The Last War (Book #9 of the Sage Saga) by Julius St. Clair Page B

you’re in danger, and should his Quietus heritage take over completely at some point, we might not be able to stop him. The Quietus people in general are bound to their traditions and private laws, but James didn’t grow up that way. He’s an outlier that has to be considered dangerous, especially with all the chaos happening around us.”
    “You sound like Kyran,” Catherine snapped. “None of what you just said sounds like you. You wouldn’t say it like that at all.”
    “Catherine, think about it. There’s no guarantee that James will be able to control himself.”
    “That’s not true!” James shouted, clenching his fists. “I’m fine now, and the Quietus have never been mindless—”
    “That’s not true though, is it?” Chloe said, piercing his resolve with her steel gaze. “The Quietus were controlled by Thorn at one point, and there were times in which you found yourself transforming against your will. What if someone triggered you on the battlefield? You’re a danger to all of us.”
    “I’m not dangerous.”
    “Is that true?” Chloe asked Catherine. Catherine didn’t say anything.
    “So what’s supposed to happen then?” James asked. “You take me to a cell until the war is over? You don’t know how long that will last.”
    “It’s for your own good as well as ours. I don’t want to force you, James. Please, just come with us peacefully.”
    “I didn’t want to bring this up,” James swallowed nervously. “But…if we’re talking about imprisoning people that could be controlled, then you should be jailed too.”
    “What are you talking about?” she scoffed.
    “James…” Catherine warned.
    “You were controlled by Gideon,” James said harshly. “Someone who is still alive actually. And unlike me, you didn’t kill bad guys. You slaughtered innocents. I’ve proven over and over that I can handle my Quietus heritage, but you’re still a liability. Gideon could take you over at any second. I’m thinking that you should go to prison instead of me.”
    James received a punch to the face from Chloe. She had moved so fast that even Catherine was caught off guard.
    “You deserved that,” Chloe cried, her voice breaking as she stared down at him. She reached down to help pick him up. James took her hand and she lifted him to his feet. Then she wretched her hand away and took a few steps back while she pointed at him. “You know you’re wrong for saying that.”
    “It’s true, isn’t it?” James said, rubbing his face.
    “I’ve…that wasn’t me. I didn’t choose to kill them, but you chose to absorb those people. They can’t even die, James. What do you have to say to that? Huh? It’s worse than murder. You remember the stories of the Siege.”
    “Yeah, all too well,” James said. “It’s been a stigma on me and my people for years. But I don’t look to the past to justify my actions in the present. I move forward knowing what I’ve got to do. Those Ancient Knights were horrible, horrible people, and if I didn’t do what I did, not only would we be dead, but countless others as well. Like Kyran, I did what I did so you could sleep a little easier at night.”
    “Don’t compare yourself to him,” she scowled. “You’re not even close to being a man of his caliber.”
    “Chloe, come on,” Catherine said. “All this arguing isn’t getting us anywhere. Let’s talk it out.”
    “Here’s us talking it out,” Chloe said, cracking her knuckles. “Come with us peacefully, or we’ll take you by force. Period. You have to answer for your crimes.”
    “You became a Delilah so quickly,” James said, tensing his muscles. “Makes me wonder if you even have a brain.”
    “Are you trying to piss her off?” Catherine yelled at him.
    “I see clearly,” Chloe said with a smile. She stretched her hand out and her long sword eidolon appeared in her hand, so large that it was nearly her size in length and width. Because it was a manifestation of her, it