Page 103 of Angel Lost

They glance at one another.

“You might need to guide them through the ley lines.” They mutter among themselves, so high-pitched I can’t hear. “Please.” I grind my teeth. “I’ll owe you a whole day in the gardens.”

The hada who caught me rolling in the strawberries folds her arms. After what feels like an eternity, she holds up five fingers.

“Five? Oh, come on…Fine. Fine. Five days.”

She waggles a finger at me, raising an eyebrow.

“Five days plus the afternoon I owe,” I bargain.

She grins and quickly sends the hada with her off to different sectors of the college, presumably to pass the message on.

I pause, glancing over my shoulder at her. “Stay safe.”

I get as far as the next fork in the path before my phone vibrates. Screeching to a halt, I yank it out of my pocket. Chano.

“Chano? Are you okay?” I pant into the mic.

“Fine, you?”

“Yes. The others? Are you with them?” I push down my panic. They’re probably all together. I’ve missed multiple calls being stuck in the metal box that was the dean’s office.

“Only Farrell.”

“Shit. Zephyr was near the observatory. He looked out of it.”

“Again?” He growls, and I hold the phone away from my ear. “We’ll head there now.”

“Wait, listen. Send any students you meet toward the kitchens. The hada will guide them between the ley lines. The spell I did should keep the hellions out.”

“Got it. Meet at the observatory?”

“Heading there now.”

Zephyr, you idiot. I push my legs into a sprint, the muscles burning. If only he’d keep a phone on him.

I bolt along the paths, shouting at students as I go. Some of them are too dazed to take in what I’m saying, but those that understand start to herd everyone else toward the kitchens.

Thank the goddesses for ley lines, for my aether.

Chapter Thirty-six: Lorelei

A giant black dog charges at me, a manic glint in its eye. My wings explode from my back, scattering feathers as I brace for impact. For all the world, it looks like it’s straight from any one of the hellish dimensions—except, it’s wearing a pink tartan collar.

I slew to a halt. The dog pauses, licks my hands hopefully, then gallops off, snapping at hellions as it goes.

Shaking my head, I turn—straight into another furry nightmare. Up close, Davina was right. These hellions are not cute. Giant pleading eyes do nothing to offset the rows of teeth sinking into my ankle.

Pain flares up my leg. I kick, but it holds on, whipping its head side to side like a rabid terrier. Snarling, I yank my knife out and drive it straight between those big, stupid eyes. Twist. The jaw slackens. I shake it off.

Blackness oozes out of the puncture wounds in my ankle and down my tights. I squeeze until blood comes out. Not life-threatening.Move. Find Zephyr.

The closer I get to the observatory, the more hellions there are, and the more panicked the students. The tweed-wearing redhead shoulders her way between academy uniforms, clearly out of place. The human. She clenches a dog whistle between her teeth, blowing it like her life depends on the damn thing.

“Tiny. Tiny, get back here right this instant,” she bellows between whistles.

Tiny? Could it be? No…not that giant dog? Not my problem. I have to get to Zephyr.

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