LXXVIII

  Beneath our house, in the private training facility we had built specifically for hunters, Leora and Selena were going at it. The underground space was reinforced with aura-infused materials, meaning they could cut loose without worrying about bringing the whole damn house down.

  I sat comfortably behind the control panel, munching on a bag of chips, watching the chaos unfold through the reinforced observation glass.

  Leora had long abandoned her katana, opting for pure aura-based combat. It made sense—her speed was already monstrous, but she wanted to push further, to refine her technique into something even deadlier. Without a weapon, she had to figure out how to make her bare hands as lethal as any blade.

  Selena, on the other hand, had deliberately handicapped herself. She wasn’t using any of her hidden weapons, even though she was a certified Weapon Master—a title that extended beyond just melee arms. If it could be wielded, fired, or thrown, she could master it. Hell, even Leora acknowledged her skill in that regard. But right now, she was keeping things simple, relying purely on hand-to-hand combat.

  That didn’t mean she was weak.

  Even without her weapons, Selena was a monster in close quarters.

  Both of them had already shredded parts of their tracksuits. The thin material barely held together as they exchanged high-speed blows. And no, I wasn’t a pervert, but I was a man, and I appreciated the view. Not that I’d ever tell my wife that.

  Selena ducked under a blindingly fast kick from Leora, countering with a rising elbow aimed at her chin. Leora twisted mid-air, narrowly avoiding the strike, then came down with a vicious axe kick. Selena blocked with her forearm, the force of the impact sending a shockwave through the room.

  Selena grinned. "That all you got, cockquean?"

  Leora’s eye twitched. "Keep talking, bitch. You’re about to eat the floor."

  Selena smirked. "Big words from someone whose entire fighting style is ‘go fast and hope for the best.’"

  Leora shot forward in a burst of light, but Selena had already sidestepped, predicting the move. The moment Leora reappeared, Selena drove a knee toward her stomach.

  But Leora had baited her.

  Instead of dodging, Leora caught Selena’s knee with both hands, spun her body mid-air, and launched her across the training room.

  Selena twisted at the last second, landing in a crouch. She dusted off her torn sleeve and sighed. "Okay, fine. I’ll admit, you’ve gotten better."

  Leora cracked her knuckles. "That’s what happens when you train instead of spending all your time hoarding guns and making fake IDs."

  Selena rolled her eyes. "You say that like I don’t put in work. Just because I don’t run around like a speed-obsessed psycho doesn’t mean I’m slacking."

  Leora smirked. "Uh-huh. Whatever you say, discount James Bond."

  Selena flipped her off before dashing forward again.

  I sat back, shoving another handful of chips into my mouth. Now this was entertainment.

  Just as I was enjoying the spectacle of my wife and Selena tearing each other apart in the training facility, my phone rang.

  Unknown number.

  I frowned. I wasn’t in the habit of answering unknown calls, but my gut told me this wasn’t a random scammer trying to sell me snake oil. I picked up.

  “Who is this?”

  A familiar voice came through, cool and unbothered. “It’s me.”

  I paused, then sighed. “Rory. It’s been a long time.”

  Leora and Selena were still going at it, completely unaware of the conversation I was about to have. I leaned back in my chair, keeping my eyes on the fight but my focus on the call.

  “What do you want?” I asked.

  “I just wanted to clarify something,” Rory said. “I wasn’t the one who leaked the news about the gala massacre.”

  I let out a short chuckle. “I know. You’d have to be monumentally stupid to do something like that. That leak doesn’t just put a target on your back—it puts one on mine and the other three people I hired that night. They’d kill you for it, and frankly, I am surprised you are still alive.”

  I could imagine Grue doing it.

  There was a brief pause. “Good. Then I don’t have to explain how messy this is about to get.”

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  I frowned. “It sounds like you… didn’t do it then? Who leaked it?”

  “The Elsewhere Cult,” she answered without hesitation.

  I clenched my jaw. Not surprising. That damn cult had been growing like a tumor in the mundane world, gaining more followers than ever. But they were also bleeding.

  The attack I orchestrated against them—where I took out a significant chunk of their numbers and killed the Prophet’s right-hand man—was finally having its effect. And with the unofficial bounty I placed on the Prophet’s head, the pressure was only mounting.

  Sure, they liked to play tough, but that would only get someone so far.

  The Cult building churches and expanding their public presence was a strategic response to their dwindling numbers. They were trying to regain control.

  I exhaled. “So what’s the problem?”

  Rory’s voice turned serious. “I think the people you hired that night are being targeted. That includes me…”

  That made me sit up straight.

  Then she dropped the bomb.

  “Carlyle is dead.”

  I stopped breathing for a second.

  That was… news.

  I turned my notebook over, flipping it to the back as I processed Rory’s words. My pen had been lazily jotting down notes about Leora and Selena’s sparring, but now my focus had shifted entirely.

  I exhaled slowly. “Tell me how he died.”

  “Poison,” Rory said flatly.

  I pinched the bridge of my nose. Of course, it was poison.

  “And what makes you think someone is out to kill us?” I asked, though I already knew the answer.

  Rory hummed, almost amused. “You sound so sure… Could it be that you already know you’d be on the receiving end of some good old-fashioned revenge?”

  I scoffed. “Obviously. I was the one who orchestrated the attack.”

