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“Each represents a division within the Guardian Movement,” he told me. “Separate pieces coming together in a unified way, which is essential for ensuring our success in our overarching mission of safeguarding and governing the supernatural world.”

I took his words in, trying to focus on them to calm down after just leaving the Lumin Arc division, the intelligence unit that specialized in counter-extremism, using surveillance, and infiltration to dismantle rogue groups of intolerant shits likePuritasfrom the inside out.

I was trying to tamper down the indignation that those fanatics being mentioned had created in me. Especially with the personal connection that I had to it through Nyx, then Kai and Vorzyr torturing a member in Sorin,andthen me violating free will and coercing the bastard.

“Ari?”

I blinked to see Pops eyeing me curiously.

“Fine. I’m fine,” I responded.

He arched an eyebrow. “I asked if you’re ready to continue?”

Oh.I squared my shoulders. “Of course. I’m here for it all.”

His eyes shone. “I know you are. I can see it all over you.” He reached out and rubbed my arm. “Warlow briefed me on what you did, how well you handled aPuritasmember making themselves known at Maven Academy. We’re proud of you. It was commendable. You showed rationality and restraint, even compassion. You handled it diplomatically and admirably.”

“I just did what was necessary to smooth over the situation. Doing more… that would have been commendable.”

“You weren’t in a position to do more because of us cutting you off from all of this. But you reported the situation to Warlow which enable us to take it from there.”

He opened a door to our left and stepped inside, gesturing at me to follow him in. “Space allotted to Aegis Watch,” he told me, as I took in what could only be described as a magical command center.

Magical interfaces dominated the space.

Floating maps levitated, their translucent surfaces marked with pulsing dots—red for confirmed Chimera sites, amber for suspected ones, and black for those where only remnants of experimentation remained. The maps refreshed every now and then constantly updating incoming intel.

Holoscreens lined the far wall, each one tracking individuals or locations tagged through magical surveillance. I caught sight of one showing a zoomed-in view of a forest clearing somewhere, the feed trailing a cloaked figure slipping into a trapdoor. Another tracked the same person from above at an angle that would have been impossible using tech that was non-magical.

There was a glass case on another wall that displayed confiscated items from Chimera Cricle—mechanical devices,some that were twisted organic magic, each suspended in a stasis field.

“The task force created to take down Chimera Circle,” I mused aloud as I took everything in.

“Yes. Our elite strike unit. Their role includes identifying experiment labs, identifying key Chimera Circle personnel, securing sites, extracting hybrids. They’re not here now as they’re on mission. Another lab was located earlier this morning.”

“Oh my God. Does Gramps know?”

He nodded. “Warlow is informed of all key intel regarding hybrid beings. He’ll be communicating this news to his Crossborn team during their meeting today as well.”

He gave me a few more moments to look around, and then he gestured for me to walk out with him so that we could continue.

As we stepped back out into the corridor, polished ivory stone lining the walls and etched with silver latticework showing legendary battles and key moments for the Guardian Movement, I tried to push down thoughts of how Nyx would take the news. My heels clacked on the marble floors as my thoughts stayed with him, as I hoped it wouldn’t be triggering to him, that he’d be able to see it in a positive light, and that it wouldn’t send him slamming back to all the trauma he’d experienced in a place just like that.

Fortunately, we’d only just made it around the corner when a distraction came in the form of a major commotion.

“The Containment Facility is down here,” Pops informed me.

The corridor opened up noticeably, the magical lighting overhead dimming to a muted silver-green hue. The stone walls were darker in tone, tinged gray.

The source of commotion that I’d heard a moment ago became immediately apparent as I took in the sight of two Guardians in the uniform black robes flanking somebodybetween them. His hands were out in front of him and restrained by a pair ofInhibitorcuffs that prevented a magic-wielder from calling their power.

Well, they were supposed to, but I saw dark sparks crackling around his wrists, red magic lashing at the air.

He was tall and imposing, clad in all black in a sweeping hooded coat that clung to his lean, muscular frame. His shirt was half unbuttoned like he didn’t give a shit. His hair was a crown of sharp brown spikes with maroon tips.

His eyes burned in barely restrained fury, glowing with defiance and something a whole lot darker and dangerous beneath.

“I did what was necessary!” he was booming at the Guardians surrounding him on either side. “They would have torn that village apart if I hadn’t intervened!”