Page 4 of Wicked Angel
He shrugged. “I think it was when I went to the underworld and became …” He pressed his lips into a thin line. “Abbie thinks the book thought I was dead and the curse broke.”
I frowned. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because you had died, and since then we haven’t really stopped.” He looked at me with those dark eyes. “But I’m telling you now, sweetheart.”
“So you can’t grant wishes anymore?”
He shook his head. “Thankfully.”
Before I could respond, the door creaked open, and Wyatt and Farrah slipped inside, carrying bags that smelled like hot food. “Dinner’s served,” Farrah announced, setting down the bags on one of the tables.
The scent of it—whatever it was—made my stomach growl, reminding me that I hadn’t eaten in… I wasn’t even sure how long.
“Thanks,” I murmured, grateful for the distraction.
We settled down on the chaise lounges, and for a few moments, we ate in relative silence. It almost felt like a normal evening—like we weren’t sitting in an abandoned warehouse, surrounded by magic circles and the constant threat of my own power breaking loose.
3
I blinked,trying to shake off the fog of sleep, my body aching from the constant strain of magic simmering just beneath my skin, and sleeping in the chaise lounge. It was comfortable for a chair, to be lounging on for a couple hours… now, to sleep a whole night? My back would protest the rest of the day.
I glanced around and saw Lacey was the only one here. Last night, Farrah and Wyatt had gone to the Hall to sleep. However, Levi had stayed with me, and now he was nowhere to be found.
Lacey made her way to the crates over the lines of the witch’s circle, where the crates created our very fancy makeshift dining area. Her expression was grim as she set a small bag of pastries on the table between us.
“I’m sorry you had to sleep there,” Lacey said. “Maybe we can ask Levi to bring an actual bed.”
I sat up. “If we continue bringing more stuff, we’ll need to make the circle bigger.”
“I mean, we can do that.”
I shook my head. “It’s fine like this.” Because hopefully it wouldn’t be for too long. “Any luck?”
She sighed. “Abbie and I spent all night digging through the Hall’s archives. We found a few theories about suppressing chaotic magic, but nothing that will work long-term. We’re still looking.”
I forced a small smile, trying to hide my disappointment. “I appreciate it, Lacey. I know you’re doing everything you can.”
She reached out and squeezed my hand, her touch warm against my cold skin. “We’ll figure this out, Ariella. I promise.”
Patience wasn’t my strongest suit, but when I actually was able to stop and look back, I could see the pattern: we had had dozens of problems before, enemies who threatened our magic, our family, our existence … and somehow, we had always made it.
We would make it again.
Right?
“Morning, sweetheart.”
I turned to his voice and found Levi strolling from the office in the back of the warehouse toward me. His dark eyes locked on mine, and my breath caught. By the light, he was handsome.
As usual, he had black slacks, black shirt, and his hair was damp, revealing he just got out of the shower—without me.
And that suddenly made me very self-conscious … I should take a shower soon.
“I’ve brought homemade breakfast burritos,” Lacey announced as she opened a large brown bag and distributed the plastic containers to us.
“Thank you,” I said, getting mine.
Levi got his container and took one step into the circle. I instantly pulled away, afraid I would hurt him. But the damn man was impossible. He hooked one arm around my waist, pulled me to him, and pressed a quick kiss to my lips.
