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“I figured it was natural maturity.”

“Nope. It was something much more… impactful, something he obsesses over to this day, something that he likely always will.” I took a breath, then went on, “In their determination to reel Kai in and have him be more careful and far less reckless with his magic, his parents told him about the time that Draco rose. When he first rose.”

Realization shone in her eyes as she made the connection. “At the Maven Coven.”

“Right. That his parents headed. They were there right when that thing attacked. Two of the most powerful magic-wielders in the world and there was nothing they could do to stop Draco. He completely transcended their power. And they nearly died as a result. They used that story with a focus on your mom who was struggling with her power at the time, as a lesson about reckless power usage and the risk of corruption or losing control. But the lesson that Kai took from it was that his parents had almost died because they hadn’t been powerful enough, because these uber powerful beings were descending everywhere. And that was when his obsessive need to obtain magical knowledge was born. Kai came to believe that it was that knowledge that would bring about true power, that could counter greater magical might even.”

“Wow, that’s a traumatizing story to tell a child.”

“To be clear, Kai loved you for who you were. He cared about you as a person. But after hearing that story, he did think thatthe two of you would set out on the knowledge quest together, yeah. But then you took that turn, shut down and pulled away.”

She grimaced. “And now he was hurt by something out of his control, something he didn’t have the power to prevent or to protect himself from.”

“Exactly. So he’s not gonna stop. And Vorzyr neither. He’s linked to this. You saw him impact Celestial power… there’s something major going on there. Plus, you know, the two of them have formed a friendship. As strange and as worrying as it may be, it’s also kind of sweet.”

“And you’re immersed in both of them.”

“Yeah.” I reached out and carefully took her hand. “And also you. I get it, you see. I get your point of view more than I can properly express. That fear that comes along with your abilities and what you are is the same fear that lives in me. It rules so much of my life. I’m trying to push it now, though, this last year. But it’s hard and it’s even terrifying at times. As it is for you. I think, maybe, if we did it together, two people who understand that terror, that it could benefit us both.” I sighed. “Either way, neither of us can run from it any longer, can we? Me, because soon I’ll be out of the protective and controlled environment of the Academy to help keep me in line and focus. And you because of the Celestial issue going on and that test, reaching magical maturity and all that.”

“You knew about this similarity between us for the last three years since we’ve been here, so why didn’t you approach me before?”

“The same reason you didn’t approach me. Well, aside from your loner tendencies, of course.”

“Kai.”

“Yeah.” I smiled with amusement. “Funny now that it’s him actually drawing us together.”

“Okay, I hear you. You’re right.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. Things are no longer sustainable as they currently are.”

“They’re gonna need your help and you could really do with theirs as well.”

She gave my hand a squeeze, then surprised me as she leaned in and kissed my cheek. “Thank you.”

“For what?” I whispered between the small space between us.

“Doing this. Coming to me.”

“Thanks for watching my back. But, just so you know, Kai’s using a holoscreen on me as well, so you’re both kind of pulling double duty.”

“I’ve seen Vorzyr watching out for you as well. He actually got in my way a couple of times.”

“And let me guess, you both pretended you weren’t doing what you were doing, then went your separate ways?”

“Well, when you put it like that, it sounds ridiculous.”

“Not when so much fear is involved. And not just from your end, which is bad enough. Vorzyr is afraid of pushing you like Kai does, because he doesn’t want that same relationship with you. While Kai is a dirty sex fiend, for Vorzyr it’s about connection, not the rush of pleasure or chasing release. He craves a deep bond. It’s why he’s drawn to you. Actually, with what he was able to pull off against Celestial magic the other night, it suggests it’s even more than that.”

“Wow, you’ve really been doing a lot of reading people.”

“I had no choice with all this bullshit going on.”

She sank back on her hands with a heavy sigh. “I want you to know that it was never my intention to hurt Kai.”

“I know. He told me what you said outsidePolaris.”