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“I’m aware. The fact is, the existence of the failsafe via the Aetherbound Scepter is a risk in itself.

But Ari wanted it forged. It made her feel better.

In a way, it helped to empower her, before what happened out there earlier, before she knew she could control her power fully in the impressive way that she achieved there.

But even though it exists by her will and approval, it’s still a risk if it was ever snatched by the wrong person.

If we created more of the same in a bid to defeat Cassius and also force back the Celestial Plane from sending further agents to fulfill this bargain forced upon Ariana, it would also mean creating weapons that had the ability to harm her.

With the Scepter, I have the means to destroy it at any moment, for any reason that I see fit.

That wouldn’t be the case if word got out and others came to know the formula used for creating such a thing.

” He folded his arms across his chest as he regarded me, the other two looking on and nodding in agreement with what he was saying.

“It would be like creating duplicates of the Wrath of Hades. Yes, it defeated Draco, but it also took you out in the process. Nobody wants that situation repeating itself.”

That was a definite gut punch.

“Your concerns are valid. Up until the point of us creating something specific to Cassius, or at least unable to harm Ariana entirely, and only targeted against True Celestials loyal to the Celestial Plane.”

“It’s too dangerous, Mom.”

I turned to see Ariana leaning against the archway, arms folded across the chest of the fluffy white bathrobe she was wearing. Her hair was still damp and she looked exhausted, both physically and mentally, the sight making my heart ache.

But the worst part?

The worst part was seeing myself in her.

That version of myself from years ago who’d been in a situation so similar to hers now.

Bound by a bargain I hadn’t made myself.

Forced to fulfill a duty I hadn’t asked for.

And that was why I was pushing this notion of a failsafe now, trying to find a way to spare her that fate.

“Cassius warned me that should anyone interfere in what he’s here to do with his Guide role, there would be severe consequences.

He vowed not to lay a hand on the guys, or my family, so long as you all stood down.

What happened on that mountaintop before he made that vow to me…

I can’t stand the thought of it repeating again, of any of you getting hurt like that. ”

“I understand. Then we’ll keep your boyfriends out of it. It will fall to me and the family only.”

“Mom—”

“This is our doing, my darling. It stands to reason that we should be the ones to find a way to undo it.”

“Having my entire family at risk isn’t something I can reconcile. Ever. It will just make everything worse. Worse than the secret coming out and the weight of this duty being revealed.”

“I shouldn’t have insisted we kept this bargain a secret from you.

I wanted to protect you so much.” I shoved my hand through my hair.

“I knew about the duty I was bound by for a long while before it came about, and it impacted every decision I made. I caused me to be withdrawn and cold, and I missed out on a great deal. It shaped me… in a negative way. I didn’t want that for you.

” I sighed. “But it was clearly a mistake. Now it’s come as such a shock, an awful weight that you’ve had no time to absorb. I’m sorry.”

“I was mad and upset about the secret. But, honestly, there was no right way to do this. It probably would have impacted me, like you described it doing to you. I just… what really upset me was that you didn’t trust me, didn’t trust in my power, that you were all so afraid of what I would do if I found out.

But now, hearing you explain it, it’s clear it wasn’t predominantly about that after all. ”

“It was a mixed bag. And that’s our mistake, my mistake.

Seeing you out there, the way you managed to get control in such a profound way, despite never having had the know-how to do something like that, because power like yours doesn’t exist anywhere else on this plane…

it was beyond impressive. I can’t begin to describe just how proud that I am of you. ”

“Thank you, Mom. But that , the lack of knowledge about my power… that’s the upside to this duty. To Cassius being here. He’s a fount of information about it all, about me. ”

“And I told you it’s a risk to trust him,” Vorzyr cut in with a discontented rumble.

“It’s not about trust, though. It’s about using resources—him—to our own ends.”

“You’d have to ensure you frame it within the scope of him guiding you,” Kai told her.

“I know, and I will,” she said, smiling out at him.

“It’s a lot to withstand from an emotional standpoint,” Nyx warned. “A lot to contain, Halo.”

“He gave me a week. I’ll get my head on straight by then. Great strides have already been made.”

“We still need something more,” Vorzyr spoke. He exchanged a loaded look with Kai.

Kai gave a nod. “Not the failsafe, but I agree, there does need to be more. Something Cassius-specific for now. If we can have him at our mercy, we could use it as leverage against the Celestial Plane to undercut the bargain struck and, hopefully even break it altogether.” I could see the resistance all over him, before he looked out at me and admitted, “But we’d need to work together.

That would require a gesture of faith and keeping the circle extremely small.

For instance, it couldn’t occur at the Guardian Compound, the Covens, or anything like that. ”

“Grandfather’s lab,” Ariana suggested.

“And Cornelius stands at a distance to the Guardian Movement now, operating more like a contract worker as Ambassador. He doesn’t even interact with Guardian Movement members anymore, aside from those in your actual family,” Kai said.

“That’s the only way I would be okay with this,” Ariana stated, firmly. “It significantly lowers the risk. Keeping the circle small. Just Grandfather involved.”

“Just Cornelius,” Vorzyr mused.

I saw the four of them exchange an uncomfortable look.

“Don’t be shy,” I encouraged. “What is it? Do you need something from my father beyond this?”

Ariana pushed off the archway and told me, “Vorzyr is seeking intel about Malrik Titanus.”

I knew of him, but nothing of much substance beyond that. “In what respect?”

“Rumors are that he was murdered by a True Celestial,” Kai informed me.

“You believe my father could have been involved?”

“And Cassius,” Vorzyr growled.

Well, that was certainly a profound complication.

An emotionally-weighted one to add to what already amounted to a great deal of heaviness.

It was something they were all handling admirably, especially for ones so young.

The least I could do was to facilitate Vorzyr’s access to this information.

“Of course. I’ll arrange a meeting for you.”

He looked surprised that it was happening so easily. “I… thank you.”

I smiled and looked out at them all, before resting my gaze on Ariana. “No more secrets, yes?”

“Thank you, Mom,” she said, beaming out at me.

Not only that, but she came to me, and sat down beside me on the couch. “We all need to head back to Maven Academy soon, but I’d like it if you’d stay a little while longer.”

I reached out and stroked her hair. “I’d like that a lot as well.” Emotion welled after all the heaviness, and before I could get command of it, I was throwing my arms around her and holding her to me. “I love you, my darling. So very much.”

“I love you, too, Mom.”

I looked up as I hugged her to see that the boys were filing out, being so very considerate as to give us some time together.

For the first time ever, there wasn’t this awful weight between us bearing down on our connection, on our bond. Now the secret had been revealed, despite the less than ideal way in which it had come about, it felt a whole lot lighter in some respects.

For once, we could just be.

Here we were, not powerful beings who the world had tried to contain and control, not victims of circumstance.

And not strained with each other either.

Here we were just mother and daughter.