Chapter 3

I spun to Lacey, fuming. "You didn't tell me your brother was here."

She raised both her hands. "I didn't know!"

It was too much of a coincidence.

"Take me back," I demanded, irritation igniting in my chest. "I want to go back."

"But what about your magic? You came here for your magic."

As if my eyes had a life of their own, they shifted to Levi. He had walked forward and dropped the book on the table, right beside the witches, but his attention was still turned to us.

By the light, the demon looked dashing in a dark gray suit that hugged his big shoulders. His face was as sharply handsome as I remembered, with chiseled corners and bright blue eyes.

My gaze flicked to his full lips and I couldn't help remembering what he had done with them. My body instantly heated up and I suppressed a hitched breath. My chest hurt with sudden want. Thankfully, the bond was broken and he couldn't feel my burning desire.

What the hell? I shouldn't feel anything other than contempt and anger toward him. He was an evil demon who had used me.

How many times would I have to repeat that for it to stick in my mind?

Thousands, it seemed.

His gaze moved to my neck, where the bandage peeked from under the collar of my sweater. I thought I saw his eyes darken, but it could have been my imagination.

Levi shifted his weight, turned to the witches, and pointed to the books.

I let out a long breath.

I could do this. We were adults. For whatever reason he was here, I didn't care. Hopefully, he would be done soon and leave. Or the witches would be able to help me and I would walk out of here quickly.

It didn't matter.

What mattered was my magic.

"Fine," I muttered. I puffed up my chest and faced the witches.

But they were talking to Levi in hushed tones.

My irritation made itself front and center again, and I clenched my fists, wishing I could punch him and send him to the underworld.

Noticing me, Gwen shushed them. Then they all looked at me. Even the cat seemed to wake up long enough to glance at me.

Not containing myself, I looked at Levi. "Will you leave if I ask you to?"

He opened his mouth to answer, but Abbie beat him to the punch. "Levi is an honored guest at the Grand Eternity Hall, and he won't be going anywhere."

Honored guest? I almost scoffed at that. What could he have possible done to be awarded such a title?

Honestly, I didn't want to know.

So, I did my best to ignore him and continued, "Lacey brought me here because she thought you could help me get my magic again."

Maggie frowned. "Is it suppressed?"

I shook my head and told her what had happened—during a battle, a former Prince of the Underworld had absorbed my magic and left me with nothing.

Not even an ounce.

Now that I had my wings back, I could feel a tiny sliver of magic, the one that made it possible for me to make them disappear inside of me as if they were the size of my palm instead of ten feet wide.

But as much as I tried, I couldn't access that magic.

"And if it means I'll allocate that magic to somewhere else, I would rather not mess with it," I said.

"Understandable," Abbie said. "That sounds complicated. I don't think we have many books about angel magic."

"We were always secretive creatures," I said.

She nodded. "Exactly." Beside her, Levi sat down and perused the book he had found, as if nothing was happening here. "But the knowledge in this library is endless. I'm positive we can find something. If not the exact answer you're looking for, then a clue or some direction."

I perked up. "That would be great."

"It might take a while," Abbie said. She pointed to the books spread over the table. "We're working on something important right now, and probably won't be done today."

My chest deflated. But I had been without my magic for over six months, hadn't I? What was a few more hours? "That's fine," I lied. "So, hm, should I leave and come back tomorrow or?—"

Abbie stood. "If Lacey brought you here, then you're a friend. You should stay here for the night. I promise that tomorrow we can at least discuss more of your situation and decide."

Stay in this place with Levi … it wasn't ideal, but what was nowadays? Go back to that shitty motel, spend money on it, hide from the supernaturals looking for me?

It was safer here.

"That would be great," I said.

"Good." Abbie gestured to my side. "Then Myg here will take you to a guest bedroom now."

I glanced to where Abbie was pointing and almost yelped when I saw a short female goblin standing five feet behind me. A small creature that came up to my waist, with pale green skin, huge, pointed ears, flimsy dark hair, and a scrunched ugly face. She wore a simple black dress with a white apron over it.

"This way," Myg said, her voice scratching like old bark.

The goblin shuffled from the room. I hesitated, a little confused by this turn of events. All I wanted was to find a spell to give me back my magic, and leave this place, preferably today. Was that too much to ask?

I let out a sigh and followed the goblin as she went back to the lobby and up the stairs. We turned right and went down a set of wide hallways that turned and turned and then turned again. Occasionally, we passed lofts with comfy chairs and small tables, set where the hallways intersected. By the fifth turn and the third sitting area, I was definitely lost.

This place was huge. Beautiful, but endless.

Finally, Myg stopped in the middle of a long hallway and opened double wooden doors. "Please, come in."

I walked in and like any other room in this hall, this bedroom took my breath away. It was a large rectangular room with a sitting area to the right, and the bed to the left. Vines and roots crawled up the walls, and the furniture was knotted wooden branches. The cushions and bedding were white and light blue, matching the curtains, which were half closed over the set of tall windows along the opposite wall.

