“Precious, I get it.” I point at his chest again. “But here’s the thing, Gollum. Unless you want me to add your dick to the collection of shriveled old things dangling from your belt, I suggest you back the fuck off.”
He laughs again, that same unhinged chuckle. “You’re either very brave, or very stupid, little Star.”
“Or both. Did you ever think of that? Goddess, men are so reluctant to give women credit where credit is due.”
“I warned your mother this day would come. But don’t worry—I’m sure she’s waiting on the other side.”
“Great,” Baz says. “When you get there, you can tell her all about how you got your ancient legacy ass kicked by a bunch of Academy students who haven’t even taken mid-terms yet.”
The Magician whirls on his heel and raises his wand, but he’s too late. Baz and Kirin are already back on their feet, chanting a combination air-and-earth spell that has the ground trembling, the massive rock ceiling cracking overhead.
“Now!” Baz shouts, and before I can take another breath, Kirin rushes at me, shoving me toward the staircase.
Pieces of the ceiling fall to the ground, an explosion of sharp stone and debris.
“Baz! No!” I try to push my way back into the chamber, but Kirin’s got me in a vice grip on the stairs.
“He’s right behind us,” he says, just as the walls begin to crack and crumble. “Move! Now!”
“We’re not leaving him!” I peer over Kirin’s shoulder into the dusty air, searching for signs of life. There, across the chamber, Baz stands with his arms raised, his magick all that’s keeping the entire chamber from imploding.
I gasp, my eyes finding his across the storm of rock and rubble.
He flashes a devious, devastating smile I feel all the way down to my bones.
“Fly, Little Bird,” he says. “Fly.”
The rocks come down between us.
And Kirin scoops me into his arms and bolts up the stairs, charging out into the misty night mere seconds before the entire chamber crumbles into dust.
Eighteen
STEVIE
I bolt upright with a gasp, the world spinning, my whole body feeling like it was turned inside out.
“She’s awake!” someone calls out. “Cass, Stevie’s awake!”
There’s a shuffling sound, and then someone is kneeling behind me, warm hands on my bare shoulders, easing me back onto a blanket.
Where the hell am I?
“Stevie? Can you hear me?” Fingers stroke my forehead, my hair. “It’s okay. Just breathe.”
I know that voice… That touch…
I blink my eyes, waiting for the world to come back into focus. When it finally does, the first face I see is Ani’s, upside down and hovering over me, watching me with those warm, caramel eyes. He squeezes my hand and smiles.
“Ani?”
“Good morning, beautiful,” he says.
Tears glaze my eyes, and a smile of relief stretches across my face. “Goddess, seeing you is like seeing the sun rise after an eternity in darkness.”
Ani leans down and kisses my forehead. “I bet you say that to all the guys.”
The guys…
