Page 35 of Galen

“Dark,” Castor said.

“Powerful,” Alastair added. “Too powerful.”

“I don’t feel anything,” Simon said, glancing at all of us. “Should I take it out of the box?”

“I will now that it’s open,” Alastair said, moving aside the red cloth and pulling out a ring. As it touched his skin, he lost a bit of his strength and had to rest his hip against the side of the desk.

It had a gold band and a large green stone in the center surrounded by what looked like rubies.

“Is that writing?” I asked, noticing an engraving along the band. Chills spread along my arms as I stepped closer, but I ignored the feeling.

Alastair’s brow furrowed as he concentrated. “The language is demonic. It’s a type of binding spell.”

“Binding for what?” I asked.

“I don’t know.” And Alastair hated not knowing. It was a shot to his ego. He turned the ring between his fingers, studying the engraving.

A flap of wings sounded as Lazarus landed in the garden outside the window.

Simon screamed and flung backward into the wall. “He… he just appeared. Out of nowhere.” He blinked a few times before focusing on me. “Did that really just happen?”

Lazarus opened the glass door of the patio that led into the study and walked inside. Simon continued staring at him, his complexion paling.

“I have to be seeing things,” Simon said. “He has wings. Real wings. This can’t be real.”

“Enough of your noise, human,” Lazarus said to Simon before turning his back to him. He strode toward Alastair, his white wings tucking to his sides. “What have you found?”

“This.” He handed over the ring before motioning to the box. “It has demonandangel warding. The home it came from is warded as well.”

Lazarus grabbed the ring and examined it. His hair matched the shade of his pure white wings, and his blue eyes had flecks of gold. He looked no older than thirty, even though he’d been around since the dawn of time.

“Where did you find this?” Lazarus asked, unable to hide the unease in his voice.

“The human,” Alastair answered.

Simon’s eyes widened when Lazarus faced him. I stepped closer to his side, and he pressed against me.

“You.” Lazarus walked toward him, holding the ring up. “Speak. Where did you find this?”

“In a box,” Simon answered. “I mean, it came from a crate with a bunch of other stuff. I bought it at an auction from the Ravenwood Mansion.”

“Do you know what it is?” I asked the angel.

“A binding ring,” Lazarus answered. “The power inside is strong. And impossible.”

“What do you mean by impossible?” Alastair asked. “What is it?”

“I need to speak with Uriel.” Lazarus left the study and walked back into the garden before spreading his wings.

Simon gasped again as the angel flew out of sight. “I… that…” He blinked and slumped forward a little. “I…”

And then he collapsed.

I caught him before he hit the floor and cradled his head, fear gripping my chest. What was wrong with him? My worry turned to amusement when I realized he’d only fainted. I had wondered when things would become too much for him to absorb. Apparently seeing a man with wings was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

“Lazarus took the ring,” Alastair said, moving his gaze to the window.

“I’m glad,” Gray said, still clinging on to Castor. “I don’t like how it made me feel.”