Page 75 of Mantle

“Yeah, okay,” Nyx murmured, not happy about it, but thankfully also seeming to recognize that it was the safer way to go about things. A way in which would spare him.

The door opened, startling us, and I looked over to see Kai and Vorzyr walking side by side, deep in conversation.

“…and then he leapt in wolf form, ran up my back while I was in dragon form, jumped on my snout, and used that—my actual face—as a bridge to somersault off and reach the finish line before me. That’s cheating, right?”

“I’d need more specific context to determine that. But it seems to me the lesson was to teach you how to temper your pissed-off reaction to being challenged—to theanimalbeing challenged.”

“Yeah, that’s kind of what happened. Iwasable to control it.”

“There you—” Kai’s voice caught in his throat as he took in the scene inside my dorm room, notably, Cassius being here.

“What’s going on?”

A growl came from Vorzyr. It was because of the intimacy of what he was seeing. Me dressed down with Cassius standing right there. Nyx barely dressed too.

“It’s fine, Vorzyr,” Nyx said, walking to him quickly and pressing his hands to his chest.

“It is,” Kai reinforced, although a whole lot of suspicion was lighting his eyes, just in another sense. “He’s all about Velra Nox. I witnessed it myself.”

“Mind your tongue,” Cassius told him.

“I’ve hit a nerve? Wow, it’s really deep between the two of you then, hmm?”

Shit.“Stop, Kai. We’re in the middle of something.”

“Then, by all means, continue. I’m extremely intrigued as to what he’s doing here. It must be something major for him to have come right here to your bedroom.”

Urgh.“It is. Ketheron needs our help.”

“We already agreed that attacking him wouldn’t be our first move.”

“It’s more than that now and—”

“Nyx will fill you both in,” Cassius cut in.

“What?” Vorzyr demanded.

Kai’s eyes narrowed.

“According to Ariana’s class schedule, she has almost two hours before her next class. We will take that time to resume our training. In light of what you have told me, we cannot afford for you to miss any further sessions. We will also work on the spell that we discussed regarding Ketheron.”

“Ari?” Kai queried.

“He’s right,” I told him, wincing. “I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s okay, we get it,” Nyx interjected. He explained to Kai and Vorzyr, “Ketheron was in her mind. She needs to do something empowering and clear her head. The training will help.”

“He was in your mind?” Kai cried.

Nyx wrapped his arm around him. “I’ll explain everything. I promise. And she’s fine. Look at her.”

He did. So did Vorzyr.

“Fine,” Vorzyr grumbled. “Take care of her, Cassius. She doesn’t need it, but it would be fucking nice for her, all right?”

“I shall,” Cassius said, smiling at me kindly. “She is not only my charge now. We are… friends.”

I snapped my fingers and dressed myself in my go-to jeans and brown suede jacket combo. “That we are. Good thing with what’s coming.”

---