  She let out a low chuckle. “Then congratulations, Bright. You’ve pissed off an entire cult.”

  Suspiciously, this was quite a late response for the gala massacre. And this attempt felt lackluster compared to being chased by the Extreme Maker and almost getting killed by the Extreme Fighter.

  I sighed. “Looks like I’ll have to evacuate my family soon.”

  There was a short pause before Rory spoke again. “You should.”

  I tapped my fingers against the notebook. “And you? Do you think you’re being framed?”

  She hesitated. A rare thing for Rory. Then, she answered, “No.”

  I raised a brow. “No?”

  She sighed, this time sounding mildly annoyed. “Carlyle tried to kill me.”

  Ah.

  “So, you defended yourself,” I concluded.

  “Exactly.”

  That changed things.

  Rory’s voice remained calm, yet there was an unmistakable edge to it.

  “Clear my name. And I will owe you a favor. You like favors, right?”

  I let out a dry chuckle. “No need,” I replied. “I’m the one who brought you into this mess, and back then, I was selfish—too aware of the Cult’s power. I’ll make it up to you.”

  There was a short silence on the line before Rory spoke again. “I’ll send you an address. Meet me there.”

  A moment later, my phone vibrated with a new message. I glanced at the screen and frowned.

  “That’s two city-states over.”

  I leaned in on the control panel’s mic and pressed the open channel. My voice echoed through the underground training facility.

  “Leora. Selena. Emergency. Meet me in the living room at five.”

  The sparring match came to an abrupt halt.

  Five minutes later, everyone was gathered in the living room.

  Leora had somehow managed to take a bath and change into casual clothes—jeans, a fitted shirt, and her hair still damp from the shower. Meanwhile, Selena had taken the lazier route, using aura to cleanse herself and switch into something more comfortable: a hoodie and sweatpants.

  I leaned forward, elbows on my knees. “Rory called.”

  Leora tilted her head. “An old acquaintance?”

  “Very good at poison. Owns a pharma. Helped me slaughter a lot of cultists, like three years ago.”

  The Elsewhere Cult had high-quality priests—each one an aura user, difficult to create, and even harder to replace. Taking them out had been a major blow to the Cult back then.

  Selena crossed her arms. “So what’s the problem?”

  I sighed. “There was this one-time crew I created to tackle that particular gala problem. One of them just kicked the bucket. Carlyle.”

  Selena scoffed. “I know that guy. Posh, blonde, liked treasures? He’s dead? He was an idiot then.”

  Leora’s expression darkened slightly. “So we evacuate?”

  Selena shook her head. “I suggest against it. Moving creates a lot of trace. We’re the safest here.”

  I exhaled. “I’m afraid it’s not the Cult’s work this time.”

  That got their attention.

  I leaned back against the couch. “DIVINE is making waves. The power balance is being broken. Someone is doing something to restore it. And I’m afraid I’m the target.”

  Selena frowned. “Wait… are you saying—”

  “Probably knowledge of my affiliation with Bob leaked out.”

  Leora’s fingers tapped idly against the couch. “You… aren’t thinking it’s the World Order, are you?”

  The World Order—WO—was the most secretive organization among the Big Three. Dangerous, unpredictable, and highly capable of making problems disappear before anyone even realized they existed.

  I sighed. “It’s a possibility.”

  Silence settled between us for a moment before I spoke again. “I’m thinking of bringing Leora with me. And for you, Selena, to evacuate Leon.”

  Selena groaned. “Oh, shit… you want me to babysit?”

  I smirked. “I’m going to unseal his aura and his memories of using them. He’ll need a teacher… and a very good escape artist.”

  Selena’s face twisted into something unreadable.

  “The second his aura bursts, trackers hired by the Cult will sniff him out. Only you can protect him. And you’d be better off moving in smaller groups.”

  Leora leaned forward. “My powers are rather flashy too.”

  I gave her a look. “And I’m basically a celebrity at this point—still relevant to the world thanks to the damn Ranking Magazine.”

  Selena threw her hands up. “Fine. I give up.”

  Preparations were swift but thorough.

  Selena packed light, just a single duffel bag slung over her shoulder. But knowing her, she had enough weapons and supplies shrunken down inside her utility belt to survive a war. She pulled on a dark windbreaker over her hoodie, making sure she had easy access to her holsters.

  Leora was less subtle. She tied her hair into a high ponytail, dressed in her usual practical attire—black cargo pants and a form-fitting long-sleeve shirt. She checked her aura reserves one last time, eyes flashing with determination.

  I had the easiest job. Grab my keys, double-check my pistol, and make sure my notes were encrypted before shutting my laptop.

  It was time to move.

  I turned to the group. “Leora and I will take the SUV.”

  Leora swung the passenger door open, slipping inside with a nod. “Let’s go.”

  Selena leaned against the porch railing, arms crossed. “Take care, the two of you.” She shifted her weight. “For me, I’m gonna pick up Leon from kinder and probably head to the mountains first. And then from there, who knows?”

  Leora’s expression softened slightly. “Keep Leon safe.”

  Selena smirked. “Nah, it’ll be him keeping me safe.” She waved us off before adding, “Careful with your honeymoon though… and remember, always use protection.”

  Leora rolled her eyes. “Har har.”

  I sighed, shaking my head as I started the engine. “Just don’t burn the house down while we’re gone.”

  Selena just grinned. “No promises.”

  ~078