Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

Chapter 205

Chapter 205: Lyre: Power Corrupts

LYRE

Thom’s barely able to walk, stumbling every few steps, even with his hand in mine. His eyes have long ago glazed over.

His arcana’s a bare whisper of existence at this point. When Aaron returns, I’ll have to send the wizard back for real rest. One little ward was all it took to finish wiping him out, of course only an hour after the Beta had left.

Owen’s off scouting ahead, since he still has the ability to defend himself if necessary. Plausibility hasn’t blocked him yet, and he’s essentially our last bastion of defense if anything arcana-capable comes our way.

Our emergency escape, if you will.

The effect of blood magic in this space is overwhelming the further we go, saturating the arcana in its taint. One would think such a level of corruption would be mirrored above ground, the earth incapable of nurturing the grass and trees, but it’s the opposite: blood magic, nauseating or not, is a source of energy.

The earth siphons it greedily, creating a lush land of fortune for those unaware of its price.

But underneath the bloated, oil-feeling arcana threads runs something else. Something cleaner and deliberate, organizing patches of arcana as if fixing small defects.

When Owen returns, his face is grim enough that I don’t need to ask, but I do anyway.

"You, too?"

He nods.

He’s a refreshing partner; no wasted words. Just quiet competence and a remarkable ability to follow my train of thought without me having to spell things out, convenient when we have to curate our words in front of the others.

Bonding him to me would make things easier, but thinking of Aaron’s jealousy makes my head already throb. He was already a mess over a simple arcana infusion with Thom, and—

My brows crowd together as I snap my head in Owen’s direction again, frowning at him without meaning to.

How could I even consider passing up such a capable minion just because of a single possessive wolf?

It’s as if I’ve been infected by their pack mentality. We don’t have this kind of relationship.

Owen must sense the weight of my gaze because he meets my eyes, only to have his widen as he takes a step back. "I didn’t do it."

"What?"

"You look like you’re angry with me over something. I can promise you, I didn’t do anything." He holds one hand up in the air, saying solemnly, "I scouted ahead but ran into no one and touched nothing. No ward was tripped."

a toad. For someone like Owen, to be overpowered by another, it

seamlessly for a while, and he stopped

forehead, I let out a little sigh. "I

remain tense, his

you don’t turn your subordinates into toads. They start losing rationality over

like the sudden urge to eat flies

side. Out of the corner of my

Pathetic.

Thom stumbles beside me once again, his knees buckling. I yank him back before he

Rest

against the concrete, breathing hard.

"Don’t worry about it."

a few times, hoping it’s enough to boost his sagging morale. Before, even a glance in his direction would lift his spirits. Now, weighed down by what

should help.

I might have to

stepping away with Owen, far enough for Thom not to listen in

the App still hasn’t updated its mission. We’re here to find the agent of Chaos, no mention of Order’s

all descendants would be bound by

wrinkles a little. "I’ve never heard of

telling me I’m full of shit, without

a line in the dusty floor with the toe of my shoe, frowning as the long-forgotten memory returns. "They wanted the blood diluted just enough to create an entire race of angel-descended

"I’ve never heard of

course not." The laugh that escapes me holds no humor. "Angels tend to gloss over

silent, then asks reluctantly, "What

all died." I shrug. "Too

bright eyes fix on me, unblinking. "How does that compare to this, then? This person

did I

"You just said—"

said they were too weak to defend themselves." I hold his gaze steadily.

His mouth twists. "Chaos?"

faintly. "Balance. They

bound by Plausibility or Causality," he points

points a finger to the sky with a faint smile. "The

"Ah... I see."

not sure how much he believes me,

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