Vax sat forward. “You’re familiar with this creation?”
“Win made it for us,” I told them. “When he intervened in the Dracoryn Realm battle and pushed back that portion of Sanctus. It’s got our magic entwined in it… something like that.”
“A forged communication conduit,” Vax added. “Yet one we haven’t been able to—”
“Activate,” I cut in. “Not with touching, magic, even blood. We think it might need Sylas. I’ve been trying to get a message to him down into the Shadow Tunnels.”
“That’s why we’ve come,” Ambrose informed us. He studied the gemstone. “Albeit, we weren’t aware of this delightful creation. This will serve us well.”
“And make this a great deal easier,” Ketheron added. Off our looks, he explained, “We were dealing with two disadvantages in respect to defeating Ruxnoth and nullifying the threat that Sanctus is to the balance. First, we aren’t aware of the breadth of the creation, its size. Second, we didn’t have a line to Winter, something required both to obtain accurate information on Sanctus and Ruxnoth to fill in missing pieces, and to ensure tiny god isn’t harmed when we launch an offensive.” He rubbed the gemstone. “This sees to those concerning disadvantages.” He winced. “Especially when the alternative was Sylas preparing to astral project into Sanctus itself to investigate, which comes with many dangers.”
“Sylas is healed now,” Ambrose stated.
“Combat-ready also?” Vax asked.
Ambrose gave a nod. Then he eyed Vax pointedly. “And you are also both. Fueled by the vibrational resonance of your entire kingdom.”
“Which comes at a fantastic time, because the spell Ambrose and I have had sweeping the supernatural world has located a viable entry point into Sanctus,” Ketheron revealed.
“Holy shit! A way to Win? This is major!” I exclaimed.
“That’s why you’ve come. You wish me to employ that ability now, no more waiting,” Vax surmised.
“Not quite,” Ambrose said. “You and I will need to work together. Sanctus is both a magical and material construction. Following the spell that I performed to bring Sylas back, we’ve determined that Sanctus is tied to Ruxnoth’s lifeforce. Winter has also provided us with his own research, yet he wasn’t aware of the lifeforce factor at the time.”
Vax cursed. “So destroying the physical form—both magically and materially—won’t annihilate it fully.”
“Yes. It will… regrow.”
I held up my hand. “Wait. You said Win provided you with research? What research? When?”
“We’ll delve into the intricacies once Winter’s family is present also.”
“We’re here to take you to the Shadow Tunnels, to pool our resources,” Ketheron clarified. “Also, now you’ve healed and all that vibrational resonance has settled and fused in your system, it will start to be felt by those purposely attuned to potentially destructive power. You now have the means to tear apart an entire realm. That won’t be taken lightly, notably by the Guardian Movement. The Shadow Tunnels will mute that from being known above ground.”
I swung my head toward Vax. “You can take out an entire fucking realm now with that? Shit. I thought… reach further to get to Win and cause some destruction, enough to take out Sanctus—although I guess, yeah, we don’t know how big it is, so you needed to be prepared.”
He smiled at me asking the question but figuring out the answer in the same beat.
Ambrose took the gemstone from Ketheron’s palm. “This was forged through the weaving of the magic of all four of you. Winter’s is already embedded in it and ever-present as a result, sustaining its physical form. However, it could not be activated before because the three of you here were not gathered together.” He eyed Vax. “With you being unconscious it was registering you as missing. Once Evira returns, it will only be a matter of time before Winter is able to contact you. Contact can only be opened from his end, but once it is, the communication will go both ways. It has nothing to do with requiring Sylas’ input.” He smiled at the gemstone. “Although, there is a message imbued in it intended for him. A drop of his blood will release that once we arrive in the Shadow Tunnels.”
“Oh my God, Win knows he’s alive, then,” I breathed. Thank fuck, him carrying that, especially while isolated and dealing with that maniac, Ruxnoth, just thinking about him suffering through that… I hadn’t been able to even go there without getting sick to my stomach.
“Yes. Most certainly.” Ambrose rose to his feet. “Now, while we must wait—”
“Instead of pulling Evira out of the Dracoryn Realm abruptly and causing a stir that would draw undue attention we can’t afford,” Ketheron interjected.
Ambrose smiled good-naturedly at the interruption, then he told Vax, “It affords some time for Ketheron to go over themechanics with you in regard to the use of your vibrational resonance.”
Ketheron nodded. “Yes. How you’ll need to approach the vibrational resonance unleashing while having Ambrose’s black magic involved too doing its thing, and even Sylas’ Necromancy. It requires intricate weaving, a little avoiding, and even some… partial fusing. It’s best coming from an outsider to those abilities who has become highly adept at interacting with them—me—rather than the wielders themselves in Ambrose and Sylas, as they don’t know the sensations and reactions it causes for others.”
“I see,” Vax said, giving a nod, then turning to me. “In the meantime, why don’t you finish up with your assignment. You’re almost through the complex spellwork now. One of your other assignments requires you to analyze the impact of black magic in certain scenarios.”
His gaze flicked to Ambrose, who confirmed, “I would be happy to assist.”
“That’s really kind of you. And that would be really helpful, no doubt. But leaving Vax to focus on that—”
Vax gave my hand a gentle squeeze, drawing my attention. “I need to have complete focus on what Ketheron needs to convey to me anyway.” He leaned in and whispered, “And after being pulled up short earlier as you were about to ride my cock like a very good boy, every touch is a tormenting temptation that I want so badly to give in to, yet can’t, at this juncture. However, when we are in the Shadow Tunnels and Evira has rejoined us, you will be devoured, beauty.”
