Page 60 of Angel Lost

I bury my face in her hair, breathing her in like she’s the only thing keeping me tethered. My beautiful, stubborn, infuriating Aeternum. My curse, and my salvation.

“But you and Lottie hate each other,” I mutter against her skin.

She tuts like I’m being dramatic. “We don’t get along, Chano, but I don’t hate her. And she’s your sister.” Then, softer, like a blade sliding between my ribs—“And I love you.”

I pull back, hands firm on her arms, eyes locked on hers. “Sure about that?”

“Of course.”

I hesitate. “You don’t say it, not recently.”

Her palm smacks my chest. “You banished me.” A huff. “Anyway, our allegiance all came.”

I swing us both to face the others. I knew they were there. Three sets of feet. Kai. Zephyr. And…

My gaze lands on the freckly redhead. I blink. “Who the fuck is this?”

The girl tugs at her hair. “It’s me, Farrell,” she mutters, a blush creeping up her neck.

Hellfire.

I seize her—him—by the arm and haul him away from my men. “Are you out of your damn mind?” My voice drops to a snarl. “They’ll kill you, and I might not be able to stop them.”

Farrell just gives me this tight, knowing smile. He gets it. He knew exactly how thin the ice was before he stepped onto it.

I exhale hard. “Thanks,” I mutter.

A crash behind me—loud, sharp. I whirl, tail lashing, wings flaring wide.

Smoke.Mierda. My view blurs, shrouded in thick, curling gray plumes. Then Farrell—thecabronin a dress—flicks a finger, and the smoke peels away.

My chest goes tight.

Tio Mateo. Mid-cast. Aimed straight at Lorelei. Her hair is fried at the edges, little wisps of smoke curling up. He missed. Shit. He won’t miss twice.

Why isn’t she shielding?

Her fingers twitch, but nothing. No barrier. No shimmer of protection. Instead, the air around her warps, bending like heat off asphalt. Then—hellfire. She starts to vanish. Not all at once. Too slow. Her feet flicker, then her ankles. Like she’s sinking into something I can’t see.

What in Hades’s name is this?

Whatever she’s trying to do, it’s not fast enough.

Tio Mateo’s magic slams into her shoulder.

Lorelei’s eyes go wide. She staggers, sucking in a sharp breath, then suddenly, she’s back. No more flickering, no more heat haze. Just there, exposed.

Shit.

“Mateo, stand down!” I roar, already moving, already barreling for the bastard.

His eyes gleam—cold, mean. His hands rise again, readying.

I crash into Mateo, driving him back. But another bolt is already flying.

My head snaps up, gaze tracking the blast.

Zephyr and Kai are there, locking Lorelei between them, their shield flaring to life just in time. The magic slams into it and…it holds. Relief punches through me—fast, fleeting. Then my fists are back on Mateo, cracking against his jaw. Once. Again. Again.

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