Page 8 of Fated Angel

Exhilarating.

And then it’s gone, just like the first time. Gabby leans back, holding the irregular shard, glad her angelic essence is strong enough to negate the power of the obsidian. She looks up at Colt. “Two down.”

He glances from the stone to her. “Is everything okay?”

Gabby leaps to her feet, gripping the stone tightly. “Of course.” She licks her lips, reminding herself Colt is astute, along with the fact he has nothing to worry about. She’s stronger than the obsidian. “Do you think we can get three in one night?”

Colt’s lips twitch. “Only one way to find out.”

The energy is back, thrumming through Gabby’s veins. She closes her eyes, using the energy to harness the spell. This time it’s easier, as if the obsidian is hungry to be reunited. A flutter of a frown creases her brow. It’s almost as if it’s the one in control…

But then an image crashes into her mind, vibrant and detailed.

Gabby’s eyes fly open. “I know where it is.”

Dawn is brushing the sky a dusky purple when they land before the coastal caverns of Lebanon, a harsh blend of crashing waves and jagged rocks. The sea breeze carries the smell of salt and…magic.

Colt frowns, sensing it too. “We can’t afford to get over-confident.”

Gabby nods, even as she bounces on her toes. The third stone will take them to almost half of the obsidian. This is going far better than she could have imagined.

They venture into the largest cave, sea water splashing their ankles. The sand slopes up and as they enter, they find themselves on dry land again. Deep, rhythmic chants hang in the oppressive air, telling them the cult is close. The sound grows quickly as the cave opens out into a soaring chamber, members in dark robes circling it.

The third stone sits in the center, glowing brighter than any of the others.

Gabby strides in, uninterested in harnessing the element of surprise. “We don't want to fight,” she tells them, even as she admits to herself it’s a lie. “Just give us the shard.”

The cultists, undeterred, chant louder as they keep their gaze on Gabby and Colt, their voices rising in a sinister crescendo. Suddenly, dark tendrils of magic snake out from their midst, forming a barrier around the shard.

“That’s new,” Gabby comments, her eyes narrowing.

“They have powerful magic,” Colt agrees with a growl.

With a graceful sweep of her hand, Gabby summons a radiant shield. “Annoying.”

Leaping up high, she snaps out her wing as she unleashes beams of celestial light, striking down several cult members and sending them sprawling. Colt charges into the fray. He lashes out with his fists, his feet, his wings, cleaving through the cult’s defenses. The cavern echoes the cries of those who dare to think they can defeat him.

The barrier of dark smoke parts, and a woman steps out, her hands outstretched as more tendrils of magic pour out.

Colt lands beside Gabby. “A witch,” he snarls.

That would explain the magic. “You’ve chosen the wrong side,” Gabby spits.

The witch shakes her head, stopping at the edge of the smoky barrier. “Fool,” she says, her eyes flashing as the smoke curls around her skirts. “Vladimir isn’t the enemy. Neither is the cult.”

“He’s twisted your mind,” Colt snarls.

“And yours is too blind to see the truth,” the witch snaps back. “We're trying to stop something far worse from happening. We need the obsidian’s power to do that.”

Gabby narrows her eyes, stepping closer. “You expect us to believe that?”

The witch nods, her gaze unwavering. “It doesn’t matter what you believe. All you need to understand is we'll do whatever it takes to keep those stones from falling into the wrong hands.”

“We obtained the first two stones with little trouble.” Gabby flexes her wings as she smirks. “The third one won’t be any different.”

The witch's lips curl into a knowing smile. “You may be smart with spells, angel, but you don't truly understand the power of the stones. The third stone is special. It’s the glue that holds the others together. It contains the most central essence, the core of the obsidian's power.” She lifts her hands as more dark smoke pours out of her palms. “Without it, the other stones are useless.”

Colt shifts his weight, his hands clenching into fists. “Then we’ll be getting it, right now.”

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