Page 57 of Shadows Lost (Remnant Archives #1)

“ D aemon, thank you for coming.” Jarquinn called from his worn wooden work desk as I stealthily entered the healing quarters.

I had never been able to sneak up on the ancient fae, even when I was a cub.

Crossing my arms over my chest, I studied him in his predictable light blue robes. His tall frame and sharp lethal grace gave him a dangerous air that one would be foolish to ignore. Jar was like a father to me, especially after the loss of mine, I had never feared him but I did respect him.

“I wanted to have a word with you anyway.” I stole a glance at the sleeping faeling on the bed by the window. “I know you organized for Penina and Xi to take Remnant out this morning.”

Jar nodded. “Yes, your suggestion of pastries was most helpful, your majesty.”

I chuckled remembering the mixture of fury and eagerness as she stormed out the door heading straight towards buttery baked goods at Griffins Gateau.

“The truth is, Forta will not find what she needs to heal in here.” Jarquinn added, picking at his long sleeve with deft fingers.

“He’s nervous.” The cat observed.

I narrowed my eyes on his pristine sleeve. “What’s going on Jar?” Alarmed, I took a step back towards the door. “Is Remnant in danger?”

Jarquinn was in front of me before I could think about dragging my soulmate back home. His shifter speed and ancient origins made him faster than even me. A testament to the true animal that lurked below, one I had never seen in my lifetime.

“Calm yourself Daemon, my cub. All is well with forta . Aside from needing fresh air and exposure to society, she is well. I swear it on the goddess.”

I reached up and encased his in my own with concern. "Then why are you so fucking nervous, Jar?”

“Language, cub!” Jarquinn chastised me sternly and then gripped my shoulder with his free hand to guide me further into the room. “It is about the girl.” He said quietly, motioning for me to sit on the long prime tree root that extended beside her bed.

“Riella?” I looked down at the sleeping faeling with alarm.

Her small tanned face was serene while she slept.

Black hair had been braided to the side and it reminded me of my mother in another time, long ago.

Fluffy cloud blankets had been carefully and lovingly tucked around her, engulfing her small form. “What is wrong with her?”

“Nothing is wrong with her physically.” Jarquinn said slowly. “She is healing well in her induced sleep and she will undoubtedly wake in the next couple of days.”

I sighed with relief, tiredly scrubbing at my beard. I had stayed up too late with Tyr. Thank the goddess for fae metabolism or I’d still be stumbling around drunk this morning. “What is it then?”

“It is about the child's origin. She is not water fae—she never was.”

My brows furrowed. “We knew this…are you telling me that you have discovered what she is? Is she a shifter?” I looked back down at the innocent child again, my protective nature still calling to me. “The other night, when I came home, she felt f amiliar to me. I know you noticed it too. ”

“Be prepared, fairy boy.”

I stiffened. “What do you know of this cat?”

Silence .

Growling, I cursed him to Sheol and back.

Jar tensed, his blue eyes wary. “I want you to know that I have gone over my findings multiple times. The end result was the same every time…Daemon, the child is shifter fae,” the ancient rubbed at his crystal blue eyes, as if he had been up all night as well, “and she is shadow fae.”

My brows rose. “That would be almost impossible. Even if we forget the fact that the fae are sterile, the other fae races don’t associate with shifters…

until Finlandia. And the shadow fae are gone!

” I shook my head. “Not to mention, to carry both traits. Our makeup chooses the most dominant side of power, always.”

The master healer nodded. “Yes, all of what you say is true…normally. But Riella is no normal faeling. She harbors equal shifter and shadow fae power within her. Her parents are very powerful—very equal beings.”

I frowned at her features once more…the sense of familiarity only growing stronger. “If I am to accept this, then who are her parents?”

“I need you to try to stay calm for this Daemon.” Jar pleaded. He never pleaded.

My stomach turned, seeing the deeply set worry in his ancient eyes.

I growled low. “Tell me.”

“Riella is the daughter of General Remnant Dark.”

Rearing back, like his words were a slap to my face, my chest heaved and something fractured deep inside of me, golden power surged forward, pulsing loudly in my skull.

I rose when my vision blurred with looming bloodlust in an attempt to control the rising power while the sound of splintering wood and breaking glass filled the room.

I roared when strong arms embraced me, reflexively lashing out viciously with my claws.

