Chapter 13

I stirred in bed and turned, almost landing on top of Levi.

After the witches gave me the Celestial Sword, we took it to the lab—a huge greenhouse with long wooden tables, vials, and tools. The witches prepared potions, studied plants, and came up with new herb-related spells there.

I put the sword on a corner of the table Abbie had cleared for it, and the witches started by analyzing the sword, sensing its dormant magic, making a list of what needed to be done.

They decided to leave the sword bathed in moonlight water to clean it of any impurity, visible or not.

"This will take all night, perhaps all morning too," Abbie warned me.

And somehow, shortly after that, Levi and I ended up in my bedroom.

Now, it was early morning, and I couldn't help but look at the sleeping man beside me. His face was turned to the side, facing me, his arms crossed as if he was arguing with me, his head rested on the pillow, and his face was calm, serene, and yet still menacing.

I believed he looked malicious all the time because his features were cut so sharp, so hard, so damn sexy.

I inched my hand closer, wanting to trace his full lips, his straight nose, his thick eyebrows, his chiseled jaw. His damn body. With his arms crossed, his thick biceps and wide shoulders were tight, the muscles contracted, and his chest was puffed … and the rest was covered by the thin comforter.

But I had seen it all, touched it all, and by the light, how could he satisfy me like nothing else, and it still not be enough? I could probably have sex with him three hundred times in the next month, and I would still want more of him.

My body heated up at the thought. Levi stirred, his brows curling, probably feeling what I was feeling through his dream.

To let him rest, I slipped out of the bed, reached for a silk robe in the closet, grabbed my phone, and went to the bathroom. I brushed my teeth, washed my face, and stared into the mirror.

Five years ago, I thought I had lost everything when Molraz destroyed my sword, ripped my wings, and killed my friends. It got worse when I found out the angels thought I was the one behind that failed mission and the murderer.

Then it got even worse when I lost my magic six months ago.

But finally, finally things were looking up.

I had my wings, I would have a new sword in a matter of hours, and hopefully in a couple of days, I would have my magic back.

After that, hell would probably break loose until I found out what was going on and how to fix it, but for now, I would be glad for my wins.

I ran a hand through my long silver-blond hair. It used to have curls, but in the last five years, my hair had straightened out, as if protesting not being an angel anymore.

That would all change soon. Would my hair change back?

I almost laughed. Who cared? My hair wasn't that important.

I reached for my phone to look at the time and saw a text message.

I opened it and almost squealed—it was from Kaz. He had sent it late last night, and somehow it had gotten through. Maybe he had sent it as I was walking by the library to come to my bedroom. I typed a text back, but of course, there was no service here.

Shit.

Trying to be as quiet as I could, I slipped into the closet, got dressed in a new pair of tight jeans and a black sweater, grabbed my boots, and sneaked out of the bedroom.

It was just past six in the morning, so I was the only one in the library. I put my boots down, ignored them for now, sat down, and called Kaz.

The phone rang four times and I was about to put it down when he finally answered.

"Hi, Ariella."

A wave of relief washed through me, but soon my stomach tightened. Yes, he had answered, but it didn't mean he would agree to my plan.

"Kaz … I need your help."

I explained to him about what happened to me—he had been there, he knew—and how Raika was able to survive after giving the dragon's magic to the eggs. Then I launched into what I had read about the foreign magic being stored away from the dragons.

"Is it true? Do you know? Could my magic be somewhere inside the eggs, tucked away to be discarded?"

He let out a sigh. "It's true. If Raika gave the eggs all of the magic that didn't belong to her, then that means the dragons now have your magic and everyone else's Paimon stole."

I shot up and started pacing around. "Do you think there's a way for me to get it back?"

He paused, probably considering. "There might be."

I almost cried happy tears but inhaled deeply to calm myself. "Explain might."

"Of the eight eggs, one didn't make it, three hatched, and the other four are still eggs," he said. "We will need powerful witches versed in dragon magic to be able to coax your magic out of the dragons and the eggs without harming them."

"I sent a message to Evelyn," I said. "She hasn't replied yet."

"Evelyn is an expert in dragon magic, but not strong enough."

I frowned. "What if I get you a strong witch and Evelyn. Do you think that would work?"

He didn't answer for six full seconds. "I need to talk to the council. The other dragon shifters and dragons are even less keen on mixing with other supernaturals than I am. I can't promise I'll convince them."

Shit. "But you'll try?"

"I will talk to them. But again, I can't promise anything."

I nodded. "That's enough." For now, at least. "And I'll call Evelyn."

"If I get approval from the council, I'll try contacting her too."

"Kaz, thanks."

"Don't thank me yet."

But I thanked him again before we ended the call.

I felt like running, dancing, shouting, singing, even though I believed Kaz and knew it would be tough to convince the dragon shifter council.

