Page 80 of Mantle

For now, I wouldn’t say a word.

I’d do what I always did and seek out answers.

Death circled her?I’d fucking cut it down and burn it to ash before I let it touch her.

15

~Vorzyr~

I still felt the ghost of their chains on my skin—phantom burns embedded deeper than the wounds they'd inflicted that day.

It gnawed at me.

But whenever it did, I didn’t turn inward now.

I either trained with Jaxon, immersed myself in my studies here at the Academy, or I confided inthem.The ones I loved.

They were my family now.

And tonight, we were all coming together for more than just breakfast or some fooling around before we fell asleep.

I smiled as I reached Hollowshade Hearth on the northern edge of the grounds.

The peaceful, secluded structure that had become one of our special places to go ever since our first night here when we’d celebrated Nyx and he’d let loose for the first time with the Soulweld Ring having been gifted to him so he no longer had to worry.

I took in the rustic, circular stone pavilion with the wooden beams and slanted roofing.

I zeroed in on the blue and green velvet curtains in the place of a door.

No sounds from within.

Ariana, Kai, and Nyx weren’t here yet.

Well, they were coming from different places.

Ariana was with Cassius. They’d now searched literally half of the supernatural world with their spell for Ketheron. No dice so far. It was a time-consuming and very specific spell that required a mass amount of power. The Guardian Movement had authorized it on the condition that neither of them approached if the spell did find Ketheron. It was just recon at this point in time and anything beyond that would bring a coordinated effort with the Guardian Movement, Cassius, and Ariana. And, hell, Kai, Nyx, and I would be along for the fight also. Although, Ariana was insistent on not calling it afight.She believed Ketheron was a victim who needed help. She’d managed to convince Ryker Morgan and his associates of that, but theInhibitorspell was still being worked on, and more aggressive plans to bring Ketheron down were still there as a fallback.

Nyx had just finished class and he was in a Ruminat hut using his dreamwalking to confer with Velra Nox about their Crossborn work.

And Kai was with Arcanum Order.

I’d just finished class.

No training with Jaxon for me today. I’d needed a breather.

And that was what we were going to lean into tonight—all four of us taking a much-needed break and spending some quality time with each other.

A familiar scent drew my attention and I turned to see Kai walking over. He didn’t have his coat on this time, just a V-neck black tee that pulled taut over his chiseled muscular torso, and a pair of his usual black dress pants.

I frowned. That was… off.

So was the fact that he hadn’t teleported in, and was taking his time walking across the grass instead.

“You seem… chill,” I spoke when he finally reached me.

He smiled and lifted a shoulder. “Yeah, it’s achillnight with the four of us, right?”

Yes. It was. But Kai didn’t exactly dochill.

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