Page 67 of Captured in Love
But he’s probably already on his way to Greece, either flying over Europe or already on site, searching for the last token. That’s where we should be headed, but we need to check up on the mystery woman first.
We come prepared. I’ve slept and eaten enough to replenish most of my powers, and so has Levi. I’ll form my fear-bomb spell before we enter the hospital—now that I’ve figured out how to effectively put it together, it’s becoming easier, and most witches won’t know what hit them. Having magic that influences other people’s minds is definitely an advantage sometimes—and it feels good to know that I have a way to defend myself as well as my men if it comes down to it.
I wanted to cuddle with Levi on the backseat, especially after the intense, mind-altering sex we had earlier, but he took the passenger’s seat without glancing at me and hasn’t said a word since we left Djúpivogur. My first thought was that he hadn’t enjoyed what we did together, but that can’t be it—he was all for it, I’m absolutely sure.
No, this is something else.
I think of all the little hints I noticed since we left Egypt. Levi watching me when he thinks I’m not looking. Raphaël refusing to talk about what he saw when he drank Levi’s blood. The feeling thatsomethingis weighing on my best friend.
Guilt sours my mood. I’ve been a shitty friend, too focused on the Games, on this relationship that has developed between Levi, Raphaël, and me. I should have paid more attention to Levi as my friend and partner, not just my lover.
I lean forward and place my hand on his shoulder. He glances back, and the corner of his mouth lifts in a small smile. He puts his hand over mine and gives my fingers a warm squeeze, then lets his hand drop into his lap again.
Worry twists my stomach at this, but I sit back and remain silent. I’ll have to get him alone and corner him, ask him what this is all about. The Levi I know never holds on to his foul moods for long.
But Raphaël is gripping the steering wheel so tightly, his knuckles have turned white. I can only see a part of his profile from the backseat, and it seems like he’s clenching his jaw, tense and alert. A glance at the speedometer tells me we’re going twenty kilometers over the speed limit.
As if he heard my thoughts, Raphaël looks back at me, then returns his gaze to the road. A moment later, he visibly relaxes, eases off on the gas, and unclenches his jaw.
And remains silent.
Whatis going on with them?
Neither of them will talk, though, so I pull out both magical tokens from my backpack and turn them over in my hands. The obsidian scarab from Egypt is cool to the touch, slightly heavier than the ornate gold Viking-era medallion, which glints buttery yellow in the morning light. Both seem to exude some sort of low-key magical buzz. I hadn’t noticed this before, so maybe they only do that when they’re together?
I bring the two objects closer, and the light vibration intensifies against my skin. I widen the distance between them, and the buzzing stops.
Weird.
I wonder what will happen when the third token gets added into the mix, whatever it is.
I wrap both pieces in a silk scarf and tuck them carefully into my backpack. Höfn comes into view, the grassy flat land we’ve been driving through giving way first to pastures filled with sheep, then to a stretched-out town with low buildings, several gas stations, and plenty of people milling around on a rare sunny morning. A rainbow spans the blue sky, a surprising pop of color.
I decide to let the guys’ weird behavior go for now because we need to find the hospital first. The GPS takes us right to the center of the town and finally to a quiet street, where Raphaël stops the car in a nearly empty parking lot.
“This is it,” he says, pointing at a large white structure in front of us.
Levi is out of the car before I can suggest we wait and see if anyone suspicious is lurking around. Not that I expect the Scottish witches to make themselves visible—not in a human town.
At least I hope that they wouldn’t make a move right here in the open and risk exposing the magical community just for a chance to take us out.
I swallow thickly and clamber out of the car. I grab my backpack just in case. I might need my crystals if the woman is really in such bad shape. I’ll do whatever I can to help her, and I’m sure Levi will, as well.
If he ever speaks again.
We make directly for the door, trying to draw as little attention as possible. Everything goes well until we end up at the reception desk where the head nurse tells us in no uncertain terms that the visiting hours are in the afternoon, and that only family members are allowed information on patients.
Which is…totally understandable.
If it was me lying in a hospital bed, I wouldn’t want just anyone crashing in on me.
But this anonymous screaming woman doesn’t have any family here. At least, not that we know of. Maybe nobody even knows where she is. And if she goes off, unconsciously performing magic in front of humans, the entire magical world could be at risk. Humans are good at explaining away the paranormal with their science, but even they have limits for what they’ll believe.
“I’m sorry,” the woman in a neat blue uniform says. “There’s nothing more I can do for you.”
I give Raphaël’s foot a meaningful tap with my shoe. He glances down at me, and I widen my eyes, then indicate the woman with my head.
His eyebrow comes up, and he gives me a look that says,Really?
