Page 50 of A Lost Light

Aahil rolled his eyes and released her, looking unimpressed with her display of emotion. “It's linked to you?”

She nodded fiercely. “She stole a part of me. My essence.” She clutched a hand to her chest. “I need it back. Please.”

Bella held out her hand to Elijah. “Give it here, we'll look into releasing her.”

But Elijah made no move to hand the artifact to my sister. His glowing blue eyes met mine and I knew what he was asking.Whether it was because of the way I was linked to him through my bond with Dyre, or just because I knew him so well… I knew he didn't want the rebels to have this artifact. And I knew what he would think was the correct way to handle this situation. He was an angel, after all.

I nodded to him. “Do it.”

Bella probably thought I was telling him to give it to her. To hand over the old magic that contained so much suffering and just trust that she wasn't going to use it for her own gain. This was where she and I differed, I thought. I wasn'tsureif I should be so mistrustful. But my gut told me this was the right thing to do. And I listened to my gut.

Elijah nodded back, then he cupped his free hand around the amulet and began murmuring a string of words I couldn’t understand. Angelic language. The precursor to human Latin. His aura swelled with magic and his hands were encased in pure light.

Bella swore and took a step toward Elijah. “No!”

But she was met by a wall of looming necromancer, flanked by a boogeyman, a massive gargoyle, and a water weaver who pushed calm into her like a drug.

The light flared, and hundreds—maybe thousands—of glimmering motes of light swarmed outward and upward, dispersing into the night sky like reverse shooting stars. I sucked in a breath at the poignant beauty of it. At the way the sick energy turned into euphoria. Freedom.

The light died out and Elijah reached past Dyre's shoulder, holding out the now useless and discharged amulet toward Bella. She snorted and batted his hand away, clearly no longer interested in the dead piece of dull metal. “Moron.”

I was right. She hadn't wanted to destroy the thing. I wasn't sure what shehadplanned to do with it. But I knew this. Ineeded to be wary, or I might end up like that locket—just another tool in her arsenal.

“It was filled with trappedsouls, Bella,” I said firmly.

She nodded. “I know. I just wanted to study it first.Thenrelease them.”

I could find several issues with that. But I chose to sidestep the argument. For now. Elijah looped the empty necklace around his neck and turned to the air jinn, who was pressing her hands to the center of her chest and crying. “Better?” he asked with a soft smile.

She nodded fervently. Then she darted a quick look around at all of us, probably realizing she was free. A strong breeze kicked up and swirled around her, and she was gone.

“Be smarter and don't get caught again!” Aahil called to the retreating breeze.

I shook my head at him. “Don't be cruel. You have no idea how she was captured.”

He crossed his arms over his chest and gave me his most searing glare. “Perhaps not. But Idoknow it probably involved trusting a damned witch.”

I heaved a sigh and ignored his bitter words. I knew they weren't really aimed at me. His words were a warning directed at the other witches we were currently mingling with. Or a reminder to me. Either way, Aahil's resentment and paranoia might be well-founded for all I knew. I should keep that in mind.

“Tie her up and ward her,” Bella said with a nod toward the witch leader. “We'll question her somewhere else, where we don’t have to worry about the SA or more of her coven showing up any second.”

I wanted to protest that. Part of me thought I should be there to see and hear everything myself, rather than trusting my sister and getting my information second hand. But I firmly squashed that part down deep inside me. I didnotwant to get any moreinvolved in this crap. This wasn't my war. It wasn't my problem. Not my circus, not my monkeys. I just needed to let the rebels and the government people handle it. I had my own issues to deal with. Like how long the pocket world was going to hold up and where we could relocate in Magea and still stay out of this mess. How to keep myself and my new family alive and well, and out of the spotlight.

I had a sinking feeling that I was lying to myself. That therewasno way to keep us all safe, return to the real world,andstay out of this impending war between witches, the supernatural governing body, and the rebels. But goddess damn it, why should it bemyresponsibility? Why? Didn't I have enough bullshit to deal with already?

My insulin pump vibrated a silent alarm, and I looked down at the screen to see my blood sugar was low.AndI needed to refill my insulin cartridge soon. From my dwindling supply of insulin back in the pocket world.

Bella met my eyes as her people trussed up the unconscious cult leader. “River would probably like his stuff, since he seems to be staying with you now.”

I glanced at the Jaguar, and he slunk over to rub against my leg, letting out a loud, rumbling purr. I ran a hand over his sleek head without pausing to think whether that might be offensive. “Um. He says he wants to stay. But honestly, it's probably safer for him here.”

He growled.

Bella shrugged. “Nowhere out here is safe anymore, little sis. Go back to your hidey hole and take my best spy with you.” Then she smiled. “I'll send his stuff through to you. And all the insulin I can get my hands on.”

I studied her earnest expression for a moment, still not sure what to think of this woman who was my sister. “Thanks,” I finally said. She had just saved an important witch and wasleading a good cause. But she had also tried to snag a nasty and powerful magical artifact for herself. And now she was making sure I had what I needed to live hidden away in my safe little bubble.

Then again… shehadjust given me her “best spy.” I wasn't sure if that was a gift to me, a kindness toward River, or a way to keep tabs on me via said spy.

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