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Disoriented, I can hear the Bishops going insane as I lazily blink up at the dull sky. For a split second, I consider getting the Poten’s Ruby for myself so I can be done with this bitch’s magic attacking me, but I quickly shut it down.
She needs to be put in her place, but I would rather use my powers and do it myself than rely on a tool. She’s not worthy of an artifact. She’s not worthy of my effort either, but I’m so done with her fucking presence.
I just need a second to nap first because it hurts everywhere.
“Raven? Dove?” Squinting, I focus on Zane as he hovers above me, concern etched into his features as I try to focus. “I’m here. It’s okay. Can you sit up for me?” he asks, delicately cupping my cheek, and I nod even though I know for certain that I definitely can’t. His fingers intertwine with mine, poised and ready to help me, but when I make no attempt to move after a few moments, he lowers them back down. “Take your time.”
Inhaling, I try to hold it in for a second before I exhale. I repeat the motion a few more times before I feel a little more stable. “What hit me?” I rasp, my head still pounding from the impact.
Zane glances over his shoulder briefly before turning back to me, but the wince drawing his eyebrows together tells me he’snot sure what to say. Tilting my head, I try to follow his line of sight to see a fucking full-sized tree lying across the pathway.
“That bitch threw a tree at me?” I clarify with a gasp, and he nods, swiping a hand down his face.
“Roots and all,” he adds, a soft smile on his face as he tries to make light of the situation. It feels too surreal to actually be my life.
“I’m going to knock her the fuck out,” I grunt, tightening my hold on his hands and lifting up to a sitting position.
“I’m sure you will, Dove. But unfortunately for you, someone beat you to it,” he explains, nodding to where I was standing a few minutes ago.
Frowning, I glance at the backs of Brax and Eldon. Did one of them beat me to it? I’m not about men hitting women in general, but I’m quite sure this is an acceptable circumstance. When I find Creed crouched down over Genie’s unconscious body, I quickly realize it was none of my men.
Blonde hair floats in the light breeze as icicles hang from Genie’s nose.
Leila.
Her eyes find mine as if sensing her name in my mind and her chin quickly dips, her cheeks heating as she tucks a loose tendril of hair behind her ear.
Zane helps me to my feet and stays by my side as I make my way toward her.
“I’m sorry, she just… I just…” Leila stares at me, completely lost for words as she shakes her head.
“She fucking deserved it. Besides, it’s better coming from another girl and not one of us, but I was ready for it if necessary,” Eldon states, pulling me into his side as he glances over me to make sure I’m okay.
Leila nods, rubbing her lips together nervously as she looks at me. Suddenly, her eyes widen and she digs into the backpackat her feet. “Sorry, I was hoping to catch you guys before you got near the main building so I could show you this. I just got a bit distracted with…” Her words trail off as she looks down at Genie.
She holds a dusty and tattered leather binder out and Brax takes it from her.
“What’s this?” he asks as I step out from beside Eldon to take a look at it too. Creed and Zane inch closer, Genie’s body left on the pathway for someone else to deal with.
“I’ve been researching the stone they were talking about yesterday.”
“When?” Creed asks, brows furrowing.
“I’ve been up since four and at the library since shortly after.”
“You’ve been awake, researching, since before the sun came up?” Brax clarifies, a mixture of uncertainty and disbelief in his eyes.
“Yes,” Leila replies with a nod, rocking back on her heels as Brax flicks through the pages.
“The look on your face says you found something good…”
“Well, I found that,” she states, pointing at the binder as a whole. “It’s a compendium of magical artifacts, and it includes the Poten’s Ruby.”
“There’s a whole fucking book on this shit?” I blurt, and Zane grins at me.
“Do we need to know anything more about it other than it’s coveted as fuck?” Eldon adds with a huff, trying to get a better look at the binder.
“The ruby is only part of the equation,” Leila reassures. “Did you not hear the fact that there are others listed and detailed in there?”
