Page 26 of Fallen Angel

Hannah calmly strode toward them. The wind rolled against the ground, brushing debris over her feet.

Callan obstructed her path to Nathaniel and yanked the book from her arms. But she didn’t let go.Senties dolorum,the book whispered to Hannah. Without giving it a second thought, she repeated the words. “Senties dolorum.”

Callan flew backward and crashed to the ground. His entire body seized in pain. His teeth grinded against each other. He squinted in agony, a few small tears slipping out from under his eye lashes.

Hannah’s chest constricted at whatever she just said. Her eyes shifted between Callan and the book that sat harmlessly in her hands.

“Mara may not be pleased that you were reborn, but she’ll be happy to know that you can no longer resist her persuasion.” Nathaniel chuckled to himself and rubbed his hands together.

The closer Hannah stepped toward Nathaniel, something didn’t feel right. She looked back at Callan and felt sick at the sight of his body thrashing on the ground. Andshedid that to him, by simply speaking some words—words the spell book provided her.

She snapped out of her trance. She chose to ignore the book, no matter how compelled she felt to comply. She threw it back to Callan, and his body relaxed.

Nathaniel’s eyes narrowed. His hands balled into fists at his sides.

Callan opened his eyes and breathed heavily, a frail smile appearing on his face.

Hannah took his hand and helped him to his feet. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

“Do not apologize. You repelled the book’s charm—hercharm. I knew you could.” Callan smiled down at Hannah, both pride and affection in his gaze. Empowerment overwhelmed her. While she had felt helpless for so long, this was the first time she noticed a glimmer of strength within herself.

She couldn’t fixate on this for long, however, because Nathaniel was already racing toward them—rushing for the book. It sat on the ground next to Callan’s feet.

Hannah swooped it up in her arms, laid a palm against the black leather, and positioned herself in front of Callan, determined to block Nathaniel’s path.

“Senties dolorum,” she declared, but nothing happened. Nathaniel slowed and broke into more laughter. Hannah’s sense of empowerment disappeared.

“The book accessed your power for that spell—Mara’s spell,” Callan explained. “You shan’t be able to replicate it on your own. Not without the book’s say-so.”

“What about you?” Hannah asked, urgency in her voice. Nathaniel tauntingly stepped closer.

“I’ve never been strong enough for one of Mara’s old language spells,” he whispered from behind her.

Hannah didn’t know whether this meant that she was exceptionally powerful, or if Mara’s grimoire could compel any witch to do its bidding. If Hannah was truly powerful, however, she would have been able to perform the spell without the book’s help. Her mind burned with questions and thoughts about magic that seemed completely illogical.

Nathaniel was mere inches from Hannah when he bared his fangs and lowered his gaze to the book. Hannah threw it down the cliff path behind her and Callan, putting as much space as possible between Nathaniel and Mara’s spells. She thrust her palms against Nathaniel’s chest, hoping her hands would spark, but nothing happened. Nathaniel shoved Hannah into Callan. As Callan steadied her, Nathaniel blurred with speed to the book.

He reached the grimoire, picked it up, and smiled. “I wonder how Mara will reward me for rescuing her most prized possession,” he said.

Callan lunged behind him and placed his hands on the sides of Nathaniel’s head. “Be still. Drop the book,” he commanded.

Nathaniel released a deep growl from low in his throat. “Her compulsion is stronger than yours, Callan. You know I can’t disobey.”

“Try,” Callan urged. “Drop the book and flee this place. Get as far away from Mara as possible. Remember a time before her—before I brought you to her. You were good. You still can be.”

“I can’t,” Nathaniel hissed, his pale eyes shifting back and forth.

“Yes, you can.” Hope filled Callan’s eyes, but his conviction didn’t last long.

“I don’t want to.”

Nathaniel fought against Callan’s compulsion, too far gone to be saved.

Callan’s face fell. In one swift motion, Callan twisted his hands and snapped Nathaniel’s neck with a loudcrack.

Hannah gasped as he fell to the ground.

“Come,” Callan said. “Grab the book. We must leave.”

---