Page 150 of Anchor

The man didn’t hesitate for the slightest second. “I give you my word in front of my people. All debt to me will be paid in full the moment you hand that bracelet to Hakim.”

Goddess, can it be?Would it really be that simple?

Of course, it would—it was colorful magic and I was so damn glad I stole it from the Vault. Right now, I thanked my lucky stars that I had it, that I could trade it for Taland’s life.

I didn’t hesitate, either. The moment he said those words and I realized he meant them, I raised my hand and called for fire this time, just to give the whole thing a more dramatic effect. I really wanted him towantthat bracelet enough that he’d want us out of his hair right away as soon as I gave it to him.

The colors of the rainbow gathered, came out of me through the bracelet all at once—what a relief. The flames remained, bright and orange, so much like what my magic used to be before this madness began.

I imagined how we’d walk out of this place, back to that house, outside, through that neighborhood. I imagined how Seth and I would carry Taland and everyone would be looking at usbut we wouldn’t care. I imagined how we’d go to the car, get in and drive away, and how many healing spells I’d call for Taland until he wasn’t bleeding or bruised anymore.

I imagined and imagined and imagined…

“That is quite something,” said the Devil, the fire making his eyes burn orange. He looked…greedyjust now. Almost envious, and that’s why I put the fire out. “I’ll admit, I’ve never seen colorful magic from close up. And I didn’t think it was possible, not anymore.”

“The bracelet for Taland’s life,” I whispered. “Just like you promised.”

The Devil met my eyes again. Smiled. Put his hands in his pockets and nodded.

“Give it to Hakim and he will make sure you’re out of my lair safe and soundly—just like I promised.”

“All three?—”

“All three of you,” he cut me off.

I pulled the bracelet off without looking away from him, aware that he wasn’t even there, yet I could feel his presence exactly as if he was.

“I am curious to know, though,” he whispered as he watched me step back. “Your grandmother doesn’t know about you…does she?”

The way he said that word—grandmother.The way he looked when he asked me that question, the way he paused. There was just something there, but I wouldn’t even know how to ask about it.

Goddess, I had never lived a stranger moment in my life.

“She doesn’t,” I said and reached out my hand to give the bracelet to Hakim, who was patiently waiting with both his hands out.

Then something exploded.

Chapter 30

Rosabel La Rouge

Everything happened so fast.

The door exploded and they threw Taland, Seth, Bes and the other guard to the ground within a second. My instincts had already taken over and I was moving before I realized it. So many details were lost to me, but when the ground stopped shaking and I managed to keep my balance, I ran to Taland and fell to my knees, grabbed him and pulled him to the side until I saw his face. I could have sworn his left eye wasn’t so swollen anymore, and he was perfectly alert, pushing himself up when I pulled him until he was sitting on the floor, squeezing my hand tightly.

“Keep the bracelet,” he whispered under his breath, and he looked fucking terrified.

“Breathe,” I kept saying. “Just breathe—you’re okay, you’re okay…”

“Keep the bracelet—look at me.” His cold hand wrapped around my face.

Dust everywhere and Seth was already on his feet, and someone was laughing, too, but all I could focus on was Taland.

“Keep the bracelet.Useit.”

“Taland,” I said, because there was no time to say everything that was on my mind, and to show him how scared I was, how angry that he’d come here without me, that he’d left me, that he hadn’t told me, howhappyI was that he was alive, that I’d gotten to him on time.

The look in his eyes shifted the next second and he squeezed my face between his fingers. “Survive.”It was a damn order.

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