22. ~Nyx~
~Nyx~
Kai and Vorzyr had proven to be a devastatingly destructive and dangerous combination.
They fueled the dark intensity in one another to a chaotic degree.
I hadn’t just observed that in their continued interactions or growing closeness, I’d felt it from them that night a few days ago.
Them torturing my bullies had really brought it home to me just how volatile they could be when together while they were both in an emotional state.
I mean, I knew Kai had the capability of being destructive and fucking brutal.
When we’d first started at the Academy, I’d been bullied then, and Kai had gone after those responsible, setting their entire dorm room on fire and even skinning the culprits alive with his magic.
But he’d been careful about it. There had still been a lot of control in play for him.
He’d hidden all traces of him being there and he’d even disguised his magical signature.
So when the Faculty had found the injured students, who they’d managed to save from death, they’d had no idea that it was Kai.
Following that, he’d even somehow had them transferred out of the Academy merely two days later.
Kai only brought out that destructive side for two reasons—when those he cared about were in danger, or when his power and control were threatened.
Initially, going after these current bullies had been about his love for me, before I’d felt it evolve into something else after the trauma of the Celestial infection weakening him and nearly fucking killing him had impacted him.
His relationship to his power was a complicated thing.
We’d actually first become friends when his parents had taken me in because Kai had been entranced with my hybrid nature, my special abilities of both sorcerer and Incubus.
But that had gradually evolved into actual friendship, a deep friendship, when he’d grown to trust me enough where he’d allowed himself to care.
He didn’t do that easily, because it risked things becoming out of his control when feelings became a factor.
That was why it was all the more astonishing that he’d made an exception for Vorzyr.
I guess he’d seen something in him.
I had a sneaking suspicion that it was more than that, because he’d been willing to go against him in his obsessive battle for Ariana, right up until he’d walked in on me with Vorzyr and realized what that connection I’d been able to establish with him had meant to me.
He’d softened after that and moved from battle to alliance.
And then what he’d seen in him had pushed them closer than mere allies.
But the problem was that their approaches to threats and other things of that nature aligned too much. With Kai, I was the dissenting force when he wanted to go in too much of a destructive route. I reeled him in. Most of the time. It wasn’t a perfect system.
Fortunately, although I hadn’t been enough to counter both of them where this kind of harsh and brutal action was concerned, Ariana was in the picture now—and only being pulled in more so with every passing day, to be honest.
Yum.
Our first sexual interaction together had been playing on my mind a lot.
I crawled onto the bed and stroked Ariana’s face, before then leaning in and nibbling at her ear, her throat. “What do you say, Halo? Wanna play with me, too?”
A thrill rolled through me as her eyes lit up and she turned into my touch, her answer undeniable.
She wanted it. She wanted me. Even more than that, she was so open, so receptive, so needy.
And I was right there with her on that. Kai was already lost to it, looking so incredibly hot with that dark, lustful look in his eyes.
He was in that mode of playing dirty, erotic games, and there was nothing that got me off more.
Well, until she’d joined the playtime. Now it had ramped up several levels, just like that time where Kai and Vorzyr had played with me together that night.
And then the other night had happened, us all coming together for the first time as a foursome in Meforian Forest, followed by our restaurant date afterward.
Damn, it had been the best. And it had stayed with me.
It had stayed with us all.
I loved the comradery, how much closer we were all growing together.
It was comfort, friendship, adoration, fun, and a whole lot of eroticism.
I couldn’t imagine anything better.
And I just wanted it to continue on in this vein so badly.
As I looked down at the texts I’d received from each of them just as I’d teleported out to the Guardian Compound, a whole lot of warmth infused me.
Kai: Show them your true capabilities and trust in your knowledge base. Afterward, we’ll all celebrate in a way you’ll most definitely enjoy, my dirty devil.
Halo: Gramps is lucky to have you. Your first day is going to be great.
Vorzyr: Draw on your instincts, babe. You’ve got this.
I smiled, and stowed my phone away.
Then I took a moment to absorb the sight ahead of me.
I couldn’t actually believe I was here.
