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He went on to explain, “The ward would be to safeguard the Chief Sanctuary Zone, a center that heals and rehabilitates hybrids that have been extracted from Chimera Circle captivity.”

“That sounds incredible. I’d absolutely love to do that.”

“Excellent.” He gestured back down the corridor. “Let’s go.”

“Oh, right now?”

“Right now,” he confirmed.

“You don’t want to have me prepare for a while first?”

“You’re ready now.”

It hit me then. “And you also talked to Grandpa.”

“That may have occurred. What you demonstrated in his class couldn’t have been possible if you didn’t have impressive control over your full power. It proves that what your mom witnessed at your cottage the other day was more than just a one-off impressive performance. This is where you’re at now, Ari. You have control of it. And now you get to express that in a way that will benefit so many.”

Emotion welled up. Being treated like this, seen this way… I hadn’t realized just how badly I’d wantedandneeded it.

Pops noticed and he wrapped an arm around me as he led me down the corridor. “We’ll check in on Nyx when we get back, maybe even watch his presentation. We’ll have enough time, he’s presenting his proposal last today.”

“Perfect,” I said, leaning against him. “Thank you, Pops. For all of this. All of the family for doing this actually.”

“No thanks needed.” He kissed my hair in that sweet fatherly way of his. “It’s your time now.”

14

~Vorzyr~

“You’re growling.”

I turned my head toward Kai. “We’ve been waiting here on his doorstep for two minutes already. Two whole minutes. I’m Vorzyr Titanus, heir to House of Titanus. It’s an insult. And you’re heir to the elite Maven Coven.” He gave me a look. “Well, you’re supposed to be. It’s obvious that’s not gonna happen. You’re too much of a big-picture guy to settle for that role.”

“First off, kill the Maven Coven heir talk. You want me on point for this and focused, then leave that out of it. You may have noticed that it has the tendency to rile me up.”

“Yet Nyx and Ariana both being immersed in the work of the Guardian Movement hasn’t.” I arched an eyebrow in challenge. “Or has it?”

“You know it has or you wouldn’t be suggesting that. But I don’t want the two of them registering that from me.”

“Well, you’re doing exceptionally well hiding it, especially from Nyx, given that he can read emotions so deeply.”

“It’s not that difficult when he believes said emotions are rooted in something else. He can’t always pinpoint the source.”

“Huh. I see.” I looked him up and down, the way he was standing in all his confident and commanding glory in that sexy leather trench coat of his with the collar turned up that sent a sort offuck-youto fancy fuckers like his family. A small act of rebellion, but rebellion nonetheless. Sometimes it was in the smaller things. I caught myself—I never thoughtI’dthink that. I was usually all about mammoth power and might. Displays of strength and all of that. But I guess being around the three of them had opened up my worldview more so. “What was the second thing? You saidfirst off?”

He looked from the door to me. “The fact that you need to drop the entitlement bullshit before we engage with Cornelius. It won’t do us any favors. It will just create barriers when this is about getting you answers that he’s key to obtaining,andabout building trust and analyzing him and the situation to ensure that we can take the risk of revealing your Primal Celestial Resonance ability in order to help Ariana.”

It was my natural instinct to bite back, especially with somebody telling me to tone it down,andwhen it was concerning my expectations of being treated like the regal and mighty being that I was.

Butthis wasn’t just anybody saying those words. It washim.

And not so deep down, I knew he was right.

“Okay,” I said. “Message received.”

“Good.” He reached out and stroked my hair. “No matter what happens, we’ll get the answers that have long been denied you. We’ll find a path through to helping Ari. If we can’t achieve that throughhiscooperation, I will find another way.” His eyes glinted. “Workarounds are my specialty after all.”

“Thank you, Kai.”