The Mantis Synchronicity - Book Five - 37. Chapter 37 - Epilogue - New Rulers of Duguza

Z’Matri was oblivious to the spell that had incapacitated almost every Shift around Teshon City. He was hiking back toward the city of Duguza with the Shift who did not realize she was a Shift, Illastria. She had insisted on returning to the cottage high in the forested mountains to check in with her wife and child, and once Illastria was satisfied that her family was safe, she and Z’Matri started back down again.

Illastria was intrigued by his offer. “So what kind of job do you have in mind?” she asked.

“What would you say,” Z’Matri replied, “to Minister of Duguza?”

Illastria scoffed at him. “Don’t be foolish. What did you really have in mind?”

He did not answer but looked at her expectantly.

She scowled. “How on earth are you going to give me that title?”

The next words Z’Matri spoke sounded reverent. “Together, you and I would be untouchable.”

Illastria tutted. “I’m married.”

“I don’t mean a relationship. I mean a partnership. I mean co-leadership. I mean that with your power to turn off other Shifts’ powers, and my ability to know where all Shifts are at all times, no one, no matter how powerful, could approach us unless we allowed them. Any Shift who gets too close will be reduced to a pathetic human.”

Illastria was smiling like she could immediately see the potential in his proposal. “Other Shifts would rally to us, protect us. We could build an army of Shifts.”

“We would be invincible,” Z’Matri breathed in a voice full of wonder.

Before they arrived at Duguza, they smelled smoke. The Heights smoldered.

Usurping power in the city proved to be as easy as Z’Matri and Illastria simply entering the capitol building. A few humans were trying to protect it, but Z’Matri was a master swordsman, and the guards did not stand a chance. Illastria may have flinched at the deaths of the men, but she knew she was willing to do anything for her family, and they would never be better off than if she were a ruler of the city. She forced herself to look at the bodies as she stepped over them; upon their corpses, Illastria would establish her family.

Gawa and Tisa’s combined assaults on the city’s leaders had crippled Duguza. The infighting among the factions that had split from the city watch made the streets dangerous.

The official state building of the Tilthon Empire was positioned at the edge of the disgusting river, and Illastria and Z’Matri were only there a matter of hours before he informed her, “My companions are on their way. I’m going to go meet them.”

Gawa and Tisa had left the houseboat, and they were approaching the city’s seat of leadership. They were surprised to see Z’Matri.

“Gawa! Tisa!” he called out as he came strolling up from the direction of city hall.

“You’re inside the circle?” Tisa asked in confusion.

“I know,” Z’Matri replied. “I met the Shift, and she made her powers stop affecting me.”

“You did?” Gawa replied. “Well tell her to turn her powers off so we can come in and discuss things.”

“Can’t do that,” Z’Matri declared, shaking his head. “See, I’m in charge now, me and the other Shift. She makes it so I’m the only one with any powers. My power has always been a little disappointing in comparison to the rest of you. I ain’t never been a match, but inside the circle, I stand alone.”

Tisa crossed her thin arms over her chest and frowned at him. “You’re turning on us?”

“I’m going to run this city,” Z’Matri said, and there was an angry edge to his voice.

“The army is on its way to stop you,” Gawa interjected.

“Let them try. You two can fight against the imperials on the outside of the circle, as soldiers in my military, or you’re on your own.” Z’Matri then added, “Many Duguzan Shifts are already preparing to defend the area surrounding city hall. You can join them, or you can do whatever you want. For the first time in my life, I’m the powerful one, and I’m staying here.”★

Teshon City’s Shifts are trapped

in a mass coma by a Demifae spell!

What is the Demifae’s plan?

Duguza has fallen, and Z’Matri has

declared himself master of the city!

What does he hope to achieve?

Book Six in the Mantis Gland series is coming soon✪