“Ah, is there anything more satisfying than turning the tables on a megalomaniacal heathen by using their own despicable creations against them?” Ambrose breathed.
“Really, my gorgeous?”
Ambrose registered what Ketheron was obviously getting at, his eyes glinting at him. “Obviously aside fromthat.” He stroked Ketheron’s cheek. “The magic we make together is far beyond mere satisfaction, just so we are absolutely clear.”
Kai cleared his throat. “As much as I love this whole thing for the two of you—”
“Aww, let them have their moments, it’s sweet,” Sylas said.
Wow.
“Sweet?” Kai questioned. “You all right there, Almighty Necromancer?”
“Kai,” Sylas rumbled. Much more like Sylas.
“He’s being soft with the taste of victory approaching,” Ketheron said. “Plus, I’m much like tiny god’s big brother, and he cherishes me.”
“That I do, K. Without a doubt.”
They obviously hadn’t registered our presence, so there had to be another layer of magic other than the illusion that had hidden them from view.
Winter pushed his hand toward them, but jerked back with a hiss as rose-gold magic sparked against his fingers.
And that certainly got their attention.
In the next moment, all four of them reacted, spinning around, eyes wide.
It had them breaking apart and then what had been between them, unknown to us, came into view.
A long cone of polished black wrapped in a curling band of antique gold with midnight-blue gems set into it hovered a couple of feet off the ground.
“The Spiral Thorn,” Winter choked, a mix of shock and horror infiltrating his features.
“Win? What are you doing here?” Sylas said, starting forward to go to him. Kai had to grab his coat and jerk him back so he didn’t slam against the ward.
“That was really it? That was what I felt? Not him… a part of his power?” Winter demanded. “I mean, Ambrose, I knew you’d stored a bit of it when you brought Dad back, but this… how is the Spiral Thorn here? And right next to my dad? The person it killed?”
Fuck.
This was… awful.
So very awful for him.
And he’d been doing so well, recovering so amazingly.
Now this.
“Win, it can’t harm me now. It wasn’t even the weapon itself per se that—”
“I know. It was me. Because he was able to establish that blood link to me then piggyback off our generational necromantic connection, where he then—”
“Stop. It’s not your fault.”
Ambrose snatched up the Spiral Thorn and spun it in his hand. “Actually, if he hadn’t established that link, then done this, I never would have been able to acquire his blood the way I did—through my own magic when I performed the spell to restore Sylas.”
Winter frowned. “You’re saying you now have the means to undo his warping ability? With his own former weapon?”
Kai grinned, eyes darkening. “That’s exactly what he’s saying.”
