Page 150 of Mantle

Ketheron smiled. “I like that.”

I tensed as his smile faded, and he then swung his head, scanning all around. “They’re already here,” he gasped. “True Celestials and…” He shuddered. “And Corvin is with them. They’re coming.”

“Start the spell!” my dad called over.

“We’ll erect a series of wards to slow them down,” Mom told me.

“Do not break concentration,” Grandfather called over.

Nyx came to me and planted a tender kiss on my cheek. “Be careful.”

“I promise,” I told him, before watching as they all headed to the outer perimeter of the forest to erect protective barriers.

A spark of white light came into being and Cassius materialized.

He’d been here earlier to help me prepare the spell, but he’d had to take off after he’d felt distress from Velra through the Soul Brand.

“Is she all right?” I asked him.

“Yes. She was just concerned for me. She felt the weight of what we’re about to do, and me touching consecrated Celestial power. She mistook it for me leaving the mortal realm and returning to them to face their punishment.”

“You are returning,” Ketheron spoke.

“Not to face a tribunal. Just to plant a magical anchor for the other half of the Severance spell, because the tether to be severed exists inboth realms. It’s key to making it permanent from the other side.”

“You’re still going back there. You should be very careful.”

“I will. Not to worry,” he said, so sure.

Unfortunately, it didn’t reach his eyes.

“Cassius,” I started.

He held up his hand to me. “It is what must be done. Don’t concern yourself with it.”

“Well, that’s a problem, because I care about you. We’ve become friends.”

He smiled. “That we have. But we cannot allow that to get in the way of something so important. And so necessary for us all.”

Ketheron turned suddenly. “The sorcerer and the dragon come this way.”

The words were barely out of his mouth when Vorzyr and Kai arrived in a blur of speed courtesy of Vorzyr.

“Lucian’s headed to Ryker at the Guardian Compound to have him send some reinforcements our way,” Kai reported. “The True Celestials are en route.”

“Coming in hot,” Vorzyr said.

“Hot?” Ketheron questioned.

“Quickly,” Kai told him.

“Use Valkrith,” he told Kai. “The dragon can use his fire to hold them back and his Primal Celestial Resonance. You have your ancient magic spell, but it will drain you too quickly. If the fight is long, you will fall.”

Kai looked to me, concerned about bringing that weapon into play.

“Do it,” I said. “I’ll cover any fallout once this is over.”

He called it to him in the next second and it materialized in his hand.

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