Page 9 of Shadows Ascend (Remnant Archives #2)

I shot Kade a warning look, stroking Riella's hair soothingly. "Of course he will, my cub. You need not worry about that, your Uncle Kade will make sure of it."

Remnant dropped from the fifty foot ledge she was on, landing in a soft crouch in front of her brother, standing with a fluid grace that was more shifter than shadow fae—goddess she never ceased to impress me.

Planting her hand on her hip, she stared hard at her brother, final judgment flickering in her eyes and we all stood on a precipice on if she would accept his wounded soul back into her life.

After a long pause, she spoke, "Of course Uncle Kadey Kins is going to help us wake them all Riella. Isn't that right, brother?"

I smiled. “Well done, my love, he will never know what strength that really took, but I do. I see you, Remnant Dark and I am so proud of you.”

My smile widened when Remnant stood taller at my words.

Ignorant of our exchange, Kade’s lips thinned in a flat line. "It isn't that simple. If it were, I would have already done so," looking over to me, his eyes settled on Riella and his voice choked, "but of course I will help if I can my sweet little niece."

Riella's head perked up from my neck and she wiggled herself from my arms to walk over to Kade, sniffing as she went. He watched her wearily approach him and then stiffened when she wrapped her arms around his leg. "Thank you."

Startled and a bit bewildered, he looked up at me.

I crossed my arms over my chest, immensely proud of my cub as well and nodded down to my daughter.

Kade released a shaky sigh, and looked down at her, patting the top of her head awkwardly. "You're welcome, little bird."

Startled, I tensed when my vision of them suddenly blurred. Shaking my head hard, I lost my balance and stumbled sideways with shock. What the goddess? I was a fucking shifter, I never lost my balance.

Catching myself on my knee, I panted, the room spinning at an accelerated rate. “Fuck.” I groaned, right before my face decided to slam into the floor with no control of my own to stop it.

"Emon!" My soulmate's big green eyes, full of terror, were suddenly in front of me, and I blinked again. There were four of her now…goddess I couldn't handle four of her, I didn't have the stamina for that.

Desperately, I reached out to Ethereal, but he was still silent. I wished that damned cat would talk to me…he would have at least snorted at my predicament. Maybe even call me an idiot fairy boy.

Where the fuck was he?

"So goddess damn beautiful," I slurred, before I felt the room darken, this felt like before, but fucking worse, much worse.

"Emon? What is happening, what's wrong?" Remnant's strong arms wrapped around me, her voice frantic while I lay slumped in her arms. I was much too heavy for her but my soulmate was strong, fucking stronger than all of us combined.

Then our daughter called out my new favorite name.

Father.

I smiled at that. It took her very little time to adjust to us, a characteristic only a child would have. Such an easy acceptance, an innocent trust that no adult fae would ever have with a newfound family.

My soulmate's beautiful voice was sharp as she rapidly questioned her brother, but I could not focus on her words, only her hands that cradled my face, my eyes closing at the delicate touch.

" Stay awake Emon!" Her voice screamed in my head.

I smiled at her command and forced my eyes open again to peer through the darkness clouding my vision. "Little umbra," I breathed, instead of four of her there were two…maybe two and a half?

Perhaps I could handle two of her but what the fuck did you do with the half?

"That's it shifter. Stay with me now." She leaned over me, her eyes scanning every detail of my face. I could see her mind practically counting my breaths as she waited, cooing at me to stay and then…as quickly as it came the darkness started to dissipate.

Groaning with relief, I nuzzled into her touch. "I could never leave you. Not even in death, Remnant."

She hushed me, her eyes narrowing in anger. "Don't talk that way, Daemon Ash Strider. You just nearly became a glass coffin yourself." Her eyes widened then and her head snapped over to her brother.

I grunted, patting her hand, “let me move, my love, I am crushing you.”

“You should rest, Emon,” she scolded with a sigh before releasing me. Rolling over, I hauled my weakened body into sitting, feeling it heal like before and my vision clearing.

Then Riella was there, her face pale and full of fear, a half sob tearing from her little body.

I grunted as her tiny frame slammed into me and chuckled softly at the surprising strength she held.

There was no doubt she was half shifter now.

"It's okay, my little cub. I'm okay now.

" Smoothing back her hair, I kissed the top of her head, feeling guilty that I was the cause of her trembling fear.

"Shhh. I am sorry for scaring you, my cub," I purred, rocking her and meeting Remnant's grim expression over her head.

"Are you alright, shifter?" she asked hesitatingly through our bond, her worry now evolving to full panic inside our bond.

"For now, little umbra, breathe for me please." I answered honestly back, my concern now for the way she was shattering in front of me.

Remnant's jaw clenched before she whirled on her brother, hissing. "Start explaining, Kade."

Her brother shook his head, scrubbing his hands over his face. "I cannot, because I don't know. His reaction was like all the others that fell into the soulless sleep but he has been able to stay awake. Only those with god blood should be able to do that."

"For now he will still be awake—but he is no god," boomed the dark voice of Shea, the god of death, as he manifested from the shadows with his mate, my soulmate's mother, on his arm, "he merely carries the essence of one."