He had always planned to use the chaos of his victory as a distraction to carry out a secondary, very personal mission. A mission that would ensure the success of many to follow. Now, with this latest defeat, it was his only remaining play. He would strike a blow to the Shepherds that would cripple them. He would damage the very nerve center of their operation.

So he’d made room for more demons and requested their presence to join the legion inside him.

His request had been granted.

For the mission to succeed, it was time to systematically unwind the deception of recent weeks and let the light creep in . . . but just a little. Just enough to serve the design. Just enough to scatter the Shepherds in every direction and leave their flock defenseless. Even now, Ben Morvant’s knights were scrambling to protect the wrong targets from decoy weapons.

And when they return, they will find us bathing in the blood of their precious Watchers.

“Victor, I know you said not to be disturbed, but I have urgent news,” the assault commander said, walking into Victor’s chambers without permission.

Victor turned to face the man, deciding not to mete out punishment before he’d heard the report. “Tell me.”

“The Shepherds have scrambled five teams and they appear to be en route to the target cities,” the soldier said, unable to hide his distress.

Victor said nothing for a moment, basking in the other man’s fear. There was nothing he reveled in more. Fear was a man’s greatest weakness. If temptation was a lockpick to breach the soul, then fear was a sledgehammer. In the face of fear, intellect is abandoned for reflex. In the face of fear, solidarity crumbles. And in the face of fear, principle is traded for self-preservation.

Fear was, and always had been, his greatest weapon.

“It was inevitable. Inform the mission commanders of the threat,” Victor finally said, “but their orders are unchanged.”

“Yes, sir.” The soldier lowered his head.

Victor sensed the man’s fear ebb as he determined he would not be held responsible for the intelligence break. What the soldier did not understand and had no way of knowing was that Victor himself was responsible for the leak. Every element of the plan was compartmentalized at different levels of the hierarchy, and only Victor understood the endgame.

“Are the vehicles and your men ready for tonight?” he asked.

“We’re locked and loaded.”

“Very well,” Victor said. “Do not disturb me again. I see everything . . . there is nothing you can report that I have not already seen.”

“Yes, sir. It won’t happen again,” the assault commander said, bowing in deference.

“Leave me.”