Page 4

I paced around the edge of the containment circle, my boots scuffing against the concrete floor.

The warehouse was quiet that evening and it was a relief, almost, to have the space to myself for once.

No one watching me with thinly veiled concern, no whispered conversations between Lacey and Abbie, trying to find a solution that never seemed to come.

Not that I didn’t appreciate their efforts. But sometimes, their hovering felt like a chain around my neck, pulling tight with every passing second that I spent stuck in this circle. It made me feel like a caged animal, pacing back and forth with nowhere to go and nothing to do but wait.

Wait for my magic to settle.

Wait for a plan.

Wait for something, anything, that would give me a shred of control over my life again.

It was ridiculous, really. Even for something as simple as a bathroom break or a shower, I needed an escort. Lacey, Levi, or one of the others would walk me out of the circle, snap the cuffs back on my wrists, and watch me like I might explode at any second.

And I guess they weren’t wrong.

During one of those breaks, the magic inside me had rebelled, flaring so sharply that pain exploded through my chest, and Lacey had blanched, whispering that my heart might stop again.

Levi had been there that time too. He’d grabbed me and rushed me back into the circle, ripping the cuffs off just as the pressure hit a breaking point.

The blast of magic that followed had sent Levi flying backward out of the circle.

He’d only managed to protect himself at the last second, one of his wings snapping out to shield him from the worst of it.

The scorch mark left behind on the warehouse wall had burned for hours after, a stark reminder of how dangerous I’d become.

Now, every time I thought about it, my stomach twisted with frustration and shame.

I didn’t want to be a menace. I didn’t want to hurt the people who were trying to help me.

But all this power, all this chaos—it was like trying to hold back a tidal wave with a flimsy dam.

And no matter how strong I tried to be, cracks kept forming.

I sighed, letting my gaze drift to the warehouse windows where the sky had turned deep violet, fading into the first hints of night.

Ezekiel’s arrival earlier that day had given me a sliver of hope, but even that had its limits.

He hadn’t been able to offer much—Rhodes and Haines didn’t share their plans easily, and they were careful not to speak openly around others.

Ezekiel had promised to keep playing the role of the obedient student, to pretend to be interested in Rhodes’s twisted vision.

But he’d been clear that the window for gathering information was closing fast.

“They’re planning something big, and it’s happening soon,” he’d warned. “I’ll find out more, I swear, but you need to be ready.”

Ready. I let out a bitter laugh, the sound bouncing off the empty walls. How was I supposed to be ready for anything when I couldn’t even control this damn magic inside me?

And while I was stuck here, pacing in circles like a trapped animal, my realm was on the verge of something terrible.

War? Destruction? I didn’t even know the full details.

All I had were fragments of information and the hope that Ezekiel would find a way to crack open Elysium’s gates when the time came.

When—if—he came back with more information.

Footsteps echoed through the warehouse, pulling me from my thoughts. Levi appeared, carrying a bag of takeout in one hand and a clean set of clothes draped over his arm. His hair was damp, and he looked freshly showered. The smell of whatever he’d brought made my stomach rumble.

“Got dinner,” he announced, holding up the bag with a lopsided grin. “Figured you’d be hungry after all the brooding you’ve been doing.”

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at my lips. “It’s not brooding, it’s thinking.”

He smirked, setting the food down on what had become our main table—one of the medium sized crates. “Thinking, brooding. Tomato, tomahto. Either way, you’re wearing a hole in the floor, sweetheart.”

I joined him at the crate, sinking down onto one of the chaise lounges.

He handed me a steaming carton, and I took it gratefully, the warmth seeping into my hands.

The first bite tasted like heaven after so many days of tension and cold leftovers.

We ate in silence for a while, the quiet only broken by the sound of utensils scraping against takeout containers.

But eventually, the silence became too heavy, the weight of unspoken worries pressing down between us. I glanced up at Levi, catching the furrow in his brow, the way his gaze kept drifting to the containment circle that surrounded me.

