Page 109 of Reckless Witch

“We could have enforced her compliance with a spell.”

“Even if you, Raith and I combine our magic, with that sigil off her hand, she can break any spell we cast. You know that.” I clap his shoulder and squeeze. “I’m concerned, as well, Ethan.”

He barely nods.

I wish Matthias were here. He always knows what to say on these rare occasions when Ethan overloads.

“I can’t believe we haven’t found a single clue as to her attacker,” he says. Real heat radiates off his body. If we do find Leilah’s attacker, Ethan will tear him limb from limb—if I don’t find him first.

I nod. “They’re damned smart.”

“Which worries me,” Ethan mutters.

“I’m hard pressed to believe anyone can get to her now with the wards Olympia set up to inhibit black magic,” I say, but still, worry niggles.

Ethan casts me a sideways glance. “Is that why you’ve been camped outside Ciarah’s dorm room these past few days?”

I grin. “One reason.”

None of us has ever begrudged the other’s place in Ciarah’s heart—or bed. Well, after those first few incarnations, that is, when we began to understand that the five of us were somehow bound to her. Early on, we nearly killed one another. I smile at the memory.

“If we have trouble with the walkies, change to channel fifteen,” Ethan says. “We shouldn’t. They’re military issue, but you never know.”

I nod. Ethan, Raith, and I carry radios for the games, as do the officers. Today, however, Ethan, Raith, and I have an extra radio clipped to our belts for the private channel where we will communicate about Leilah, if necessary.

Ethan turns toward the meeting place. I grasp his arm and pull him to a stop.

He looks at me and frowns. “What is it?”

“There’s been a development in the investigation.” He starts to reply, but I shake my head and say, “Not Leilah and not Miriam. It’s Zedkeil. I believe I know why the angels are so hot to help out in the investigation.” I pause, still not quite able to process the possibilities. “You are not going to believe this, but their god is locked in Hell.”

Ethan blinks, then his eyes go wide.

I nod. “You heard correctly. Elohim, Elyon, The Most High, the god who lays claim to all creation, is locked in Hell.”

“How is that possible?” Ethan breathes.

“I guess that spell Senorn and Eledin cast to close the Hell Gates is Grade A magic.”

“How did you find out?” Ethan asks.

I shrug. “Zedkeil gave it away. He denied it, but you know what they say, ‘Me thinks the angel doth protest too much.’ It’s true, all right.”

“I can’t believe it,” he says.

“Neither could Olympia.”

He looks sharply at me. “You didn’t tell her?”

“Come now,” I say. “You know I can’t keep something like this from her.”

He nods slowly. “I can’t begin to imagine how she will use this to her advantage.”

“She’ll use the knowledge to leverage Heaven for a time when we need them.”

“I suppose so,” he says slowly. “Not in a thousand years would I have guessed this. How have the angels kept it quiet all these centuries?”

“They’re a clannish lot who know how to keep a secret. Remember how long it was before anyone figured out the demon known as the devil was his son The Morning Star?”