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“Necromantic domination is outlawed,” one Guardian retorted, sternly.

“As is vigilante activity,” the other said, unemotionally.

“So I should have simply turned away when I happened upon those bloodsuckers ravaging innocent people? Was that the solution?”

Pops startled me as he stepped right into the fray. “You know very well what you should have done, Sylas. Reached out to the Guardian Movement. Tome.I gave you my card and you know I can respond in seconds. However, you wished to be the one to handle it. And, worryingly, it wasn’t to play hero. It was to act as judge, punisher, and executioner.”

Sylas’eyes locked on Pops. His lips twitched. “Long time no see, Ryker.”

“Yes. It’s been two weeks this time, I believe.”

“Guess I’m ahead of schedule.”

Pops sighed. “Stay here. Don’t move.” He flicked his green magic at the cuffs and they disintegrated in a second. “And stop pretending those cuffs were doing anything at all to you.”

The two Guardians looked on shocked.

Pops eyed me, hesitating.

“You know what I can do, that I can handle myself. Remember why I’m here today.”

He took a moment, but then he nodded, patted Sylas’ shoulder, then drew the two Guardians aside, several feet away, lowering his voice to a whisper as he obviously discussed this Sylas with them.

I sank against the wall, but kept my hands at the ready with the necromancer nearby. He couldn’t hurtme—no one really could. But there were many others here whom he could, including Pops.

“Relax, angel. I’m not here to hurt anyone who doesn’t deserve it.”

I cocked an eyebrow.

“How do I know what you are?” he said. “Let’s just say that I can sense certain things.” He made the interaction all the weirder as he stared intently at me, his eyes flaming.

After a few moments, he jolted and blinked, looking shaken, but trying to hide it.

“What? What was that?”

“You… there’s something there. It shouldn’t be.”

“Again,what?”

He looked out at Pops and the Guardians and when he determined they were too engrossed in their conversation to notice, he strode right up to me.

He stopped just shy of my personal space, a powerful yet welcome bergamot scent rolling over me, and whispered in an eerie, disturbingly heavy tone, “Death circles you. But it can’t… it can’t be allowed to come to pass. The world needs your Light.”His eyes were haunted as he all but choked out. “Without it… darkness comes for us all.”

What the—

“Back up,” Pops called, and then he was striding back over.

Sylas snapped out of all that intensity and smirked at Pops, raising his hands. “Love it when you get all bossy with me, Ry.”

Pops tossed him a withering look. “Check yourself, Morgrave.” He gestured at the two Guardians. “Now, listen carefully. You won’t be detained. These two are going to escort you to the Unity Council wherein you’ll sit with an Academy Induction Advisor and enroll in an academy that they determine will best suit you and your abilities.”

“A… what? You can’t be serious?”

“This is your fifth offense. Given the nature of it, you’re looking at several years inThe Void.Or you can choose this.”

“An attempt to reel me in?”

“To guide you. To provide you purpose and direction. Tohelpyou, Sylas.”