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Kai smiled out at her.

“Go,” she told us, grinning back. “Get dressed. See you in the lot.”

Well, this was certainly going to be interesting.

I just hoped that would turn out to be a good thing with how out of sorts I was feeling.

20

~Ariana~

I glanced down at my text message exchange with Gramps from a few minutes ago, just as I’d finished up with Sorin, Drake, and Jace. I’d had to sanitize that awful basement with my magic, too, to erase any signs of them or Kai and Vorzyr being there.

Shit,what I’d walked in on… it had disturbed me, to say the least.

Knowing that Kai and Vorzyr had stooped to torture had been bad enough, but there was also the fact that a despicable group of fanatics likePuritaswas impacting impressionable minds in college students and that they were also clearly recruiting and, therefore, growing in numbers. The hatred toward hybrid beings was mounting.

There were so many people close to me who were hybrids, even outside of Nyx. There was my dad, my Gramps, even technically my mom for years, because until certain complications had happened to her when she’d briefly been imbued with power by the True Celestials, she’d also been a hybrid being consisting of sorceress and Immortal.

To have this much hate out there toward them made me sick to my stomach.

At least the problem could be mitigated when it came toPuritasas a group. Changing the hearts and minds of intolerant shits like its members, though, that was a whole other thing to combat.

Ariana:I have a situation I need your help with.

Gramps:Have at it. Here to help always, Ari.

Ariana:Puritas agents discovered at Maven Academy. I’ve dealt with them, but an investigation will be needed to determine how they were reached by the group. There is also intel that points toward the Unity Council working with them against Chimera Circle.

Gramps:Send me their names and I’ll see to the agents in question. I’ll also deal with the larger aspect of this distasteful alliance via Ry’s help.

Ariana:Will do. Let me know what you find out on all accounts.

Gramps:I’ll take it from here. Concentrate on your studies and the goal Ry set for you.

Ariana:Gramps.

Gramps:You can’t be involved with this.

Ariana:I think Grandfather would disagree. Pops said that he wanted me to do something to help others, this falls under that banner.

Gramps:This isn’t what Cornelius had in mind. Don’t worry, I promise I’ll see to it.

Ariana:I still haven’t heard from him. Is he still off-realm?

Gramps:Unfortunately, yes.

Ariana:Are you okay?

Gramps:Keeping busy between the Guardian Movement and Polaris. How about you? I’m sorry he still hasn’t been able to see you. I know how much he misses you.

Ariana:It’s okay. I understand that whatever it is must be important and vital.

Gramps:Don’t miss classes. Call your mom when you get a chance.

Ariana:I promise. Love you, Gramps.

Gramps:Love you, too.