Page 16 of Wicked Angel
We left the cave and the dragons stayed by its mouth. I glanced at him. “I don’t know your story, or how you came to be here, but the dragons and dragon shifters live in a hidden island nowadays. I know a dragon shifter, Kazrath. He’s hard to get ahold of, but I can give you his contact number if you want.”
The dragon shifter’s nostrils flared. “No.”
He turned and entered the cave again.
I stayed there for another moment, watching the dark cave. There was a story here, but I didn’t have time to dig through it, and apparently that wouldn’t be welcomed. So I followed the others to the forest's edge, where Aspen prepared to open a portal.
Aspen’s portal shimmered to life, and we crossed back to the warehouse, where the air was thick with tension. Even though I felt more control than I had in the last couple of hours, I rushed to the witch’s circle.
Everyone stood just outside the circle’s line, looking at the gem in my hand.
“We did it,” Lacey said.
“Good job, Maggie.” Abbey nudged the shoulder of her sister, who blushed instantly.
I looked at them all. “Thank you.”
“Step one down.” Levi pulled out his phone. “Now for step two.”
9
We arrived backat the warehouse late last night, exhausted and covered in dirt from our trek through the forest and our fight with the dragon shifter. My muscles ached, my head throbbed, and my magic still buzzed inside me, but all I could think about was sleep.
Aspen and Boise had left, and the witches had returned to the Great Eternity Hall for the night.
Taking another chance, I went to Levi’s apartment for a much needed shower, and immediately returned to the witch’s circle. Later, Levi had brought us a quick meal and we collapsed onto the chaise lounges.
Now, morning light filtered through the warehouse windows, casting a pale glow across the concrete floor. I watched the shadows shift as I reached for the cuffs. I usually didn’t wear them when inside the circle, but soon, I would need them.
Levi brought a small crossbody bag for me to put the crystal inside. I picked it up from the crate I had left it on last night and stared at it. Its green surface gleamed, shaped like a delicate shell, and for a moment, I let myself hope that this insane plan might actually work.
No, I couldn’t think like that. It would work!
With a sigh, I placed the crystal inside the bag and slung it around my shoulders.
I glanced around the warehouse. “Where’s everyone else?”
Last night, right after we came back from the forest, Levi had called Max and told him we were ready for the next step in our plan. Though he had insisted on going right away, Max argued it was late and we were probably tired and needed to rest.
Not that I would admit that out loud, but the demon hunter was right, of course.
“They should be here any minute now,” Levi said, glancing to the warehouse’s side entrance.
As if they had heard us, a shimmering portal appeared to our right and a moment later, a purple portal showed up on our left. Abbey, Lacey, Farrah, and Wyatt came from one, and Aspen, Boise, Max, and Rage came from the other one.
I expected the portal to close the moment they all came through, but it stayed open for a little longer … and someone else came through.
Jasmin.
Even when crossing the portal, she looked as regal and as bored as ever. The princess of the underworld made her demon hunter uniform seem like a dressing gown as she flipped her long red hair over her shoulder.
The portal faded and she looked at me. “I’m here.”
I almost rolled my eyes at her. “Thank you for coming.” I glanced at all of my friends. “To all of you.”
“No need to thank us,” Farrah said with a smile.
Max looked at Aspen. “I think we’re all here.”
