Page 56 of Mantle

“It’s going well. Our development of more Bastion Gauntlets is coming along. The Inhibitor aspect is proving more difficult, but we’ll get there.”

“And the other members?” I asked.

“Nyx,” Ariana spoke, knowing Kai wasn’t supposed to talk about it.

“I just want to know who he’s interacting with.” I looked at Kai. “You go out of your way to protect us. This is me doing that for you.”

“Nobody dangerous—not really, anyway.”

“What does that mean?” I pushed, not reassured in the least now he’d put it like that.

“You already figured out Gabriel was a member. There’s also Calla. A Dark Fae highly-experienced magic-wielder.” His jaw tightened. “And Sylas.”

“Sylas Morgrave?” I choked. “The bastard who hit you with death magic during the Coven Games?”

“The very one. He hit the Scepter, not me.”

“Still.”

“It would have been very different if he’d hit me directly. Extremely damaging. You know that. Your reaction is about the other thing.”

“What other thing?” Ariana asked, and a wave of tension from her rolled over me. Because of Sylas? Was it about the Coven Games attack Kai had endured from him? Or something else?

“Shortly after my relationship with Marlise, I had a brief thing with him.” He rolled his eyes at me. “Very brief.”

“I thought you were all… sexually closed off back then?” she put to him.

“I was. It was just solace after the breakup.”

“And you’re fine working together now?” she asked.

“It’s all in the past, yes. We’re fine.”

“He knows you’re with us?” she pushed.

I frowned. What was going on? Ariana wasn’t insecure in our relationship. Or the jealous type. That wasn’t her at all.

Then she was worried about Sylas from another standpoint? As a threat, maybe?

Kai chuckled and tucked her into his side. “All is well, sweet Ari. I promise.”

“Allis well, is it?”

“Yeah.”

“What about Vorzyr and you?”

“Ari, I—”

“There’s something going on, something definitely up.”

There definitely was. I’d felt it, too. And I’d hoped they’d come out with it.

It looked like Ariana was about to hasten that.

Kai sighed and pulled away, even off the bed entirely. “And here I thought you were going to try to get into the whole Maven Coven complication for me that came up at breakfast our first morning here. It’s been several days and you still haven’t said a word.”

“Did you tell Vorzyr about it?” she asked.

---