Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 118699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 593(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 593(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
“Archangels aren’t known for subtlety when they wake.”
“Hmm.” Not sure why the scene disturbed him when all was exactly as it always was when he did his routine flights to the cairn, he said, “Let’s check the entire island.”
But when Sharine would’ve separated from him, he took her slender hand in his. “Together, Shari. There’s something not right here.”
She exhaled, the air a puff of white. “I admit it does make the hairs on the back of my neck rise.”
But though they searched every inch of the island, they found no debris at all, no sign of an archangel shattering his cairn and rising triumphant.
“Look here, Titus.”
When he followed the line of her pointing hand, he saw the small patch of greenish-black liquid that had frozen in place. His gut churned. “Reborn colors. As if one of the creatures threw up.”
“From the size, it could as easily be seabird scat,” Sharine pointed out. “We could attempt to take a sample for a test, but reborn samples tend to come back as decaying matter, with no other specificity. Illium has explained the concept of DNA, and he says that the reborn process appears to irreparably alter the fabric of what makes us who we are.”
“I’ve also heard this. We should take a sample regardless, just in case—Antonicus was an archangel, after all. He might not react the same way to Lijuan’s evil.”
Nodding, Sharine retrieved one of the sample containers she’d brought along in the pocket of the flying jacket Illium had gifted her. “Since you’re an adventurer now, Mother,” the blue-winged angel had said with a grin.
Of sleek brown leather that was lined within, it suited Sharine’s slim form. But he knew she would’ve worn it with equal joy had it not suited her at all. Because Sharine knew how to love, and she loved her son.
So did Titus. Illium was a difficult angel not to love.
“I suppose,” Sharine said after she’d taken the sample, “the only way to be certain is to topple the cairn, look beneath.”
Titus grimaced. “To disturb the rest of an archangel without cause is an act of dishonor, even war.” Especially when that archangel had been so badly wounded. “This, I can’t do on my own—I must have the backing of the entire Cadre. Elsewise, if I find him lying cold in the ground exactly where he should be, it’ll cause a wave of distrust and aggression.”
“Because if Titus, Archangel of Southern Africa, can so rudely disturb one archangel in Sleep, what’s to stop him from doing the same to another?” Sharine murmured.
“You see it, Shari.” Titus wasn’t a man who liked to walk away from a possible problem, but in simply acting, he’d create a far bigger one. Their world had barely recovered from one war. It didn’t need another. “We fly home and I gather the Cadre.”
* * *
* * *
The ensuing meeting, done via screens, went as expected. There was no consensus. Especially after Titus revealed that his scientists’ tests on the sample had come back as inconclusive. The material had been contaminated before it froze, and could as easily be a bit of decaying flotsam that had washed ashore as it could be evidence of a reborn.
Aegaeon—and surprisingly—Qin would not have a wounded Ancient disturbed without further proof.
Neha joined them. “I must agree,” she said, her face drawn and no sign once again of the saris she’d once always worn for meetings of the Cadre; she did, however, sport a thin snake of bright orange as a necklace.
The creature flicked out its tongue as she said, “If we react to any small disturbance by digging up Antonicus, he’ll never have any rest.”
She’s right, Titus said in a mental aside to Zanaya and Alexander both. Much as it pains me to admit.
Yes. Zanaya’s voice. To disturb him when his cairn lies solemn and still, I wouldn’t consider it either did I not have the sense of a terrible darkness creeping closer.
Will you be content to watch and wait then?
Zanaya gave a small nod, while the conversation went on around them. And hunt, she added. Something is in your territory and it’s making its way up into mine. Neither one of us can lower our guard.
If you need more squadrons or for me to join you in the hunt, Alexander said, you have but to ask.
We may well do that, my friend. But for now, there’s no outbreak. What we hunt is a creature of cunning.
The meeting ended soon afterward. Titus saw Neha’s lips part before it did, was certain the Archangel of India was about to speak, but then she closed her mouth and logged off.
The Cadre was no longer in session.
49
Antonicus dropped the body of his latest piece of food and felt it, the stretching awake of his true power. The power of an archangel. At last.