The Guardian Compound was incredible.
Truly stunning.
And, so far, I was just talking about the exterior.
It was a massive fortress of supernatural authority and stability with towering silver gates at the threshold that stood between the outside world and the elite force within that safeguarded the balance and the supernatural community.
White stone walls were reinforced by the silver magic of Cornelius Martel, along with the vibrant-green of Ryker Morgan.
Marble pathways led up to the entrance. Flanking that gateway were two stone statues of faceless Guardians denoting strength combined with history and power.
Figures in black hooded cloaks patrolled the grounds, moving in a graceful and disciplined way, their magic at the ready constantly while they were on shift, before the next changing of the guard.
I squared my shoulders, pushed down my nerves, and focused on the encouragement from Kai, Vorzyr, and Ariana, then headed over to them.
Because I was expected, it didn’t take more than a few words and a brief wave of a gold wand to grant me approval for passage.
And then I was making my way inside the actual Guardian Compound.
It was quiet within, but not in an eerie way, much more of a calming and reverent sort of atmosphere.
The walls of the corridors were smooth ivory stone, a natural sheen coming off them from how incredibly polished they were.
Their surfaces were lined with silver lattice that formed depictions of legendary battles and achievements of old.
The complementing marble floors gleamed from the soft glow of the floating orbs of light overhead.
Black-cloaked figures like outside walked the corridors in the distance, all moving along with an urgency that hinted at the vital business that was conducted within this place.
As I headed further into the building toward the specific area within that was to be the site of the first gathering of Crossborn, I was pulled up short all of a sudden.
A rush of overwhelming emotions slammed into me, catching me off guard.
Worry. Fear. Grief. Indignation.
I couldn’t help myself, I followed the sensation around the corner.
A few doors down from one titled Head of Guardian Movement—Ryker Morgan, voices reached me from inside an unmarked room.
“Ariana shouldn’t have to deal with this. If there’s a way out, Jaxon and my father will find it.”
At the topic of conversation, I couldn’t just walk away and move back to minding my own business and making my way to the Great Hall where all Crossborn team members were supposed to convene for our first meeting.
I instinctively slipped into shadow travel, obscuring myself both from sight and anybody’s senses locking onto me, and then I peered inside the room.
I choked when I saw three powerhouses standing in a circle embroiled in an urgent discussion.
Mia Snow was there, Ariana’s mom, along with two of her fathers, Ryker Morgan and Lucian Black.
Lucian was in one of his sharp, tailored suits, this one a black checkered masterpiece. He was subtly shaking his head. “It doesn’t bode well that Cornelius couldn’t make progress alone, beauty.”
“He was approaching it diplomatically,” Mia argued. “Jaxon has been sent to shift tactics.”
“Yes. Draco’s heir who once succumbed to darkness himself is definitely an undeniably more aggressive approach.”
“It’s more than that. The two of them were the ones who pulled me out of the True Celestials’ grip, and thereby enabled Ariana to be born.”
Lucian sighed and looked at Ryker. “My beloved, you have been far less vocal than usual during this conversation.”
Ryker shifted his weight, his black leather pants and his white silk shirt pulling taut, basically clinging to him like a second skin.
Damn, he was a hot piece. “We can’t remain focused on what they’re doing, or even what the True Celestials will determine when it comes to Ari.
That’s out of our control. What is within our control includes Ari taking back her full power to protect herself in case things don’t go the way we hope. ”
Lucian smiled out at him. “So wise since becoming Guardian Head. I do enjoy this side of you immensely.”
“A world away from my wild and reckless days, huh?”
“I’d say,” Mia said.
But that brief moment of levity slipped away in the next moment as Mia wrung her hands in front of her sophisticated royal-blue peplum dress, and said, “Not telling Ariana what’s going on…
I thought it would be the better option so it didn’t spook her.
Or worse, destabilize her. Especially if nothing comes of this True Celestials and Celestial Plane issue.
But maybe we made a mistake. Maybe we should tell her before she takes back her power, so if she panics and loses control, the damage won’t be as severe. ”