Page 49 of Angel Lost

“It isn’t strong enough?” I snatch up Zephyr’s hand again and look at him. Really look. He’s worn out. His eyes lack their usual sparkle. And…is that a gray streak in his hair?

“He didn’t die,” Farrell says, and Zephyr pulls his lips into what passes for a smile.

I haul myself up and smack Farrell on the chest. “Die?” It comes out a squeak.

Farrell stares me down. “Zephyr spent a day in the hospital. He was still there when you got back. Not that you checked on him, or any of us.”

I close my eyes, but all I can see behind my eyelids is Zephyr on the ground.

Dead.

Kai drags Zephyr up by his shirt collar.

“Angel-face didn’t die though,” he says. “No one died. Why are you all so melodramatic?”

I drape Zephyr’s arm over my shoulders and get a waft of his vanilla-y scent as he leans gingerly on me. His weight catches me by surprise, and I brace, my ribs aching.Holy hags. I really took a beating. Have to be better. Stronger.

Chano heaves a sigh before yanking Zephyr out of my grip. He loops an arm around Zephyr’s back. It looks for all the world like a friendly hug, but his biceps bulge, giving away just how much weight he’s taking. More than Zephyr leaned on me.

“So…our bond is weak?”

Zephyr levels me with a glance. “We lost Naeve, you won’t accept Kai, and we made you our slave. So yes. Yes it is. And you want to weaken it further by going away,” he grits out.

“It’s for half the week only.” I glance at the others. “I’ll still see more of you in school than I saw of you over the summer.”

I can’t keep the hurt or anger out of my voice, and to a man they take an involuntary step back. All but Kai. But then Kai was here. With me. And I still chose…

Quickly, I scoop Kai’s pen up, signing the admission paperwork with a flourish. The document vanishes in awhooshof magic.

Chano drops Zephyr with a snarl, turning on Kai. “This is your fault, fae.”

Chapter Sixteen: Lorelei

The arch of the portal looms ahead, the boys silent at my back. They might not be talking, but they are seeing me off. All of them. The atmosphere is like ice. But they’ve been warned: one peep and they won’t hear from me the whole time I’m there.

I pause in front of the arch, not trusting myself to speak. It’s only a few days. This lump in my throat is ridiculous. The boys are quiet, and we say muted goodbyes.

“I’m proud of you,” Val announces to the world. “You go there and show them what you got. Get yourself ascended and tell the rest of us what we can expect.” She slaps me on the shoulder, narrowing her eyes at the boys. Daring them to voice concerns.

Zephyr stands, blocking the archway, his arms folded inside a ridiculously white hoodie.

“Don’t, Zephyr, please. It’s decided.”

His hand hesitantly skims my arm. “I can’t pull your aether except in an emergency.” He shuffles awkwardly. “You’ll need to avoid suspicion without my help. I-I’m sorry. Please don’t think I don’t want to…” His eyes fix on the ground at our feet.

Idiot boy. That’s what he’s been so worried about? I fling my arms around him, giving a squeeze, then step back quickly before I tear up. “I don’t expect that, Zephyr. It made you so ill.” He flashes me a hesitant smile. “I’ve got the others to help, and it’s not as if I’ll be connected to monitors like in the trials. So as long as I’m careful…”

Zephyr freezes for the briefest of moments. “Yes, of course. The rest of the guys will be more…useful.”

He gives my arm a pat and steps back. I reach for him, but Kai steers me forward.

“She hates tardiness. Just get there, keep your head down, and don’t do anything stupid.”

I lock eyes with Zephyr and nod before turning and stepping through the arch.

The now familiar lurch tugs at my feet and I swallow hard. I didn’t fall this time. Point to Lorelei.

It’s bright on the other side. Not priest level bright. A warm, friendly, glowing bright. A blue slate path, softly lift by discreet lanterns, leads the way through lush greenery. Tall bamboo, flowering shrubs, and low-lying ferns sway in the breeze.

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