Page 143 of Mantle

“I know you believe it’s a risk, but Ketheron deserves that choice,” Ariana said. “Otherwise it would be yet another violation.”

“I do agree with you, but for a more practical reason. If he doesn’t trust us, it could actually lead to him working against us anyway. It could turn him naturally without the use of Corvin’s leash.”

I didn’t believe that would happen, and I could see that Ariana didn’t either, while Kai and Vorzyr were more skeptical.

But there was no point speaking to it, because things were already being done for Ketheron’s benefit in mind, regardless of the reasons at this point.

And nothing would change their mindsuntilthey saw it with their own eyes, which they would when Ketheron assisted Ariana with the Severance spell.

They wouldallsee then.

They’d see him as Ariana and I did.

Not a threat, but a victim who was fighting for his recovery and agency, and just needed a chance.

“I’ll join the Guardian members assigned to Corvin’s arrest,” Kai announced to us. “I need to retrieve some of his power and blood—it could be the key to saving Sylas.”

“I’ll go with you. Back you up,” Vorzyr told him.

“I’ll get you the Encompassing Inhibitor,” Cornelius said, looking between Ariana and I. “You retrieve Ketheron. Cassius and I will prepare the spell. Come to us with Ketheron at Meforian Forest.”

As they both teleported out, Ariana pulled the three of us in close. “It’s almost over.” She nuzzled against us. “Be careful. Promise me.”

“Right back at you, sweetheart.”

“You have my word,” she vowed.

I sank into it for a moment, needing to savor the calm before the insane storm that was about to descend.

29

~Ariana~

Tension crackled in the air as I stood in the Guardian Movement black site with Pops beside me, while Nyx, sitting cross-legged in front of my ward and the Underveil Shield confining a still-unconscious Ketheron, was immersed in his dreamwalking.

That tension was only amplified by the fact that about twenty Unity Council members were stationed at the edges of the room, observing to ensure everything went smoothly. Their leader, Hugh Clayborne, wasn’t present—he was still recovering from Ketheron’s attack. Or rather, Corvin’s attack, since he’d fucking forced Ketheron to commit all of it.

Pops was under immense pressure, juggling multiple priorities and political agendas.

There was also an awkward undercurrent, now that word had gotten out about me and the boys stealing my test results from inside their building—the same test they’d conducted on me without consent, and without the Guardian Movement’s authorization—because they’d feared what I might become once I matured into my power.

I guess, from their perspective, it all balanced out in the end. In a really messed-up kind of way.

I winced as I took in Pops and thirty of his Guardians all wielding Bastion Gauntlets that had been rapidly produced by Arcanum Order, ready to fire at one wrong move from Ketheron, and put him right back down again.

I wouldn’t let that happen, but it still had me concerned that Ketheron just seeing the threat of it all once he woke up would antagonize an already volatile situation.

But I also understood the need for them to feel prepared.

Especially with Pops, the great Ryker Morgan, not being able to influence Ketheron with his defensive magic and simply stop him that way, as he’d been doing with all threats for years on end.

I focused on Nyx currently removed from this reality, his palms upturned, his magic sparking on them.

I wanted to be inside the dreamscape too, but Nyx trying to hold two Celestial beings there would weaken him.

I wouldn’t have that.

I curled my fingers and started tapping my foot, needing something to ground me.

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