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He was all harsh energy and simmering wrath because of the threat that he saw Cassius as and the infringement that he believed him to be on me and the four of us as a whole.

He gestured at Nyx for an assist as Nyx sat cross-legged on the coffee table stress-eating from a bowl of berries that Kai had conjured for him. He was fully dressed now as well, in his alluring black leather pants, a moto jacket thrown over the top of his tight vibrant-blue shirt that matched his hair.

Nyx got the message and explained to me in his usual understanding and incredibly patient way, “He’s trying to use us against you. And our wellbeing under threatisa direct threat to you, Halo.I know you’re concerned for us, but Cassius was reframing the fact that he was actually threatening you directly as well—via us.”

“He wants us out of the way so he can isolate you,” Vorzyr warned. “Mold you into what he and the Celestial Plane intends you to be without any other influences around to counter that.” A snarl escaped him. “We won’t allow it.”

I shoved my hand through my hair and shifted my weight, my suede jacket pulling taut with my movements, but in a comforting way, like a security blanket, rather than in a restrictive fashion.

As I tried to determine the best way to respond that would assuage their concerns, but also not make light of the threat, Vorzyr eyed Kai across the room. “Back me up on this.”

“We’re obviously not going to allow it,” Nyx cut in, before Kai could utter a word. “But neither is Ariana.” He eyed me. “Right, Halo?”

“Of course not,” I confirmed. “ButI also won’t allow you to put yourselves in the line of fire. He made a vow to me that he wouldn’t harm the three of you again if you didn’t interfere.”

“Like I said, controlling you via threats to our lives. Threateningyouand using us to do it,” Vorzyr gritted out, clenching his fists in barely-contained fury.

Kai pushed off the wall. “I don’t believe that’s his true intention.”

“What?” Vorzyr barked.

Nyx frowned and I saw him trying to read him, but that frown just deepened, indicating that Kai was being closed to him in that moment for some reason.

“Kai?” I queried carefully.

But as that devilish smirk tilted his lips, I was able to place where my concern was rooted. It was his calculated look, meaning his puppet mastery was coming to the forefront. And it was beyond worrying that he might try to employ that against Cassius, thereby putting himself in the line of fire.

That was the last thing that I wanted.

Seeing them hurt on that mountaintop had been hard enough to take as it was.

A booming callsounded from Vorzyr in dragon form.

A warning.

My head shot up, and I looked to see a blur of white light headed straight for our location, moving incredibly quickly.

I saw Nyx call a glowing blue shield, just a second before the white light slammed into him, breaching his shield completely, and sending him rolling across the mountaintop.

Vorzyr took a massive hit of white lightning that sent him spinning out into the distance.

“No!” I screamed, jumping to my feet.

Kai went to activate his scepter, but the light slammed into the snow right in front of him. Even though it missed hitting him directly, the power of the impact created a horrific shockwave that blasted at Kai and sent him tumbling off the mountainside.

I grimacedat the awful memory.

It had been one of the worst moments of my life.

Any more of that, of them being harmed… I couldn’t stomach it.

Especially not because ofmeand the complicated issues that surrounded me, and thisdutyI was now burdened with.

Kai explained, “Cassius came in hot, going on the offensive, violence and aggression leading the way. That approach makes sense when we take into account that Cornelius and Jaxon had spent the last while beseeching the True Celestials to break the bargain that had been struck that bound you to this duty, Ari. Resistance was expected when Cassius arrived on the mortal plane. And he arrived to see you surrounded by us, all of us in a protective and defensive stance as you took back your power.”

“Yeah, and he almost killed us,” Vorzyr cut in. “Nyx would have died if Cornelius hadn’t been there. Cassius didn’t just strike to stun us. He struck to murder us! Nyx was afflicted with a fucking Celestial wound! The same would have happened to me if it wasn’t for my Celestial connection and the Primal Celestial Resonance I’m capable of.”

“What?” I demanded. I eyed Kai. “You didn’t tell me that when it came up with your bruises outside.”