Page 50 of Mantle (IMMORTAL FLAME #3)

~Ariana~

Tension crackled in the air as I stood in the Guardian Movement black site with Pops beside me, while Nyx, sitting cross-legged in front of my ward and the Underveil Shield confining a still-unconscious Ketheron, was immersed in his dreamwalking.

That tension was only amplified by the fact that about twenty Unity Council members were stationed at the edges of the room, observing to ensure everything went smoothly.

Their leader, Hugh Clayborne, wasn’t present—he was still recovering from Ketheron’s attack.

Or rather, Corvin’s attack, since he’d fucking forced Ketheron to commit all of it.

Pops was under immense pressure, juggling multiple priorities and political agendas.

There was also an awkward undercurrent, now that word had gotten out about me and the boys stealing my test results from inside their building—the same test they’d conducted on me without consent, and without the Guardian Movement’s authorization—because they’d feared what I might become once I matured into my power.

I guess, from their perspective, it all balanced out in the end. In a really messed-up kind of way.

I winced as I took in Pops and thirty of his Guardians all wielding Bastion Gauntlets that had been rapidly produced by Arcanum Order, ready to fire at one wrong move from Ketheron, and put him right back down again.

I wouldn’t let that happen, but it still had me concerned that Ketheron just seeing the threat of it all once he woke up would antagonize an already volatile situation.

But I also understood the need for them to feel prepared.

Especially with Pops, the great Ryker Morgan, not being able to influence Ketheron with his defensive magic and simply stop him that way, as he’d been doing with all threats for years on end.

I focused on Nyx currently removed from this reality, his palms upturned, his magic sparking on them.

I wanted to be inside the dreamscape too, but Nyx trying to hold two Celestial beings there would weaken him.

I wouldn’t have that.

I curled my fingers and started tapping my foot, needing something to ground me.

Nyx had this. He’d become a pro at dreamwalking.

He’d already had a very favorable and healing impact on Ketheron when he’d interacted with him before inside the dreamscape.

And he was coming to him with promises fulfilled—Corvin being apprehended, the Encompassing Inhibitor created.

Both conditions that Ketheron had laid out for agreeing to leave the dreamscape so he could ensure he didn’t hurt anyone against his will again had been met.

Nyx’s magic suddenly pulsed on both his palms.

I saw Ketheron’s unconscious form stir.

That pulsing evolved to flaming vibrant-blue bursting toward the ceiling.

It snuffed out abruptly.

And then Nyx sucked in a harsh breath and turned his head right toward me, smiling. “It’s done.”

I looked from him to Ketheron, and I saw his eyes slowly open.

He blinked, frowning in confusion for several moments and staring up at the ceiling.

I saw him scent the air and a peaceful moan escaped him.

And then he sat up and his gaze shot straight to mine.

He smiled.

With relief.

With hope.

Unfortunately, that was cut short when he noticed the audience just beyond me.

He narrowed his eyes on Pops. I saw recognition there. He was remembering that Pops had tried to kill him with the Wrath of Hades.

But then looked to me, clearly recognizing he was family to me. He drew in a harsh breath, then bypassed him and levied his glare upon the Guardian and Unity Council members only.

The room bristled behind me. Guardians adjusting their stances and grips on their Bastion Gauntlets, the things humming with barely leashed power. Unity Council members all calling their magic, the vampires tensing and readying themselves.

“You need my help. Killing me will kill you,” Ketheron spoke.

It had everyone shifting uncomfortably, not sure what to do with it.

They didn’t know how to reconcile the threat they still saw him as with his childlike air that was also mixed with knowledge that nobody else held.

His eyes flicked to Nyx, who gave him a calm nod and a reassuring smile.

He let out a slow, shaky breath.

And then he slowly held his right hand out in my direction. “They need proof. Nyx said you have something for me.”

As I pulled from Pops and went to approach, he freaked everyone out as he passed through the Underveil Shield cube and my ward.

“Stop!” I cried out at the Guardians as a couple of them fired.

I swept my hand in an arc, deflecting the magic, grunting as the Celestial power hit me.

Although I could absorb it, it still packed a punch.

And I was also trying to conserve my power for the Severance spell so I wasn’t using my full might.

Ketheron’s eyes flamed as he heard my cry, me being hurt.

I was there in the next second, standing in front of him, barring his way to everyone, and pressing my hand to his chest.

He stilled and calmed instantly.

He clasped my hand on him and I didn’t pull away like I had during our first meeting.

He smiled and let out a peaceful groan.

“You’re right, they do need your help. We all do. I do. But they’re also scared, just like you’re scared of them. When fear is leading the way, mistakes and bad decisions are made.”

“I don’t want to hurt them. I don’t like hurt.”

“I know. I know you don’t.”

I conjured the Encompassing Inhibitor with my free hand that Arcanum Order had merged into the physical form of a gold medallion hanging from a thick black chain.

“When you put this on, it will fuse with you. It won’t cause any pain, just a brief rush of warmth as it fuses.

If Corvin tries to reactivate that leash, this will repel it.

It will provide a warning to give you time to activate it. ”

“It’s my choice?”

“Yes. You’ve been denied every choice for so long. No fucking more.”

Ketheron looked down at the medallion in my hand

I felt him hesitate—felt the fear, the history, the hope—all tangle in the space between our clasped hands.

Then he gave a small nod.

He took the medallion with his left hand and slipped it around his neck.

A hush rippled across the room.

The gold flared once—warm light spreading outward, threads of protective magic seeping into Ketheron’s skin as the medallion fused to him.

He exhaled.

Behind me, I heard Pops speak—quiet, controlled, the voice of the leader I’d always known him to be. “Stand down.”

All across room, gauntlets dimmed, magic was pulled back, and the room finally began to relax.

As Nyx walked to us, Pops stepped up to me. “Go. Head to Meforian Forest.”

“Without this army here surrounding us and watching his every move?”

“Yes. I’ve now seen this interaction and bond between you for myself.”

“She’s my friend. I don’t like hurt,” Ketheron told Pops.

“I see that now, yes.” He looked at me. “I trust in you.” He pressed a kiss to the top of my head. “We all do. Cornelius and Cassius are waiting for you. Today we finally end this.”

Abso-fucking-lutely.