Page 4 of Fallen Demon

“Oh-kay,” I said, confused.

“She loves reading those diaries,” Abbie explained. “It’s her way of getting closer to our mother.”

I nodded, understanding that. With a deep inhale, I stood from the chair. “Should we start, then?”

Abbie lifted a finger. “Let’s say we gather all the books about the underworld, we make an extensive list of places where Levi could be, and then we go to these places to find him. Do you think we’ll waltz into the underworld and waltz out? There will be dangers in every corner, and your magic is still a mess. What are you going to fight with?”

“Well, my plans to train went down the drain,” I said, harsher than I wanted.

“I strongly suggest you leave the researching to Maggie, Lacey, and me,” Abbie said. “I’ll even ask Gwen and Britt to help to go faster, but you should go to DuMoir Castle. When we find something, we’ll come for you.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but Lacey had the same determined expression as Abbie.

A list of arguments formed in my head, but I could also see their point. What if we ran into a horde of demons and had to fight? My messy magic could be what put us in danger, hurt Lacey again, or someone else, and I couldn’t have that on my conscience.

I groaned. “Fine.”

2

This time,instead of asking Abbie to open a portal for me to Boston, I called Queen Thea. She and Abbie talked about it and agreed that they could do something together.

So, the next morning, after we had breakfast together with the entire family, Abbie and Thea connected through some witchy magic, and Abbie was able to open a portal right at DuMoir’s front steps, even though she had never been there before.

“Next time, I’ll be able to do it by myself,” Abbie said before hugging me and going back to the Grand Eternity Hall.

I should have known Thea wouldn’t be the only one waiting for me. Standing beside her in front of the castle’s open doors were Prince Killian and Lavinia—I first met the happy, mated couple when they rescued me from some warlocks who were intent on putting me into a magical box and syphoning my powers.

After that, we met again while helping Shane and Raika defeat the higher demon Paimon and reclaim the Nightshade pack.

They had quickly become my friends.

And several months ago, I left the Nightshade without a word.

“Ariella, welcome back to DuMoir Castle,” Thea said, giving me a warm hug.

When I turned to Lavinia, she punched my shoulder. “Do you have any idea how worried we were about you?”

“Sorry,” I muttered.

“Are you okay?” Killian asked.

I nodded as I glanced at them. They seemed so beautiful and happy together, it almost made me want to run again. Killian was a handsome vampire prince, and Lavinia was a half witch, half demon hunter, who had turned into a vampire not long ago. They had met when Lavinia accidentally released Killian from a box—the same kind the warlocks wanted to put me in.

“I will be,” I said, almost automatically.

Thea took my arm and tugged me forward. “Come on in.”

We walked into the castle and I couldn’t help but glance around in wonder, though I had been here a handful of times before. The foyer alone was as large as Levi’s entire apartment, and I gawked at the smooth floors, the fascinating chandelier, the grandiose stone staircase, and the three-story ceiling.

“Are you hungry? Do you need anything?” Thea asked, guiding me farther into the castle.

I shook my head. “I just need Zadkiel.”

“I’m afraid he’s still away,” she said. “But he sent word early this morning. He should be here in a couple of days.”

For those couple of days, what would I do?

“Don’t worry, I can train with you until he comes,” Lavinia said. “It won’t be the same, but we can start with simple spells.”

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