"Remnant is mine—my soulmate!" A low eerie keen escaped me. It just couldn't be possible. Whoever this male shifter was…goddess—fuck.

“Calm yourself!” My beast’s voice rose over the thundering golden power. " Breathe, Emon. Breathe. You are hurting the healer. Hurting Jar.”

As if I was doused in a bucket of ice cold water, I froze. The red haze cleared and I shook my head holding back the sob that threatened to rip out of me.

"I should have found Remnant sooner…I should have…."

“Daemon.” Jarquinn whimpered, pain straining his voice and drawing my attention.

My beast's words finally registered and I blinked at the sight of Jar pinned to the wall by his shoulders with my claws. Blood seeped into his light blue robes and I stared, realizing what I had done.

“Fuck!” I snarled and ripped my hands away, trembling with shame and horror.

Jar exhaled shakily with relief, sliding down the wall and waving his hands over the wounds instantly healing them.

“Forgive me, Jar.” I bowed my head, gripping it in anguish.

A wet towel was thrusted under my bowed head and I heard the healer chuckle. “There is nothing to forgive Daemon, I had foreseen this. I am only sorry for the pain it has caused you.”

“Do not make excuses for me, master healer.” I hissed back, taking the towel and wiping furiously at my bloodied hands. “I am the damned king of The West Isles! I don’t lose control, I can’t lose control, and I damn well don’t attack my own family! I won't be like him!”

Jar shook his head. “You are many things Daemon Ash Strider but you are not your father…your control right now is a testament to that. You’ve just learned that the fae you love has a daughter.

” He chuckled and shook his head again. “Your father would have shredded this place to pieces with such knowledge.” He gave the splintered prime root that I had ripped off in my rage a forlorn look.

Its severed limb was across the room, littered with broken glass, the source of the crash I had heard.

“However, I do believe it will be some time before the prime root trusts you again.”

I eyed the stump of the ancient tree shamefully. “Apologies, Prime. I was not…myself.”

The tree shuttered and Jar chuckled. “Another difference between you. Your father would have never been caught apologizing to a tree.”

I cursed and started to pace. “Why hasn’t Remnant said anything about this?

” I scrutinized the girl and then I saw it.

The black hair, the dark lashes, the heart shape of her face.

She looked just like her mother…except the faeling’s skin was tanned almost bronze—nothing like the flawless pale skin of my soulmate.

Jarquinn pondered my question a moment, tapping a long finger to his pursed lips. “Because…she does not know. Daemon there is more—”

“What?” My head snapped up. “How could she possibly not know?”

“There is more...” He said again slowly.

“Fucking goddess!” My hands could not stop raking through my hair as I prowled agitatedly.

“What of the father , this fucking shifter fae. Is that the more you need to tell me?” I choked on a growl.

How could this fae ever leave Remnant alone with a child?

He was below the worst scum of Faerie, I would eviscerate him…

then order Jarquinn to heal him before eviscerating him again, repeating the process over and over. “I'm going to kill this asshole. "

Jar snorted. “I sincerely hope not. Not unless you plan to kill yourself Daemon.”

My pacing paused abruptly. “What?” I snapped.

“I told you to be prepared." The cat was solemn.

“ You knew!” I roared at him. “You knew and never said a word to me! You’re fucking lucky that killing you would kill me too.”

“Calm yourself, fairy boy. I suspected. That is all Emon. I can detect both your shadow fae’s scent and your scent from the child. Of course if you would have shifted I would have known for sure.”

“Stop! Refrain from using my name! You have lost that privilege if you even had it in the first place. It only solidifies your own guilt.” I snarled back.

Sliding down to the edge of faeling’s bed I stared at the girl. I could see it now. Tanned skin kissed by the sun, the same as mine.

Sorrow and guilt seized me and I struggled to take a deep breath. “How? Why? When?” I whispered.

“I suspect the queen was finally successful in her experiment to create a child, from what you told me of your imprisonment she was able to use you both to accomplish this. It is my theory that the blood wraiths are her failed experiments with using the Sanguine and the deadlands are created from the drain of energy required to sustain their ghastly lives. The Sanguine cannot sustain life like our goddess can, so she has gone straight to the source. Our world.” He shook his head.

“I do not know how she ended up in The Under. That one is a mystery to me. ”