“Breaking tonight on KCN—exclusive footage of the criminal duo known as the Soul Reapers.”

  The screen showed a grainy video from a dark alley, where two black-clad figures fought a squad of armored police officers. The figures moved like Masters, too fast for the cameras to track. They used no aspects or visible techniques—nothing that would give them away. Just quick flashes of mana, and overwhelming power. Bodies slammed against brick walls while others slid across the alley’s concrete floor.

  “Sources within the KCPD say they’ve attacked more than two dozen officers in the past week alone. The victims report a total loss of mana.”

  The screen cut to an interview with a hospitalized officer. “They didn’t say anything,” the man said into the camera. “The small one just . . . touched me.” He raised a pale hand to the center of his chest. “Then my mana was gone. All of it.”

  Another cut showed Mayor Stonecrest at a press conference, flanked by several high-ranking members of the KCPD. “These terrorists are targeting the brave men and women who protect our city,” he said into the microphone. “They are enemies of Koreldon City and all it stands for."

  A reporter shouted a question from off-camera, and Stonecrest launched into the familiar rhetoric about Aeon cultists and their plans to divide the city.

  Relia leaned forward and grabbed the TV remote from the coffee table. Her finger hovered over the power button, but then her father stepped into the living room

  “Recognize your friends?” he asked.

  Her heart quickened, and her stomach turned into an ice cube. Relia had her suspicions about these so-called Soul Reapers, but she hadn’t been sure until now. She looked up to face her father. “You have a spy in the Cult of Solidor, don’t you?”

  Ashur nodded once.

  Relia pressed a button on the remote, muting the TV while more grainy footage played. Those techniques, that raw power . . . It had to be Angelic mana. That meant Akari and Kalden really had become Aeons, after all. She’d invited them here to talk, but they’d ignored her request.

  Instead, they went out and did ? She knew her friends would break before they’d bend, but they could have just left the city. They didn’t need to escalate things even further.

  Her father lowered himself into the leather armchair on her left, resting his ankle on his knee. “They’re using the same technique I showed you—breaking down souls to further their own advancement.” There was a short pause as he glanced at the screen. “Except they’re using humans instead of mana beasts.”

  “Why?” Relia asked. “Why would they do this?”

  “Human souls are ten times more effective than mana beasts,” he said. “And a combat-trained soul is more stable. Higher quality.”

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  “” Relia repeated. “What’s the point?”

  “I thought it was obvious. The Darklights are pushing them hard. Once Zeller and Trengsen advance, they can use this technique to raise Mystics.”

  Elend and Irina still hadn’t sworn their oaths of fealty to her father. What would they do if they advanced? Attack the Palace Prime? Start a civil war? This whole thing was a pointless waste of life, just like the war down in Creta. Her father supported the marks publicly, but he didn’t actually believe in them. in his party did, from what Relia could tell. They just put on a show for each other.

  But then Mayor Stonecrest had lit a spark with his executive order. A few police precincts had fanned that spark, and her friends fought that fire with their own.

  Akari and Kalden hadn’t killed anyone, but taking their mana was still as good as a death sentence. Relia glanced back at the TV as it showed more footage of her friends in their pitch-black armor. “Does anyone else know who they are?”

  “Chief Trask of Central North. His son was a victim during the Zenith protest last week, but the hunch of a broken knowledge artist doesn’t count for much.”

  “What are you going to do?” she asked.

  “They’re your friends,” Ashur said. “And they’re doing this to ‘rescue’ you. What do you think is best?”

  If they really cared about Relia, they would come to the Palace Prime and talked to her Her parents had never turned away any visitors. They hadn’t even stopped Arturo from infiltrating that party at the start of the summer.

  But as usual, they always knew best. They valued Relia’s power, but not her opinions.

  Then another piece clicked into place. Elend had always known about Relia’s bloodline. He’d planned to use her in the exact way he used Akari and Kalden today. Her friends would do anything for more power, and Relia had always been the odd one out. She . . .

  When had she started thinking about her friends this way? Yes, they had their issues, but they still loved each other, didn’t they? Elend had taken her into his home, trained her, and treated her like his own daughter. He’d been patient with her for years, and he’d helped her survive her condition.

  But what if Relia come from an ancient Aeon clan? What if she didn’t wield the most powerful healing aspect? Would things be different?

  Elend had always been self-centered at his core. He'd stopped abusing his dream mana, but had he truly changed in the last fifty years? Or had he simply adapted, finding more sophisticated ways to manipulate people?

  What about Irina and Glim? Akari and Kalden? They’d accepted Relia for who she was—aspect and all. Then again, they were all ruthless killers. Maybe they were just more pragmatic than the rest of the world.

  But Relia hadn’t felt this way, had she? She used to be happy. Was her old self just blissfully naive?

  “Zeller and Trengsen have abandoned their apartment on Cliff Street,” her father said. “They only come here in disguise, so the KCPD can’t touch them. But I know where the Solidor’s safe house is. The Honor Guard waits for my command.”

  This was her chance. Her father had been trying to manipulate her for months, but two could play that game. He’d done terrible things, but so had the Darklights and her teammates. Relia was the only one who saw things clearly. She was the only one who could fix this mess.

  “You need Akari and Kalden alive,” she told her father.

  He raised an eyebrow, looking more curious than skeptical. “Go on.”

  “You did all this to make Espiria stronger—so that powerful mana artists would rise up from the chaos.” She gestured back at the TV. “You got what you wanted, didn’t you? You shouldn’t be fighting with my friends. You should be working together.”

  “You’re suggesting I bring your friends here and turn them against our true enemy?”

  Relia gave a brisk nod. “Exactly.”

  Her father made a show of thinking this over, but they both knew she was right. “Very well,” he finally said. “I’ll give the order.”

  Web of Secrets Book 1 is now available for ebook, paperback, and Kindle Unlimited:

  https://www.royalroad.com/amazon/B0D7XSBKH2?maas=&ref=

  Book 2 (Web of Dreams) is also available in ebook / KU:

  https://www.royalroad.com/amazon/B0DX13PV7V

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