Page 10 of Magic Unrestrained

But as he opened his mouth to speak, the shadows in the room seemed to grow darker, and the weight of the danger pressing down on them was palpable.

Whatever was coming, it was coming fast. And there was no time to waste.

Gage swallowed, his voice low and tense. “We’re going to need more than just hunches and guesses to figure this out.”

Savannah nodded, her gaze fierce and determined. Then, without a word, she turned and walked out into the night. Before he could follow, she was gone.

Chapter

Five

SAVANNAH

Savannah moved through the dimly lit streets of New Orleans with purpose, her heart pounding with both anticipation and frustration. She had left Gage at the club without much explanation—she couldn’t afford to let herself get tangled up with him, not with the way he looked at her, the way his presence drew her in. But now, she needed answers. Answers she knew she wouldn’t get from him, not yet—maybe not ever.

Zephyr Windchaser, one of her informants in the supernatural underground, had mentioned that he would be attending a rave tonight, deep in the bowels of the city. If anyone had his finger on the pulse of what was going on, it would be Zephyr. He was the only person she could think of who might have the information she needed about the strange occurrences at The Obsidian Lounge. If there was anyone she trusted to provide insight, it was Zephyr.

She made her way to the old warehouse district, her sharp eyes picking out the faint glow of neon lights seeping from behind cracked windows and graffiti-covered doors. The thump of bass-heavy music reverberated through the ground as she approached, growing louder with every step.

Savannah wasn’t surprised by the location—an underground rave was the perfect cover for all sorts of illicit activity, supernatural or otherwise. It was the kind of place where demons, fae, vampires, and even humans came to lose themselves, to forget the rules of the world above and indulge in their vices.

She slipped through the crowd at the entrance, using a bit of glamour to avoid the bouncers. Her wings itched beneath her skin, always wanting to break free when she was around this much energy, but she kept them hidden. For now, she needed to blend in.

The warehouse was a riot of color and sound. Multicolored lights flashed overhead, illuminating the sweaty, writhing bodies on the dance floor. Music throbbed from the speakers, so loud it made her bones vibrate. The air was thick with the scent of sweat, alcohol, and something darker—something that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.

She scanned the crowd, looking for Zephyr. His shock of platinum hair would make him stand out, even in a place like this.

After a few minutes, she spotted him near the back, lounging against the wall with a drink in hand, his silver hair catching the strobe lights. Zephyr was tall and lean, with an ethereal quality to him that made him seem otherworldly even in a room full of supernaturals. His eyes, the color of storm clouds, gleamed with amusement as he watched the chaos unfold around him.

Savannah pushed her way through the crowd and made her way to his side. "Zephyr."

He glanced at her, a lazy smile curling his lips. "Savannah Duvall. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I need information," she said, getting straight to the point. "About The Obsidian Lounge. Something’s not right there."

Zephyr arched a brow, his eyes flickering with interest. "Oh? And here I thought you were working there and had come to invite me to be your guest."

"In your dreams," she said with a smile. "I’m working there undercover. But there’s more going on than I expected. Dark rituals, disappearances. Something big is coming, and I need to know what you’ve heard."

Zephyr took a slow sip of his drink, his gaze thoughtful. "While The Obsidian Lounge is new, the spot where it’s located has always been a place of power. Always. But recently..." He trailed off, his eyes scanning the room as if checking for eavesdroppers. "There have been whispers—darker things moving through the city. Old powers waking up. That thing your sister took on—the computer hybrid? —bad juju. It’s disturbed the things that lie beneath."

Before Savannah could press him for more details, a sudden shift in the atmosphere made her skin prickle. She turned just in time to see a group of figures pushing their way through the crowd, their eyes glowing with an unnatural light.

Demons. They weren’t big, but still.

"Shit," Savannah muttered under her breath.

The demons moved fast, their presence sending ripples of fear through the crowd. People screamed and scattered, some too drunk or high to realize what was happening, others too scared to move. Savannah’s hand flew to the dagger hidden beneath her jacket as she stepped in front of Zephyr.

"Stay behind me," she ordered.

Zephyr chuckled, unfazed. "As if I would get my hands dirty."

The demons lunged at the crowd, their claws slashing through the air as they tore into anyone in their path. Savannah didn’t hesitate. She moved with deadly precision, her blade flashing as she blocked the nearest demon’s attack, driving herdagger into its chest. The demon howled in pain, its black blood splattering across the floor as it disintegrated into ash.

The others turned on her, their eyes gleaming with malice. Savannah’s fae instincts kicked in, her wings unfurling from her back in a burst of shimmering light. The crowd gasped, but there was no time for subtlety now.

She dodged the demons’ attacks with ease, her movements fluid and graceful as she struck out with her dagger. One by one, the demons fell, their bodies dissolving into nothingness as her blade found its mark. But more kept coming, crawling out from the shadows like cockroaches.

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