Page 3 of Wicked Angel
With that, they all began to disperse, leaving the air feeling emptier, colder. Topaz vanished through a portal cast by Aspen, and the hunters slipped out the door.
After Levi locked with Aspen’s magic and showed him where the warehouse was located, the warlock opened another portal for us. “Ready when you are,” he said.
I forced myself to stand, even though every movement felt like my body was protesting. Levi’s arm was around my waist before I could stumble, steadying me. I hated how much I needed the support.
“Let’s get this over with,” I muttered, and together, we stepped through.
The world twisted, and then we were in a different kind of darkness—vast, open, and cold. The warehouse loomed around us, its high ceilings and bare concrete floors echoing every breath, every step. Dust motes swirled in the faint beams of moonlight that slipped through the high windows.
While Levi turned on some lights, Aspen, Keeran, Lacey, and Abbie moved quickly, their hands tracing symbols in the air, murmuring incantations that glowed with soft light. Magic crackled around us, the air growing thicker as the containment circle took shape—layers of protection designed to keep me in and my magic contained.
The energy settled around me, a heavy, oppressive weight that pushed against my skin. I clenched my fists, fighting the urge to lash out against it, to test its strength. But I knew better than that.
Keeran lowered his hands, the final symbols fading into the air, and let out a breath. “That’s the best we can do. It’ll hold for a while.”
Aspen nodded, looking more worn than I’d ever seen him. “Call if you need us.”
Keeran glanced at Levi, then back at me. “Try not to get into much trouble.”
Levi’s expression didn’t change, but there was something hard in his eyes. “I’ve got it covered.”
With that, the rest of them left, one by one. Abbie and Lacey returned to the Grand Eternity Hall to research, and Aspen and Keeran vanished into another portal, leaving the warehouse eerily quiet.
Wyatt and Farrah slipped out last, promising to return with dinner. I barely had the energy to acknowledge their departure.
When the door closed behind them, leaving only Levi and me, the silence pressed in on me, thick and suffocating. I sank down onto an empty crate, burying my face in my hands.
The cuffs felt like chains around my wrists, and the containment circle thrummed against my senses, a constant reminder that I was trapped.
Levi crouched in front of me, his hands gentle as he reached out to rub slow circles on my back. “I know this is hell for you, sweetheart. But you’re not alone, okay?”
The warmth of his touch seeped into my skin, easing the ache in my muscles. But my magic twisted at the contact, surging up with a ferocity that nearly made me cry out. It lashed out, a whip of energy that sliced through the air, and Levi barely managed to jump back in time.
The force slammed into the circle’s wall, exploding on contact. Levi and I flew in opposite directions, and the entire building shook.
I hit my back on the other side of the magical barrier and fell to my knees with a gasp, pain jarring my bones, and my breath failing me.
“Levi,” I whispered, trying to crawl to him.
But he was already up, shaking dirt from his dark clothes. “I’m okay, sweetheart.” His jaw worked hard. “You’ve got to be careful.”
I sucked in a shaky breath. “I didn’t mean to—I just?—”
“I know. Just… try to breathe, okay? Focus on something else.”
I nodded, even though it felt like my head was spinning. Sitting back on my feet, I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to focus on anything but the roiling chaos inside me.
After a moment, I heard Levi moving around the warehouse. He pulled something heavy across the concrete floor, then the sound of fabric rustling reached my ears. When I finally managed to look up, he was arranging an old, dirty set of chaise lounges—one on my side of the circle, the others just outside the line. He also brought over crates of varying sizes.
“What are you doing?” I asked, my voice rough with exhaustion.
He shot me a quick smile, the familiar crooked one that almost made me forget how messed up everything was. “Trying to make this place a little less miserable. Figured if you’re stuck here, might as well be comfortable.”
I whispered, “Thank you,” and felt absolutely helpless while he did all the work.
Then, when he was done, Levi sat down on the closest chaise lounge, he said, “The curse with the book is broken.”
My eyes widened. “What? How?”
