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Each member of the team had been tasked with determining what we believed was lacking in the supernatural world’s support of hybrids. Warlow was looking for specific details from each of us. I knew he had his own brought on from his specific experience. But he wanted a much more diversified outlook. Basically, he wanted to do as much as he could to account for everything, for everyone, so that not a single hybrid felt marginalized as so many of us did currently. It was a lofty goal, but it was also a great place to start from—a place of hope, a place of unmatched inclusivity. It would be a hard slog to get to that level, but beginning now and rolling out what we could so far at this stage of the game was a massive step in that direction.

Some of the members were partnering, like Velra and I, who’d shared the same vision, and had prioritized the same thing.

We’d spent time working out the details, and so far we’d come up with a transitional sanctuary program that would focus on liberated hybrids immediately after their rescue, either from captivity, experiment labs and warehouses, or even their own families who had rejected them. Many hybrids weren’t ready to simply step into public life, nor to attend institutions like Maven Academy, or the Covens, or even supernatural elementaryand high schools out there, which were often high-pressured environments. Many were suffering from PTSD, trust issues, abandonment issues, and shame regarding their nature.

This program of ours would address all of that directly, functioning much like a halfway house. We were calling it Crossborn Refuge System (CRS). It was unbelievably thrilling creating something like this, knowing what it could do for beings like me, understanding just how profoundly it could changesomany lives.

It was exhilarating and inspiring. And incredibly empowering.

“CRS, hmm?” Kai spoke.

Yeah, I’d been talking his ear off about it ever since I’d finished up my dreamwalking meetup with Velra earlier.

“That’s right.”

In all my excitement, I’d forgotten to tell him the name of it until right at the end of my spiel.

“This is impressive. Inspired, Nyx.”

“Velra and I are putting a lot into it because we really want the proposal to be accepted. What this could do for people like me… I can’t even quantify it.”

“Buttheywill want to.”

“What?”

“They’ll want it to be quantified. The Guardian Movement doesn’t possess unlimited resources. It governs the entire supernatural world, a vast area with a mammoth population that is only growing bigger. You need to factor in the numbers, not just how great and positive the idea is. You need to back it up with figures and facts.”

“I hear you. It’s not exactly my strength. That sort of research is—”

“If it wouldn’t be seen as an imposition, I could assist. Just with that aspect. I won’t touch the rest.”

“Kai, you already have a lot on your plate.”

“I wouldn’t offer if I didn’t think I could fit it in.” He laid his hand on my shoulder. “This is important to you. And, hearing you lay it all out in intricate detail made it clear just how vital something like this is for hybrid beings.” His grip on my shoulder tightened a little, as emotion flared in his eyes. “I wish something like this had existed whenyouneeded it. But now there’s the opportunity to ensure others have access to what you didn’t. There’s peace in that, yes?”

I smiled. “There is, yeah. There really is.” I stroked his fingers holding me with such emotional urgency. “Thank you, Kai. You know, no matter what, you always stood by me. You defended me. You fought for me. You respected all parts of me—dirty degradation sex notwithstanding, because that’s a whole separate and insanely titillating thing that—”

“Nyx.”

I blinked. “Right, sorry. You know when I get emotionally excited, it can sometimes cross over into… arousing excitement.” I shifted my weight and grasped his hand on me. “I’m saying you were always in my corner. Always there. My parents abandoned me, basically left me in the damn gutter, but that means nothing to me anymore, because ofyou.Because you’re always here right by my side. My brother-in-arms.” I smiled. “And now there’s Ariana and Vorzyr along for the ride, too. And Iknow,I could feel it lock in solidly at Solumira, that they’re here to stay with us, not going anywhere. I love it, Kai. I love what we’ve all built together. And despite that looming threat and that awful bargain, I can’t help but focus on the good and the happy and the love of our foursome. Combined with me finding such purpose with Crossborn… I’ve never been happier.”

He stroked my hair, that look of adoration of his bleeding into me so wonderfully. “I’ve wanted to hear you say that for along time. I’ve wanted that happiness for you and, especially in yourself.”

I knew he had.

For all his stoicism to the outside world, once Kai Hunter latched onto somebody and gave them his trust, he was absolutely incredible with safeguarding that and lavishing some deep adulation upon them. It had always bothered me that more people didn’t understand that about him, that they didn’t see it. Not even his own parents. He had walls up where they were concerned and as nice as they’d been to me, that hadn’t been the same from them when it came to Kai. Because of his birthright. His upbringing had been more about training him to become leader of the Maven Coven than nurturing a child.

I was pulled from my thoughts all too soon when Kai stopped stroking my hair and grasped my hand suddenly instead.

I blinked and my gaze shot to him.

He was looking around warily, now all tense. He was in his high-alert state.

It didn’t take me long to see why.

Several students who’d been milling about and getting ready for class were now looking our way—actually,myway. Sultry looks were coming at me from a Light Fae couple. A sorcerer was starting toward me, a definite fuck-me look in his eyes. And then three Dark Fae girls who were in a clique with two vampires—those vampires not being here because this class was only for magic-wielders—sauntered over. They were wearing their go-to glittering rompers with flowing black coats. It was basically their uniform. They all wore different colors, yet the same designs.

Theirleader,Kelsana, with the stunning mane of vibrant-green hair and the gold romper, was whispering to the other two either side of her and making eyes at me.