keep Margetta from adding to her army. And having them in one place would make our job easier, that’s for sure.”
“Zane, they’re people.”
“Who become killers if Margetta gets hold of them.”
Malik knew he wouldn’t change Zane’s opinions, not with the Invictus still attacking innocent folk in every realm.
Zane turned to leave, then pivoted back and punched a finger in Malik’s chest. “Do you want to know what I think?”
“Sure.”
“I think the Ancient Fae is the one making these charms that keep disrupting Willow’s shield, and I think Axton is in league with her. I’ll bet you my last lay that they’ve been allies for the past two centuries. And somehow she found out about your wraiths and she wants them for her army.”
“But Axton hates wraiths with a passion.”
“That’s true. But he wants Ashleaf back even more, which means he’d use Margetta if he thought it would help.”
Malik had the worst feeling that Zane had called it right. All this time, he’d been thinking the source was one of the more powerful fae in his realm looking to make a buck by selling illegal charms. But it made a lot of sense that Margetta would be backing Axton. “If you’re right, then we’re in for it.”
Zane glanced around once more, and swore under his breath as two wraith children, chasing each other, swooped in front of Zane, then darted away. “Damn, brats. Get me out of here before I do something I’ll regret.”
Willow led the way once more, and when Malik stepped out of the short tunnel, he saw that not only had the five fae women arrived, but a few of his Guardsmen were chatting up a couple of the younger ones who happened to be unattached.
Some things never changed.
Alexandra called to them sharply until all five were grouped around Malik. Willow greeted each of them with a kiss on the cheek.
If each woman glanced at the stripes of blood on Malik’s hands and throat, no one said a word.
He called out to Evan and asked for a report. His response that all was quiet didn’t surprise Malik. He felt certain that if Axton and one of his charms had gotten within even a mile of the colony, Willow would already have known.
Willow then led the leaders of the Guild back through the tunnel.
Alexandra the Bad walked closest to her. “The shield you’ve created is quite astonishing. I had no idea this was the path your powers had taken.”
“I was well-instructed. The previous Protector trained me for five years before finally relinquishing her post.”