“I don’t like seeing you worried.”

He straightened his back. “Who says I’m worried?”

“I do. And that’s what’s bugging me. You’re usually very good at hiding your emotions, but lately, your worry has been seeping past your walls, which means you have way too much of it.”

He stared at me for a few seconds. “I won’t bullshit you, sweetheart. Everything about this situation worries me, but that doesn’t mean much. Despite the worry, I’m one hundred percent sure we’ll figure this out.”

“It doesn’t feel like it, though. Actually, it feels like we’re just spinning our wheels.”

He sighed, raking a hand through his damp hair.

“I wish I had a better answer for you, sweetheart. I sent out some of my demons, asked them to check if anyone’s heard of a way to strip specific types of magic without harming the host. Abbie, Lacey, and the rest of the gang at the Hall are still digging through their books.

I know that Erin, Rey, and their friends are searching the Blackthorn Hunters Academy archives, and Rage is doing the same in the underworld.

Everyone is working to find a solution. It’s just a matter of time. ”

“I know it’s cliché, but we don’t have much time.”

“Regardless, it’s not like we have a choice.”

I knew he was right, but damn, this was so hard.

Mentioning all of our friends reminded me of something else. “And the DuMoir Castle? Any news on that front?”

Levi’s expression darkened. “Not much. I only know two things. One, Zad was able to make it through the lockdown and is now inside the castle with the others. And two, Sarki was spotted on a town near the castle but disappeared quickly after that.”

I leaned back against the edge of the chaise, staring up at the high warehouse ceiling. “I wish we could finish this and help them out. Drake, Thea… they’ve done so much for us. I hate thinking of them stuck fighting their own battles while we’re here, floundering for answers.”

“We’ll get there,” Levi said quietly. “But first, we have to get you back on your feet.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “Yeah, well, I’m not exactly holding my breath.”

Levi reached out, brushing a stray strand of hair behind my ear. “You’re doing better than you think, sweetheart. Don’t let this place get in your head.”

I turned my face away. “It’s hard not to think about everything I’m missing, Levi. My family… I used to think that I’d always be able to protect them, but look at me now. They’re stuck in Elysium, thinking I’m a murderer, and I can’t even tell them the truth.”

Levi leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Ezekiel seems to have a crush on Adriel. I’m sure he’ll keep her safe.”

“We grew up in this quiet little neighborhood outside the capital. Ezekiel is a year older than Adriel, and when they were kids, he used to tease her endlessly. Drove her crazy. But after a while, I realized it was just that … a crush. He never acted on it, though. Never asked her out. And then I left, and I don’t know what happened between them. I don’t even know if they…”

My voice trailed off, and I swallowed hard. The thought of everything I’d missed, all the time that had slipped through my fingers, twisted something deep inside me.

“Perhaps it’s more than a crush now.”

I knew he was trying to lighten the mood, so I decided to join him. “Well, he better be good for her, or I’ll kick his ass.”

Levi showed me his trademark half-smile. “I’ll help you.”

I smiled back at him.

It was almost unbelievable that this higher demon, this evil creature, was my mate and seemed to care about me and everything that concerned me. It was touching in a way that made me breathless.

After dinner, we cleared away the empty cartons, and Levi turned to me with a mischievous glint in his eyes. “So… how about we share a bed tonight?”

I rolled my eyes, but a small smile tugged at my lips. “Nice try. But given how my magic reacted the last time you got too close, I’m thinking that’s a terrible idea.”

“Worth a shot,” he said, but there was a teasing edge in his voice. He pushed one of the chaise lounges closer to mine, until they were separated only by the circle’s line. “How about this, then? Close enough?”

I nodded, settling onto my own makeshift bed. Levi stretched out on his, and he reached out a hand, letting it slip through the edge of the containment circle. I hesitated, then reached out to take it, our fingers intertwining. His hand was warm, steady, a lifeline in the darkness.

And for a little while, I let myself hold on to that warmth, even as the shadows of uncertainty loomed over us.