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I couldn’t believe it.

I knew they’d been responsible for defeating him, but they’d never allowed me to know the details. No one in the supernatural world knew the whole story either.

“Those cuffs can hold the might of True Celestials. We call themCelestial Suppression Manacles.”

I jerked at the voice, a wave of adrenaline rolling through me.

It went on, “Your confusion and surprise while studying this venue confirms that they kept you ignorant to what truly transpired here.”

White light sparked right in front of me a moment before someone materialized.

The same someone who I remembered snatching me, before they’d cold-cocked me with their power.

The hulking figure with long white-blond hair and clad in gold-plated armor, an ivory cape flapping behind him.

“You’re a True Celestial,” I breathed.

“You may call me Cassius.”

“You hurt people I love.” I pulled at my binds. “I need to find out if they’re okay. They might need me to heal them and—”

My words caught in my throat when he burst right into my personal space. “They are well. All three of them survived. Two are in Meforian Forest searching for a way to find you, while the demon spawn is recovering at Maven Academy.”

I stared up at him, and he registered my skepticism. With a grunt of aggravation, he pressed a single finger to my forehead, and then I was gasping as a flood of images slammed into my mind in a dizzying rush.

Nyx asleep in his dorm room.

Kai and Vorzyr trekking through Meforian Forest.

More than the images themselves was the sensation that proved what Cassius was showing me was real—a calming, reassuring feeling that blended with undeniable truth. Theywereokay.

As he pulled away, I sucked in a stuttering breath, emotion flaring at the sheer weight of the relief that was rolling through me knowing my men were well.

A tsking sound from Cassius had me looking to see him shaking his head at me with clear disappointment. “Your priorities are severely skewed. That is one of the things that my presence here will serve to rectify.”

What the—

“Whyareyou here?” I demanded. “Why did you kidnap me? And why bring me to this place?”

“So many questions, all of which you should already know the answers to. Alas, your family has foolishly shielded you from so much.”

I gritted my teeth at his words, unable to conceal my reaction, because that betrayal was still far too fresh. I hadn’t even really begun to process the weight of it yet.

“They tried to stop you from coming here, from interfering with me.”

“Interfering with you. Yes, you are indeed clueless.”

Given the emotional state I was in after seeing my men attacked and hurt like that, combined with the awful way I felt thanks to the Hellfire restraining my power, especially while it was in a state of flux after the reunification, it was difficult not to bite back with an insolent comment, not to lash out.

But that was foolish.

Not only wouldn’t it solve anything, but it would likely exacerbate the situation.

No, I needed to keep a level head.

And while I was at a disadvantage bound to this fucking chair with a True Celestial standing before me, like an overwhelming force, I had to tread carefully.

Not to mention, my family had made it clear with keeping that secret from me that they thought I was unstable and dangerous. There was no way I was going to prove that right. I was better than that. I could handle it now. It was why I’d taken back my power; I’d finally acknowledged that.