I dematerialized my daggers with a spark of my magic.
“How did you know to come here?”
He stared at me for several moments.
He wanted transparency, he had to earn it.
More than that, I needed to use it to gauge his position and awareness of the situation. Naming Winter and Sylas, a tipping point also, wasn’t enough for me to determine if he was merely fishing, and linking partial patterns. Even registering that he’d been observing me could have had another purpose not specifically tied to this. Kai Hunter made it his business to recognize all power players, especially those up-and-coming who he hadn’t yet established a connection with—or controlover. The latter regarding me would never be possible. Not for him. Not for anyone. Not even the great High Empress herself.
His eyes flicked to the waterfall. Given that there were half a dozen here, and he zeroed in on the precise one I’d been under moments ago, that said a great deal.
“A few years back—we’ll say three and a half—one of the Celestial children came of age and flew the proverbial nest that is Haven Initiative. This particular Celestial didn’t want to become part of the world. He just wanted quiet, to venture out if he so wished, but not to be bothered otherwise. No psychopath-in-the-making mentality there, he’s just a very peaceful sort. The problem was, being what he was, accomplishing that was difficult. Even erecting a ward would be drawing the attention of all those fascinated with the Celestial children. So he sought out a solution.” His eyes flamed.“You.”
“Interesting that what you’re referring to was accomplished in the utmost secrecy, yet you’re privy to it. Your stalking game is rather flattering, Kai.”
“Actually, at that point, I was keeping an eye onhim.For my love.”
Ariana Martel.
Interesting.
“Suffice to say, I found it odd that you’d help anyone possessing Celestial power, given your people’s issues with the Celestial Plane. The persecution you endured—for years on end. An entire magical species driven underground into a depth of hiding that essentially erased you from the world. Even being able to separate the Celestial Plane from the Celestial children, there would still very likely be intense trauma responses attached to interacting with any Celestial being. Yet, there you were, doing just that. For Taen. You did him one hell of a favor, too. A favor you covered up. And the way you covered it up… I have to fucking commend you again. Using your vibrationalability for that favor at the exact time that the Basilisk Dominion was being expanded… masking your own usage with that… impressive.”
I steeled myself.
Him knowing that was dangerous.
It could be used as leverage.
Overme.
“You forged an entire subterranean estate with vibrational resonance for him.”
“Your point?”
“It was all in the name of generating a favor from Taen. And what could he give you that you couldn’t possibly acquire yourself? Your abilities are already vast and supreme.”
He knew about the Celestial magic.
He pointed at my crown. “The Sunveil enchantment imbued in that, and all other objects the people of your kingdom carry on their person to safeguard them temporarily against the sun—part of the Sunveil Accord your mother struck—you know to have been created by Arcanum Order. And I’m aware you also know I’m a member. But that wasn’t actually a joint effort. That spell was mine. And the thing about my spells, when I create for others who aren’t in my inner circle, I always… let’s put it nicely… keep track of them.” He cocked his head to the side. “You know what else I keep track of? That spell I gifted your mother a copy of. The ancient magic that can counter Celestial power. She was desperate, you see, so worried for you all that if something ever happened, if a Celestial being ever turned, all the Sunveil enchantments in the world wouldn’t protect her people from being torn into again and nearly driven out of existence. So I allowed her that spell. Performing it, though, is another matter. Sometimes the feeling of security is enough, though, isn’t it?”
“No,” I ground out.
“That’s right. To people like us who see too much, it’s never fucking enough.” He cracked his knuckles, just two steps away from looming over me. “I know you copied that spell. Recently. The problem is, I also know you’re in possession of Taen’s Celestial magic—a loophole to being able to perform that spell in lieu of having a highly-experienced and supremely powerful sorcerer—moi—available to do such a thing. Ironic, really, isn’t it? That Celestial magic could be ingested to perform a spell intended to incapacitate a Celestial being? Gotta love the intricacies of the magical arts, huh?”
“The two could just as easily have no actual direct connection at all.”
He scrubbed his hand over his face. “Well, believe me, I’ll be sure to tell Sylas just how hard you fought for his son, because this is next-level denial. Strategic and almost enough to withstand the likes of me once I’ve latched onto a hidden truth.” He flexed his fingers. “Two things could be a coincidence, right?”
“Possibly.”
“What about three?”
I swallowed.
He gave me a look. “That’s right. Number three is that I don’t just trackmyspells. I track all Celestial magic. I was almost killed by it. My Coven was almost wiped out by it and they had to rely on Ari’s mother and Ryker showing up to save them.” He screwed up his face in distaste. “Rely on others? Powerless? I don’t think so. Ari is my love, a renowned True Celestial. Vorzyr, my other love, has Celestial-based powers also. And Nyx… he couldn’t stand the thought of anything harming those he loves. So, you can see why I would track that. It also means, I’m able to register when non-Celestial beings touch it—in any way.”
I frowned.
