Chapter 24

I gasped in shock.

Levi stepped back, the bleeding heart in his hands, and watched as Molraz's body slid to the floor.

Slowly, he transformed back into his human form, his clothes gone, except for his ripped pants. He shook his hand, as if now aware of what he was holding and let the heart fall to the floor.

He stared at his father for one more second, then spun to me.

I didn't know what came over me. Bleeding, hurt, dazed, I jumped to my feet and ran. But before I could make it to the door, a dozen demons spilled into the foyer, all fighting each other. I dodged a pair, was almost hit by another, but finally made it out.

A handful of other demons fought, but now I had more room to run. Finally, the gates came into view and there wasn't a demon in sight.

"Ariella, wait." His voice was soft, almost pleading, so unlike him, that it took me by surprise. I halted but didn't turn to him. I heard his footsteps as he approached me. "About what happened?—"

I spun so fast, I almost tripped on my feet. "Don't," I snarled. "Don't say anything. Don't try to explain it. I don't want to hear it. If it weren't for the bond, I would tell you to let me go."

His eyes locked on mine, the agony in them visible. Or was that another one of his tricks? He was still playing me. "If you're mad at me, then go. The pain will be punishment enough."

I could do that. It would feel like sweet revenge. But I was a freaking angel, and I should do better. "I can break it."

"The bond?"

I nodded. "Yes. I know how to undo it. But I'll need your sister."

* * *

Levi toldme to go to the car while he helped his demons fight the mansion's guards. He explained he wanted to make sure they were all out of there before Rhodes and the other angels arrived.

Honestly, I thought about getting into the car and driving back to the townhouse. He could run back, for all I cared. But then I would get to the house and have to wait for him there.

I sank into the passenger seat, the adrenaline of the night wearing off, and the pain changing from a faint throbbing to a full burn. The pain was nothing, though, compared to the one good thing out of all of this: I had my wings back! I felt an urge to get out of the car and let them out again, so I could touch them, see them, feel them. To make sure it wasn't a dream.

But I could feel them inside of me right now, a faint sliver of magic, and that was enough.

For now.

When I thought I was finally relaxing, Levi came back, wearing a shirt he must have stolen from a dead body, and hopped into the driver's seat. He didn't say anything, and neither did I. Halfway to the townhouse, stopped at a red light, he started searching the center console and even reached over me into the glove compartment.

"What are you looking for?" I asked, annoyed.

"Pain medicine."

I glanced at him, but he didn't seem hurt. Oh, it was for me. He was feeling my pain and it was bothering him again. "Just wait a little longer, then you won't feel anything anymore," I snapped.

He fixed his hard eyes on mine for three seconds, until the light turned green, and he drove again.

The rest of the drive was silent, and when we arrived at the townhouse, Lacey rushed out to the front porch.

"Thank goodness, both of you are okay," she said, her expression relieved.

"You disobeyed me," Levi said, a bite in his words.

"It isn"t the first time." Then, she lowered her voice and said, "It won't be the last."

If I had been feeling better, I would have smiled at her.

"I heard that!" he barked.

"Did you get your wings back?" Lacey asked me as I walked up to her. I nodded. "Then it worked out, didn't it? No need to be mad at me." Then she saw all the blood on me. "Oh, shit. Come in. I'll heal you."

I was in a rush to break the bond and leave, but I wouldn't say no to that.

Lacey guided me to the living room and patted a lone chair. I sat down and she hovered around me, her hands an inch from my skin, her magic tingling. She started with my neck, then moved on to my shoulder blades. I took off the blood-stained shirt, threw it in a corner of the room, and grabbed a clean one—and I cut two slashes on the back, so my wings wouldn't rip it when I called on them.

"I'm glad you got your wings back," she said. "That's good." I nodded but didn't say anything. Lacey glanced in the direction of the kitchen, where Levi had disappeared to, but we couldn't see him right now. "What happened that got his pants in a twist?"

I sighed. "Can we just get this over with?"

"Uh-oh, it wasn't good, was it? What did he do?"

Levi walked back to the living room and stood by the entrance, stoic like a statue. "Stop being so nosy."

