Page 109 of Legacy

I zeroed in on him, before I let my wings carry me any higher.

Nyx Laryn.

One of Ariana’s loves.

I gritted my teeth. This certainly complicated things.

Although, not more than the fact that I’d just violated Celestial Law by saving her.

Velra Nox.

Little shadow.

18

~Ariana~

No one had perished.

Every single being who’d been present at the time of the attack had survived, thanks to the quick reactions of Pops and the Guardians who’d been in the vicinity at the time.

Andthanks to Nyx’s warning, Kai knowing him so well, and being able to react so swiftly with both the Aetherbound Scepter and calling me in.

If Nyx hadn’t picked up on something being off with Caius, there wouldn’t have been those precious seconds needed to evacuate and get most people clear.

Those who hadn’t been so lucky to avoid the blast entirely had sustained Hellfire damage, but thanks to Grandfather being on the sceneandhim teaching me how to heal that sort of wound with my power alongside him, which required a special approach to what I was used to, they would all be fine.

I was taking a moment outside, breathing in the night air, and trying to calm the adrenaline from earlier.

After Grandfather had laid eyes on Gramps and seen that he was well, the two of them had headed off with Nyx to escort Velra home, where Grandfather was going to erect a ward fromhis substantial power to ensure her safety after somebody had directly come at her tonight.

Her and the Guardian Movement, with Crossborn specifically in mind as well.

And now I was doing damage control from a different standpoint as I stared out at the forest in the distance while I spoke on the phone with Kai.

“I’m sure. We’re both fine. Everyone is fine. Nyx and I didn’t sustain any damage.”

“What about his magic? After it was compromised?”

“The effects didn’t last long.”

“All right, you said Gabriel is headed up there to take a look at the device?”

“That’s right. I’ll send you a photo of it, don’t worry. I know you didn’t have a chance in all the chaos to get a detailed look at it.”

“Aww, how well you know me.”

“That I do.”

“Listen, Ari, the fact that this Caius was under the influence of coercion is as extremely concerning as the existence of that device.”

I frowned. “He may be part vampire, Kai, but Ancients can coerce vampires.”

“That’s just it. He’spartvampire only.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Hybrids aren’t vulnerable to coercion.”

---