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We were startled then as a spark of silver power emanated from the door, and then it opened in the very next moment.

“Guess that’s our cue,” I grumbled, not liking the fact that there wasn’t a respectful greeting from Cornelius, and we’d gotten this instead. I shoved a hand through my hair and tried to shake it off. “I’m good,” I told Kai.

He looked skeptical, but didn’t say anything—wow,he really was on his game and utterly centered for this.

And I needed to be as well. There was a lot at stake.

For me and for Ariana. For all of us as a whole as well.

I crossed the threshold first with Kai right behind me.

We walked into a grand, shadowy foyer.

Polished black floors gleamed beneath our boots. The arched ceiling was paneled with dark-stained wood. Twin staircases curved upward along either wall.

My animal senses drew me to the one on the right, and I started as I saw Cornelius fisting Warlow’s hair as he had him shoved up against the wall halfway down the staircase, his gray dress pants grinding against Warlow’s jeans.

Warlow’s plaid shirt was open and Cornelius’ other hand was roaming all over his bare chest, making him undulate, as the two of them kissed ferociously, Cornelius definitely dominating the situation.

Warlow pressed a hand to Cornelius’ shirt and eased him back, panting, “If we don’t stop now, I won’t be able to leave. I can’t be late to Crossborn. And your guests are getting impatient.”

With a grunt, Cornelius pulled back and pushed off him. “Gettingimpatient?” he said, swinging his head right at us. “Warlow heard you grumbling out there,” he told us. “Apparently, you couldn’t summon another minute’s worth of patience, dragon.” He gestured between them. “This is what you get for such impetuousness. An impromptu show between two passionate lovers.”

Urgh.Them being Ariana’s grandfathers was… not the best.

I looked at Kai and he stood there with one hand in his pocket nonchalantly, not showing any sign of being affected at all, or even the least bit uncomfortable. Then again, I guess that was nothing compared tohislevel of dirtiness. Or perhaps it was a facet of his obsessive state, being so on course regarding what we needed to achieve during this meeting that he filtered everything else out.

“Cor,” Warlow urged, fixing his shirt for him that was bunched up a little. “Civility and patience. They are young, nervous, and on edge considering the subject matter to be discussed here between you today.” And then I heard him lean in and whisper, “And they adore Ari so deeply. She’shappy. For the first time in so long, and that’swithCassius being here and the secret of the bargain being revealed.”

Cornelius drew in a breath. “You make some fair points, sweet boy.”

“So, all will be well when I leave for the Compound?”

“Yes,” he grumbled. “You have my word.”

Warlow grinned and kissed his cheek.

As he moved to pull away, his magic flaming as he went to teleport out to his Crossborn meeting, Cornelius stalled him, grasping his hand. “I’ll come to you when you head toPolarisfor your shift tonight.”

“Really?”

“I’ve been away for so long interacting with the Celestial Plane, I can’t stand us being apart for more than a few hours right now.”

“I feel the same.” His eyes shone. “See you tonight.”

With that, Cornelius released him, Warlow gave us a polite chin lift, then he teleported away.

In the next moment, Cornelius was descending the stairs, radiating power and regality all in one shot. “Well then, let’s get started, shall we, gentlemen?”

While I wastense with every step that we took down the hallways of the sprawling estate, I watched Kai studying everything closely, absorbing it in that sponge-like way of his.

Cornelius led us down a long corridor lined with shuttered windows and glass cabinets containing ancient relics and objects from his travels across the realms.

The hallway came to an end at a set of heavy dark oak double doors carved with intricate tree and star patterns. As we stepped inside, we took in what was clearly his study.

A towering bookcase filled the far-right wall.

He walked to it and swept his magic over it, uttering,“Veritas Libertas est.”