Page 6 of Live Like Legends

“You’ve yet to explain to me how it is that Lilith would have this idea of her demise to begin with,” Ariel pushed, pulling outthe chair next to me and sitting way too close for my liking. He had this way of trying to be intimidating, which almost had me laughing. Dani was way more intimidating than this guy.

I watched as Reese leaned against the side of my chair. He cocked his head to the side. “That part doesn’t matter. Whatshouldmatter is that Heaven’s Gate is safe, and you can keep going on your perfect little hunt for Jonah’s magic.”

Ariel flicked his eyes up to Reese who made sure to stand his ground. “Ah of course you also have some loyalty to the Soul Seether just like your charming friend here.” He motioned towards me.

I felt my hands clench around the arm rests. “She hasn’t done anything worth your attention since she’s been here so just back off. Maybe, I don’t know, everyone wouldn’t feel like she’s some kind of pariah if you just stop trying to scare them into thinking she’s the villain.”

Ariel shook his head. “Nicholas, I’ve heard your request over and over and I honestly don’t think bringing her into our society like it's normal is something the people are willing to do.”

Reese leaned down a little, getting into Ariel’s space. “Have you even considered asking them?”

“I have bigger issues to focus on than what you want for the girl you like. I’ve allowed her to stay under the conditions I’ve told you. I’ve also allowed your other trespassing friends to remain as well. I am not an idiot; I am well aware that opening a portal to Purgatory is ill form at the moment. I am generous if nothing else for providing everyone with a place here.” Ariel held his hands up as if he was the victim here and we were berating him.

“Under your conditions!” I nearly growled, hearing the wood of the armrests whine under my hold on them. “Your conditions are wanting to keep her locked up. The rest of them would rather stay with Natalia than be anywhere near here. She’s trading oneprison for another and it’s not smart to think that she won’t grow tired of that.” I only spoke the truth since she had pretty much told me as much earlier.

Ariel simply smirked. “Well, that must mean you need to have a better handle on her now doesn’t it, Nicholas. You spent all this time defying everyone just to be with her and what…you can’t deal with her anymore. Ifyouwould still like a place here, you will keep her away.” He swatted his hand towards me, communicating that he was done with this part of the conversation. “I have more pressing matters with Jonah’s magic. I did task you with helping with the search, speaking to those who could be useful.”

Reese nodded. “We did all those things and came up with nothing. You think maybe Jonah’s powers simply don’t want to be found byyouspecifically. It would explain a lot.”

The executive gave him a tight-lipped smile. “The magic doesn’t work like that, I assure you. Jonah was secretive about many things, so it just takes time to figure that out. Jonah’s father’s power went immediately to his son without hesitation. Without an heir, well, he seems to have hidden it away as if it’s some sort of game.” Ariel made a disgusted noise before turning to me expectantly. “I asked you to question your father, so did that bring anything new?”

Ariel had told me to ask my father questions about Jonah and where he would suspect the magic was. We’d had small conversations about Jonah’s magic here and there after his death, but nothing jumped out at me that made me think he knew anything about where Jonah would have hidden it. I wasn’t about to explain to Ariel all the reasons why I wasn’t on speaking terms with my father right now so I said the only thing I could. “It didn’t.”

Reese let out a deep sigh as if he was annoyed by my answer.

“Damn, well then we will have to move forward with the ceremony and celebration as I had planned.” Ariel nodded more to himself as he got up from his chair. He rubbed a hand down both his velvet lapels and turned to us. “Jonah’s magic simply doesn’t need to be found. I have waited too long and so have the people of Heaven’s Gate. They need a leader and maybe then once the power is settled and I have leverage, then I can see about letting your precious Soul Seether out…under supervision of course.”

“Woah, you can’t be serious. Does no one get a vote on this?” Reese asked, his hazel eyes wide.

Ariel chuckled almost as if the question was absurd. “Of course not. As much as I didn’t care much for Jonah’s father, the man did believe in a strong leadership. I would like to continue that.”

“I think you are confusing democracy with dictatorship.” I spat out.

“Call it what you like, but in a few weeks you all will officially answer to me. It is a fact, Mr. Cassial. One that you should get behind quickly or your hand will be forced.”

I shot up from my chair, walking up to him and sticking my finger into his chest. “I do all these things you asked because it’s easier than arguing half the time, but you can’tforceme to do anything. The last time we spoke, and you acted like this, I told you that you don’t deserve this, this position isn’t yours and it never will be. No ceremony will ever make me answer to you the way I did with Jonah.”

Ariel let his green eyes take me in. He let out one cool breath, removing my finger from his jacket. “You know your father tried to get out of his duty and well, he never stepped foot on these grounds for a very long time after that.”

His words brought me back to my father’s story, his truth about the past. His truth about all the things he’d let fall awayfor the sake of my mother’s wishes. Why did every fucking thing come back to that man? No matter what I did to try not to think about him, he still seemed to invade my life at every turn.

I opened my mouth to argue but a loud grunt and then a crash caught all of our attention.

“The fuck was that?” Reese said, swiveling his head towards the door.

I reached for my sword, taking a small step forward.

Ariel stood behind us, like he automatically assumed we would protect him, when in reality all I wanted to do was throw him at whatever was waiting on the other side. If I knew myself at all, I would likely fight to protect him, but it was an intrusive thought that I knew Reese was likely thinking as well.

Another thump and panting, then a muffledthey are in there.

I made a move to step closer when I smelled it. The one smell that could calm me, but in this very moment, frustrated the fuck out of me.

The door opened with a dramatic flourish slamming against the stone wall. Dani stepped over the sentry on the floor and strutted into the room with all the confidence in the realm.

“Thank you,” she said as the sentry scurried backwards, attempting to pick up his lost sword but failing multiple times. Dani eyed all of us, but her brown eyes landed on mine with such intensity I knew she was silently telling me that I should have seen this coming.

“Nicholas! What is the meaning of this!?” Ariel sputtered. “Where are the guards! Any of them!”

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