"The bathroom and the closet are that way." Myg gestured to a small archway on the left, past the four-poster bed. "There should be toiletries and clothes, but if anything is missing, you can press this button,"—she pointed to a small green button beside the door—"and I'll come to assist you." Her words were polite, but it sounded like a rehearsed script.

"Thank you," I whispered, still feeling like I couldn't process all of this. I walked to the window and looked out. I couldn't see the rest of the building, just lots trees, some as tall as the window.

For some reason, it felt like this place was like Elysium—easily accessible by portals, but not really on Earth. A magical place, alive in another dimension.

"Supper is served in the family's dining room at 5 o'clock," Myg said.

I frowned. "And where is the fam?—"

The words died on my lips when I turned and didn't see her there. The door was closed and the goblin was nowhere to be seen.

Apparently, when it was time for supper, I should probably leave the room early, because I was sure to get lost.

I glanced at my phone. There was no signal, as I expected, but the rest was still working, and the digital clock told me it was only two in the afternoon. Could I explore this place? No, I would probably get lost. What I could do, then? Rest? Check the bandage?

I walked through the archway and found the large closet filled with clothes—and guess what? Everything in here was my size. Gotta love magic—and the bathroom, with a long vanity, two sinks, a standing shower, and a clawfoot bathtub.

Knowing I needed to relax a little, I opted for a long bath in scalding hot water.

* * *

It took me longer than I would admit to redo my bandage and get dressed again after my delicious bath. It hurt a lot too, but thankfully the wound was healing well, thanks to Lacey's magic, and I was able to put a smaller bandage on the front of my shoulder.

The cabinets underneath the bathroom sink had all I needed, including a first aid kit.

It was amazing.

For my clothes, I almost picked something I had brought over, but opted to check out the closet instead. I found nightgowns, graphics tees, suits, elegant gowns, and everything in between.

I picked black leggings, a boat-neck loose teal sweater, and put on my worn combat boots.

At four thirty, I left the room and turned left from where Myg and I had come before. I was sure my first turn was right, my second too, but on the third, I wasn't sure anymore.

I knew this would happen and I couldn't even call Lacey to come and find me, because phones didn't work here. So, I just kept going, hoping to bump into someone or find a place I recognized.

I turned another corner and found myself in a wide corridor like the one downstairs with all the artifacts. Another gallery.

I slowed down, glancing side to side, taking in the items. Most of them meant nothing to me. A beautiful sword, a broken one, some sparkling jewels, a huge red ring, a silver comb, a heavy cross pendant, a large bow and a quiver with arrows, a piece of armor …

But what made me stop was a beautiful white and silver harp, taller than me. I walked into the gallery and rounded the harp. It looked so much like the one Adona had. She loved playing it whenever we had special events and fancy dinners.

I ran my fingers over the strings and sighed.

What I wouldn't give to know what was going on back home. Was Adona safe? Was she plotting with Rhodes? Did she send him to retrieve the Scarlet Hex Blade and kill us all? But why? What was the end goal here?

I couldn't begin to guess.

I felt impotent. I had gotten my wings; I was going to get my magic back somehow, but I was still in the dark, and that scared me.

"You're lost."

I froze, my fingertips on the chords. Slowly, I lowered my hand and turned to the voice.

Levi.

My heart tugged at the sight of him. He hadn't changed since I last saw him a couple of hours ago, but he had lost the tie and undone the top two buttons of his shirt.

More causal, but still hot as hell.

"Have you been following me?" I asked.

He shoved his hands in his pants' pockets. "No, sweetheart. I was on my way from my bedroom to the dining room for supper, and this is my path."

"That's not what I meant." I crossed my arms. "I mean here. In the Grand Eternity Hall. You knew I was coming."

"How would I have known that, sweetheart? I've been here for a couple of days."

"Why are you here? And how come you're an honored guest of the Grand Eternity Hall?"

One corner of his lips tugged up in that same charming smile of his. "Aren't we curious?"

I clamped my mouth, ashamed I couldn't hold my tongue. Something about him messed with me. I wanted to be indifferent to him, to show him his betrayal didn't affect me.

I even thought I was exaggerating. Was it a betrayal? He set out to get me from the start, and he was always cold and telling me to keep my distance.

I was the one who read too much into all of it. And yet, I couldn't stop the wild thoughts in my mind.

"I'm serious, can't you come back after the witches help me?" It was a bold question, I knew that, but I couldn't help it.

Levi strolled closer and halted two feet from me.

I wanted to take a step back, but I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing me squirming.

He leaned closer and locked his blue eyes on mine. "Do I bother you that much, sweetheart?" His gaze slid down my neck, my shoulder, and down the rest of my body, darkening. "Is it annoyance, or something else?" I shoved his chest and he chuckled. "You make it too easy to tease you."

"You're impossible."

He winked at me, then walked away. "If you don't want to get lost again, come with me."

I would rather be lost for the next three days than follow him.

But to contradict me, my stomach growled. Embarrassed, I pressed a hand to my belly and followed the demon out of the gallery.

The moment I stepped foot back into the hallway, something big and dark jumped at me, pushing me back.

I yelled as I fell and hit my head hard on the floor.

I blinked fast, trying to fight the black spots in my visions, and all I saw were the sharp teeth snapping inches from my face.