Page 49 of Cinder's Trial

The very thought boiled his rage rather than his fear because he refused to give in to that kind of despair. She had to be alive.

And I will find her.

“I’m going in the water,” he stated, stripping his shirt.

“To do what? There’s nothing there,” Hannah insisted, waving her hand at the pool. He could have counted the tiles the water shone so clear.

“Maybe what we see is an illusion.” The Grimm Effect could play tricks on the mind.

“What if it takes you too?” Hannah showed a rare worry.

“Then at least I’ll know what happened to Cinder.” His sweet princess. He’d been hard-pressed to leave her that morning. The feelings inundating his entire being had taken him by storm. They began the first moment they met, weeks ago. He’d seen her slight figure hunched over a keyboard as she worked diligently, chewing her bottom lip adorably, looking intense with concentration. His attraction had only grown. Not just because of her looks but her intelligence. She’d been more than useful on his recent missions, gathering intel that he’d have thought impossible. Guiding them in the right direction. But what cemented it? The way she stood up to him—him and no one else. While she did her job competently and firmly, she tended to be easygoing with everyone except him. Unlike so many, she didn’t fear him. He didn’t intimidate her.

It only made him want her more.

He'd fought his interest in her, had to because she deserved better than a damaged Knight. But this latest task that put them in close proximity… It had been too much for him to resist. How could he say no when she kissed him? How could he walk away when she brought him such pleasure?

How could she be gone?

The air suddenly sizzled unnaturally. Even as he yelled, “Incoming,” he drew his gun, ready to shoot.

A woman appeared, the type you might call ageless with her fairly smooth skin yet so thin it could have been parchment, her hair gray and white. The lady, whom he’d met before, wore a poufy gown of pastel yellow that he rated almost as ridiculous as the tiny tiara that matched the wand she held. Weirder than Agatha suddenly appearing, the fact she appeared to float above the pool deck.

“What do you want? Where’s Cinder?” Because surely someone who could appear and disappear at will had something to do with his missing princess.

“Hello to you too, Sir Knight.”

Hannah chirped, “Holy shit, it’s Cinder’s godmother.”

“I’m aware who it is,” he growled. “And I’m asking again, where is Cinder?”

“I’m afraid that’s a tad complicated.” Godmother sank to the floor, her lips downturned. “It’s also why I’m here. I am sorry to inform you that Cinder is gone.”

“She’s dead?” Hannah gasped.

“Oh dearie no. She’s alive,” Agatha quickly corrected, offering him some relief.

“Where has Cinder gone?” he asked.

“Not somewhere you can easily fetch her I fear.”

“Listen, lady, would you stop talking in circles and answer the fucking question.” Levi lost patience as they wasted time dancing around the subject.

“Goodness, you lack manners. It’s kind of refreshing. I’m so used to people either fawning over me or making ridiculous wishes that it’s kind of nice.” Godmother beamed.

“My manners are going to get worse if you don’t start talking,” he growled.

“In that case, let me get to the point. It appears Cinder has been taken by a Nixie. The same one you escaped so long ago.”

He blinked as he digested this bit of information. Then exploded. “What the fuck do you mean Nicola took her?”

“I’m afraid I’m not clear on the details. Simply that the Nixie somehow managed to create a gateway to this pool, allowing her to kidnap Cinder and take her back to her lair.”

“Fuck me, that isn’t good.” Levi recalled all too well the games Nicola used to make him play. Forcing him to hold his breath underwater to strengthen his lungs. Withholding nourishment, thus forcing him to scrounge, which, in turn, made him self-sufficient. Tossing him into the waters to fight sharks and eels, which contributed to his strength. Cinder would never survive!

“Agreed, but I don’t know what we can do. The Nixie is beyond my ability to reach.” Agatha apologized.

“But not out of mine,” he muttered. Levi stripped off his shirt and kicked off his boots.

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