Page 44 of Mantle

“Those are positive steps in the right direction, however, you do still possess lone-wolf tendencies.”

I tensed. His comment was pointed.

“Where are you getting that from?”

He folded his arms across his broad chest, biceps bulging.

“Where did you teleport off to?”

“When?” I responded, already knowing full well what he was talking about.

“In all the chaos of Ketheron’s rise and the Celestial Plane marking Ariana and Cassius for death, we never got around to where you ran off to that night after leaving my vault.”

“I had business to attend to.”

“Businessthat was so urgent you took your leave immediately.”

“It was personal business.”

“So you were helping someone?”

“Something like that.”

“Something exactly like that,” he countered.

Fuck.“You know.”

“I amInter-Realm Ambassador, Kai. Unlike the Guardian Movement’s emissaries,I’vetaken extra precautions to ensure the sanctity and safety of both realm interactions and inter-realm travel. I have alerts in place.” He unfolded his arms and walked to me. “So, yes, when immense force was used to blow a hole through the protective wards surrounding the Dracoryn Realm, I was made aware. And I was also privy to the fact that an outlawed perversion of Dracoryn magic was wielded unnaturally by a non-draconic being.” His gaze snapped to mine.“You.”

Fuck me.

“Upon further investigation via an asset of mine within said realm, I discovered that you also activelyandaggressively interfered in House Titanus business, downed ten top dragon enforcers, then even threatened the rulers themselves?”

“If you know that, then you’ll also knowwhyI did it.”

“I am aware, yes. And sparing Vorzyr such a brutal fate is undeniably admirable. Courageous and even heroic.However,unfortunately for you, it doesn’t absolve the actions that you took. Being raised as heir to the Maven Coven, you are more aware than most your age of the complicated diplomatic relations between the many factions and realms that make up the supernatural world. Youknewyou were violating several laws by taking such action without any sort of approval or permission. You being there even risked implicating the Maven Coven as a whole, because your magical signature ties back to that institution.”

“Waiting for approval was not an option.”

“There was another way. You could have come to me and I would have granted you temporary immunity in your actions onthe grounds of the outlawed practice of Ashbinding being used against not just a dragon, but the heir to the Dracoryn kingdom.” He shook his head at me. “You’re fortunate I put that in place… retroactively, shall we say—with the help of my contact. But you must never act so recklessly going forward. Just because you can, does not mean you should. Those with that attitude who possess great power and knowledge risk corruptionandbecoming the very megalomaniacal threats they initially wish to fight.”

“I understand. And I appreciate what you did.”

“You are most welcome. You have proven yourself worthy of me taking such actions on your behalf. But you must manage that urge to act alone going forward.”

“I will. It’s been a work in progress.”

“Until then I will be keeping an eye on you.”

“Seems fair,” I deadpanned.

“Now, with that out of the way, tell me why Vorzyr hasn’t reported what transpired to the Guardian Movement.”

“He’s reeling. He’s not only refusing to report it, he’s not currently able to deal with it even on an emotional level.”

“I see. It is understandable from several standpoints. However, it’s not something that can be left or pushed to the wayside. This was torture, the use of an illicit practice with the Ashbinding,andattempted murder of a Dracoryn Realm heir. It is also proof that I have long been searching for that Zepharion and Serapha have become unstable in their rule. Unhinged to the extreme.”

“You’ve been working toward trying to oust them?”

---