Page 55 of Mantle (IMMORTAL FLAME #3)

~Ariana~

Nine Months Later

Haven Initiative.

Cassius and I had created it together as a place to assist the Celestial children he’d recovered from that awful place.

It was a sprawling white-stone estate that existed within a highly-protected warded area not far from my family’s home.

I stood by one of the waterfalls watching.

I’d been meaning to head home after being here all day with the children and working with Cassius and Ketheron. But leaving each day, even though I knew I was coming back again, was more difficult than I’d expected.

There was a strong kinship that I felt toward them, very similar to what I felt toward Ketheron.

Speaking of him, he was absolutely flourishing here.

He loved interacting with the kids and teaching them fun things with his Celestial power like creating magical butterflies that shone through the night sky and moved in dazzling patterns that entertained both him and them.

I looked out at the main building where Cassius was teaching some of the children about power responsibility.

He’d been having a hard time since being stripped of his True Celestial power and being made into a Fallen.

He was as strong as Grandfather now, which was still great might and magic that he carried.

But it was a transition, nonetheless, and a definite power-down to what he was used to.

He’d also forever been cut off from the place where he’d spent his entire life.

Although, he’d turned from them, it was definitely a jarring thing to wrap his head around.

But being here in Haven Initiative working alongside me and Ketheron, it helped him.

“Well done. You’ve done terrific work with this. Especially in such a short time.”

I looked out to see Pops suddenly teleporting in beside me and looking out at the revelry as well.

I smiled and turned to him. “Well done to you as well. You managed to hold the Guardian Movement and the Unity Council together through it all. The last time a threat that colossal hit the supernatural world in Draco’s rise, it destroyed it.”

“Well, you eradicating the Hellfire in Valkrith really assisted with that. It put them at ease that an attack like that could never happen again. Also, I have a great group of people around me.” He nudged me playfully. “You know all about that now, don’t you?”

“I really do.” I took a step back. “Speaking of that, I need to get home to them. I’m already running late.”

He brought me in for a hug. “Remember, the family is waiting on an invite to your housewarming.”

“It’s forthcoming. We’re just taking a little time to settle in.”

“Understood.”

With that, I waved at Ketheron, who beamed back at me, then I teleported out.

Back home.

When I rematerialized at Solumira, I caught sight of Nyx coming out of the Parkour Gym that we’d created recently.

“Hey,” I greeted.

He spun and lunged at me, throwing his arms around me. “You’re back already!”

I frowned as we eased apart. “Already? I’m at least an hour late.”

“Well, we called three hours.”

“What? I’m that unreliable now?”

“No. Not at all. We just know how taken you are with Haven Initiative. It’s the perfect way for you to do something good, and break the cycle that you were caught up in.

Those kids you’re helping, they’ll never struggle like you had to with their powers and who they are.

Because of you, Halo. And that’s an incredible thing. ”

“Incredible like your Crossborn Refuge System now up and running?”

He grinned. “Something like that, yeah.”

It was a lot of work, hence him needing to blow off steam in his Parkour Gym more often than usual.

“Is Kai back?” I asked.

With us graduating from Maven Academy a couple of months ago, Kai was now with Arcanum Order fulltime. And he loved every moment of it. It was absolutely perfect for him.

He was also still helping Sylas, searching and researching.

“Yeah, he said to meet him in the hot spring.”

“And Vorzyr? Is he back from the Shifter Stabilization Unit yet?

“Yeah, he’s back from working with his new best friend in Jaxon Silver.” He chuckled. “Who would have thought? Him and your harsh, Alpha wolf dad.”

I chuckled as we walked together through the dirt path and dipped through the archway carved into the hillside.

The cavernous space glowed beautifully as we walked across the stone floor, following along until the sunken pool came into view—a hot spring with bubbling water.

I saw Vorzyr and Kai already in the water.

Naked.

A hot thrill ran through me.

“This is your welcome-home, Halo. We figured we could all do with some togetherness.”

With that, Nyx stripped off his clothes and leapt into the pool, dousing Vorzyr, who snagged him around the waist, then held him in front of him, mussing up his hair, then teasing his palm down his abs.

As I drew closer and shrugged off my jacket, the three of them stared at me, eyes absolutely blazing.

I loved the way they looked at me.

Loving and savage.

Playful and adoring.

This was our life now.

All of this.

All of us.

And I loved every single thing about it.

It was more than I’d ever allowed myself to hope for.

I beamed out at them, taking it all in, relishing the moment, savoring them.

“I love you. Forevermore.”

And then I dove into the pool with my clothes on.

THE END

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