Page 63 of Light Magic

“Can it hurt her?” Levi asked.

Evelyn shook her head. “No, it shouldn’t. It is her magic.”

“But it can feel strange for a little while,” Abbie said. “It’s like when you don’t exercise for several months, and then suddenly you’re back, and everything hurts and you’re weaker than before.”

“Yeah,” Evelyn said. She knelt beside Levi and looked at me. “Your magic will probably feel unstable for a while. I suggest you train so you can get used to it again.”

“And the magic to you,” Abbie added.

Evelyn nodded.

Levi’s eyes roamed over my face, my body. “Are you okay, sweetheart?”

I took another deep breath. This time, nothing really hurt, I just felt the soreness, but if I had understood what they were saying, that would stay until I started training again.

“I’m fine,” I said, my voice rough. “Help me up.”

In one swift movement, Levi supported my back and pulled me up. He kept one hand on my lower back as I glanced at everyone around me. “Thank you. Seriously, this means a lot to me.” I made a point to look directly at Kaz and Evelyn and hold their gazes for a few seconds. “Thank you.”

Evelyn smiled. “My pleasure.”

Kaz nodded. “This was in our interest too. I could feel the foreign magic in them. It bothered them, but I couldn’t take it out. It also never occurred to me that some of it was your magic.”

“I’m glad we helped each other, then,” I said.

“Are we done here?” Trolin asked, sounding bored.

Kaz looked at Evelyn and me.

“I think so,” I said.

“We are.” Kaz turned to the other two dragon shifters and the three of them picked up the eggs and ushered the little dragons. “We’re going home now.”

Kaz and the other dragon shifters released their leathery wings.

A sound like a rocket cutting through the air echoed through the island, and we all looked up as a dozen angels flew toward us at impressive speed.

Kaz turned to me, his eyes pained. “I have to keep them safe.”

“Go,” I told him. “Be safe.”

They pushed off and flew away, in the opposite direction from the angels. Though two of them broke off from the group and went after the dragons.

“No,” I whispered. I started calling my wings, but Levi was faster.

“I’ve got this,” he said as his wings appeared behind his back. He zoomed after them.

I felt divided, wanting to help, but the angels landed not fifteen feet from the rest of us. I recognized Julien, Izrail, and Mihael, who had been hunting me a few weeks ago. And right in the middle was Archangel Sariel. My father had been her mentor after she graduated from the academy. When my father died, Rhodes became her mentor.

“It has been a while, Ariella,” Sariel said with a friendly smile.

“Not long enough,” I said. “How did you find me?”

“We’ve been looking all over for you,” she said. “There are plenty of supernaturals helping.”

“Someone saw me,” I said.

She shook her head. “Actually, this time, I sensed your aura a few hours ago.”

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