Page 126 of De-Witched

“We?”

“Backup, man.”

Henry nodded sagely.

The last thing Gabriel wanted was these two there when he spoke with Leah, a front-row audience to whatever happened...but portalling would be faster than human travel.

He gave in. “Fine.”

“Where to?”

“The shelter.”

Henry had barely flicked his fingers before a shimmering portal whirled into existence. Gabriel didn’t waste time, hearing footsteps behind him as he strode in and out the other side.

What he saw had his stomach diving into his throat. Bastian and Henry both cursed as they exited and closed the portal, but Gabriel was already streaking toward the shelter, where smoke billowed out the broken windows in thick clouds.

“Henry!” he yelled. Henry’s specialty was fire magic. He could contain the blaze.

“I’m on it.”

As Bastian raised another shield, to keep the fire from spreading to the other buildings and also to keep humans from seeing too much, Henry braced both hands and began to work on the inferno. His hands shimmered white as he spat out a curse, strained. “Something’s wrong. It’s not natural. Gabriel! You can’t go in until we’ve managed it. Gabriel.”

He barely heard his friend as he crashed through the door. A wave of heat knocked him back and he threw up a magical barrier against the dancing flames, gritting his teeth against the jolt of pain. Even with the block, the heat was incredible and sweat slicked his skin as he barreled through the fire. Was Leah in here? Horrible scenarios ran though Gabriel’s head.

The animals, he thought in the next breath. Chuck. But as he turned down the first hallway, his eyes fell upon empty kennels and cages, their doors open.

Bastian and his telekinesis. He must have released them. Temporary relief made his head pound, not helped by the thickening smoke or the continued drain of magic. The heat intensified until it felt like his clothes could melt from him. Still, he forged ahead, needing to check each pen, unable to let it rest until he’d seen for himself that no animals were trapped in the blaze.

He nearly missed her. Later, it might make his heart stop to think of how close he’d been to passing by the kennel. The only reason he paused was because it was the only closed door. And there she was, curled up on the floor, pale, unconscious, blond curls splayed around her like a death shroud.

He might have screamed; his mouth moved but all he could hear was his heart throbbing wildly against his rib cage. He threw himself at the kennel door, yanking on it to get her out, to get her away. It wouldn’t budge. He applied pressure, feeling the burn in his biceps, triceps, shoulders. He threw all his magic at it, draining himself to the point where his teeth locked together. Nothing.

More sweat dripped and from somewhere in the building, something crashed. He vaguely heard Henry’s shouts amidst the roar of the fire. Remembered his friend’s words.

It’s unnatural.

Swallowing the dark fear, he placed a hand on the kennel door. Magic leaped at his palm like iron shavings to a magnet, forcing a bad taste into his mouth. Someone had sealed the door with a high-level spell. Who? Why?

His mind was a jumble of thoughts, not all of them making sense as he beat the door again, over and over and over, until his skin scraped away and blood bloomed. All outer walls had crumbled, every society manner that made up Gabriel Goodnight burned to ash. That was all he tasted as he finally braced his fists and let his head fall on the door. He stared at Leah with desperation.

Bastian and Henry could get her without issue, but neither were here, and the flames were licking closer. The air was thick with smoke and she was breathing it all in. She might already have suffocated.

The idea had something wild ripping at his insides, shredding him into something less than man. No. This wasn’t supposed to happen. He couldn’t let this happen.

An unnatural calm blanketed the panic. He couldn’t let this happen. Wouldn’t.

There was only one choice.

Part of him grieved, would grieve more when they were out and he had to face the consequences. But now he focused inside, sank his consciousness down until he reached the binding that held back his power. And, without hesitation, sliced through it.

His body arched, lifting into the air as magic flooded his body. It was ecstasy and torture as his cells rebonded with the power that had always been a part of him. His mouth opened on a silent scream as his body spasmed for endless seconds, until finally he crumpled to the floor.

Gabriel lay there for a blank moment, breathing hard until the lingering pain melted away. Then he lifted his head and pushed to his knees, his feet. Strength coursed through him and he barely broke stride as he focused on Leah’s cell, crushed his fist. The spell sealing the kennel door shattered.

He threw a barrier of protection around her instantly, lunging forward to gather her into his arms. Her head lolled as he stood; her chest didn’t move. Sick terror gripped him as he created a portal to outside.

Bastian shouted as Gabriel carried Leah through the portal, cradling her in his arms.

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