But even if they said no, we could keep bothering them, presenting better solutions, until they agreed. If I had to, I would wait until all the dragons hatched.

Hopefully, though, that wouldn't happen and I would have my magic back soon.

I paced, incapable of containing myself. No one was here, our research was mostly done, and I didn't know what to do. I could go for a run, train a little.

Or …

I went back to my bedroom, walking fast, trying not to run. I burst through the doors, and Levi was exiting the bathroom.

"Morning, sweetheart," he said, with a lazy grin. "I was wondering where you were."

I stopped long enough to admire his fine, naked body. But only for about ten seconds. "Morning," I said as I took off my sweater and went to him.

One of his eyebrows shot up, but he wrapped his arms around my waist when I was in arms' reach and pulled me tight against him. "Insatiable, sweetheart?"

For him? "Always."

I rose on my tiptoes, but Levi met me halfway. Holding me, he carried me backward to the bed, where he made quick work of getting rid of my clothes and extinguishing the fire the way only he could.

* * *

I lay half beside and half over Levi, my arm folded on his chest, my chin on the top of my hands.

He propped some pillows behind his back and looked at me. "Are you going to tell me what has you in such a good mood, sweetheart?"

I smiled, still feeling exhilarated about my phone call with Kaz and about what we had done in this bed. I told him about the call, while Levi ran his fingertips up and down my back. I didn't think he noticed what he was doing.

What he was doing to me.

Yes, the lust, the want … it was the bond.

But was it all the bond?

I wasn't sure anymore and I guess I never would be.

"That's good, right? He'll call and you'll get your magic back."

My smile widened. "I can't wait."

His intense eyes met mine, and suddenly, they darkened.

"Sweetheart," he started and I tensed. "There's something I should tell you."

I pulled away. "Hm, nope. We're not doing this."

His brows curled down. "What do you mean?"

"This …" I pointed to me and him a couple of times. "It's casual. It's fun. Let's not bring personal stuff and secrets into the mix."

"I'm involved in a lot of your personal stuff."

"Well, I was the one to come to you for my wings and my magic, so that's on me. But it's fine. We've established we're enjoying the bond while it lasts, right?"

I put on a brave smile, but inside I was cracking and I knew he could feel it. I wanted to be a strong, badass angel, but I had feelings too, and it was really hard to put them aside most of the time. But I tried. I forced them to the back. Because if I didn't, then I would certainly get hurt again.

"Right," he said, his jaw popping again. He sat up on the bed. "I'll just say this once: I think you'll want to know about this."

"Is it about my magic? About my sword? About my wings? Does it involve Rhodes and his betrayal?" Or assumed betrayal. I still didn't have all the facts. "Or the dragons?"

"No."

I shrugged and got up from the bed. "Then I don't want to know."

I started building the wall around my heart faster. Soon, the bond would be broken and he would leave. If this wall was only half built by then, I would crumble.

I knew I would.

"Just remember you're the one who didn't want to know," he said, his voice low as he stood from the bed and walked into the closet.

I reached for my clothes on the floor and started putting them back on. Why did I feel like a bitch right now? Wasn't I doing him a favor? He was the one with the cold heart who didn't want to get involved. He was the one who had said we could keep this casual.

In ten seconds, he would come out of the closet with that charming grin of his, call me sweetheart, and carry on as if nothing had happened.

I was zipping up my boots when I remembered something. "Levi? When I called you when the lion shifters were attacking me, you said it wasn't a suitable time to talk. You were in the middle of something."

He came out of the closet, wearing navy slacks and a white button-up shirt. I stared for a few seconds, wondering how the hell he managed to look like he was always coming out of a magazine cover photoshoot.

"Yes," he said, not charming as I thought he would be by now.

"Don't you have to go back to whatever that was? I mean, it sounded important, but you left it behind."

For me.

"My demons took care of it."

"Ah." I nodded. "That makes sense."

We finished getting ready in tense silence, and I almost took back what I said. Almost. Obviously, I didn't want him to leave, but I didn't want to be the thing that held him back either.

Determined to be strong, I walked out the door and turned to wait for him.

Levi walked out but pointed the other way. "I'm going to stop by my bedroom. I'll meet you in the library later."

"Oh. Sure."

He nodded once, then whirled on his heels and walked away. I looked at his retreating back until he turned a corner and disappeared from sight.

I had tried to protect my heart, and this was probably him protecting his. The bond affected him, though I was sure he had much better control over it than I did.

It was okay.

Actually, this was how it was supposed to be. We had been spending too much time together, sleeping in the same bed, touching after having sex. That only strengthened the bond.

And hurt us more.

I inhaled deeply, wishing I could breathe in courage and strength, and marched to the dining room for breakfast.