Will Red still choose us when her family comes sniffing around? They’ll undoubtedly be the first fuckers through.
A thrill of aggression crackles through me, picturing that wolf again—the prick who abandoned her when we were too busy being pricks ourselves.
But he won’t touch her. Not now. Not ever.
My darkness stirs, hungry for the taste of his fear, whispering how easy it’d be to tear him apart.
Not our choice,I tell him.It’s hers.
And on that, we both agree.
Chapter 43: Jasmine
“Can we trust Delphine?” I ask, cautious.
Ezekial has mentioned the other Council member before, but nothing of detail. And the last Council member I met… well, that didn’t end very well. So I need to ask.
Ezekial places his tablet on the bed, eyes locking with mine. “When we first arrived here, Kane and I, enforcers found us and took us to Delphine.”
Kane once told me how young they were when they escaped the Dark Realm. How their fight with control almost consumed them. For a moment, I imagine being Delphine, stumbling upon two scared, furious boys carved out of shadows and blood.
“As you know, she’s an empath, but she’s older. An ancient immaru,” he reveals. “One of the last to escape the Light Realm before our father destroyed it.”
Ancientimmaru… How old do you have to be to count as ancient?
“Enforcers have always existed, from the moment other beings began to integrate with humans, about a thousand years ago. The closest equivalent is the human military.” Then his voice lowers. “But during the Dark War, they weren’t enough. Something had to change—fast.
“Delphine organised a meeting between every district leader across the Earth realm—queens, kings, all leaders. She told them what had happened to her realm and warned them it would happen here. She asked for their help.”
“The majority agreed,” Kane adds.
“The majority?” I frown.
“All but the Necromancy District.” I don’t miss the bitterness in Julien’s tone, or how he and Sai exchange a look.
“But it didn’t matter,” Ezekial continues. “It was enough. Each district provided wealth, and more importantly, their best warriors, strategists, healers. Beings of light and dark alike. She placed them into units, trained them, and sent them to fight.”
“When Delphine found us, she gave us the same opportunity. And we saw it as a way to get revenge.” Kane’s eyes darken as though reliving the moment.
I wet my lips. “I always thought, was always told, that enforcers were these terrifying, blood-thirsty, cruel beings who killed mercilessly.”
Sai grins. “That’s just us, baby.”
Kane’s glare cuts sideways, but I can’t hold back my huff of laughter which makes Sai wink.
“An elite force from every race,” Julien continues, undeterred, “in a world divided into race-bound districts, nothing was more terrifying to the Purists than unity.”
“They hated it.” Sai’s grin turns wicked, showing how much he loved that. “So they spun their own tale, painted a false narrative, that enforcers were ruthless, lawless, evil. If there’s one thing purists are good at, it’s bullshitting.”
Ezekial nods. “Their propaganda spread, but it worked in Delphine’s favour. She wanted the world to fear the enforcers; it is always better to be feared than loved…” his voice trails off.
I’ve heard that phrase before, from Kane, about his father. Is Ezekial remembering that too?
I blink the thought away. “How does one woman transform an organisation like that?”
“Delphine is a strategist, and a fierce warrior. There’s a reason she survived my father’s war. She trained recruits, then quickly appointed Lead Commanders, sending them all over the Earth Realm to build new headquarters and recruit moreenforcers. For a long time, she did it all. She alone, the only Council member.”
“All on her own?” I can’t hide the shock, or the awe, or sadness.