She stiffened. "You're the one who brought me over. Again. If I'm curious about what's happening around me, it's your fault!"

I sighed. "Well, I found out the demon who destroyed my sword and took my wings is your father and?—

"What?" Lacey croaked.

"—apparently Levi knew. He was lying to me from the first time I met him. He was using me." I stared at him and I hoped he could see the hatred I felt. "Too bad I found out and now he won't get what he wanted."

"My father …" Lacey inhaled sharply. "He was the one. Oh, no." She sounded really shocked and sad about. "And you, Levi. What the hell did you do?" Lacey asked, her tone sad.

Realizing Lacey was done with my healing, I put on my shirt and stood. I didn't want to dwell on all of that anymore. "Lacey, I need your help to break the bond."

"Hm." She glanced at Levi, then back at me. "If that's what you want."

Hell, yes, it was.

I showed her the texts Hazel had sent me and we got to work. I had already gotten the necessary supplies so it was a quick set up.

Since we already had a broken containment circle drawn on the floor, Lacey fixed it. When everything was ready, Levi stepped into the circle.

"Now what?" he asked.

"Just stand there," Lacey said. "It should be quick." He nodded, his eyes on her. He was ignoring me. Fine by me. Lacey handed me a small pocketknife. "Here, you start."

I flipped the pocketknife open and pricked my finger with the blade's tip. I let a few drops fall on the circle's line and recited the Latin words for the spell, "Ego liber vos. Vinculum confractus."

The line shone a faint white and Levi groaned. His jaw was tight and he pressed a hand to his chest.

"What's happening?" I asked.

"Don't stop," he said through gritted teeth.

"Ego liber vos. Vinculum confractus," I repeated.

Levi fell to his knees, breathing hard.

"It's the spell," Lacey said, worried. "Bonds are powerful. It must hurt to break one." She waved at me. "You have to keep chanting."

"Ego liber vos. Vinculum confractus," I said repeatedly. With each sentence, Levi seemed to be in more pain.

At some point, he partially shifted, his skin darkening, his hands tuning into claws.

Then finally, the white line shone bright. "Now!" Lacey yelled.

I crouched down, reached inside the circle, and placed my hand over his heart. "Ego liber vos. Vinculum confractus," I said one last time.

A force like an implosion came from the circle and I fell forward, inside the circle.

"Oh no." Lacey grabbed my shoulders and pulled me back. I fell over her on the floor.

The light died out and the room went eerily quiet.

Levi was kneeling on the floor, his human hands fallen at his sides, and his chin on his chest. For a moment, I panicked he had died.

"Levi?" Lacey asked. She crawled to the side of the circle, which didn't seem broken, even though I had crossed over. "Oh, shit, Levi!"

He inhaled deeply, lifting his head, his eyes wide. "I'm fine. I'm fine." He coughed and rubbed his chest again.

I frowned. "Isn't it gone?"

He stared into my eyes, as if looking for the line that connected him to me. "It is," he said. "I can't feel you anymore."

I let out a long, relieved sigh.

"Then why are you rubbing your chest?" Lacey asked.

"Because this ritual fucking hurt." He pushed to his feet and glared at me from above. "Are you done here?"

Ouch. I stood, trying to hold on to my dignity. "I am." I turned to Lacey. "Thank you … for everything."

"Wait," Lacey said. She broke the circle so Levi was free and turned to me. She picked up my hand and deposited three golden coins on them. "If you ever need anything, call me."

I closed my hand around them and nodded to satisfy her. I intended to lose those coins as soon as I left. I didn't want anything to do with Levi and his family ever again.

I grabbed my bag from the corner, hiked it up my shoulder, and walked out the door. I was proud of myself for not looking back once, even though I wanted to. I stopped at the end of the driveway, glanced right, then left. It was past midnight and the street was deserted.

What was I supposed to do now? Where should I go? How was I going to get my magic back? I was tired, hungry, and lonely.

Once more, I was all alone.

Right now, all I needed was to find a bed. After a good rest and some breakfast, I could worry about all of that.

My wings sprang to life behind me. I almost winced at seeing them black—it would take me some time to get used to it. Regardless, they were beautiful, they were mine, and I had them back.

With a big flap, I took to the night sky.