“What’s going on?” I breathed.
“Of course she does,” Matthias added from behind. “Her and her little group of friends think they’re smarter than all of us. And that’s exactly why they’ll lose everything.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Even as the horror filtered into my words, I started piecing it together. Matthias and Cornelius…
They were working together.
“Were you spying on us?” I asked Matthias. “Have you been with him this whole time?”
A wicked smile crossed his face. “Took you long enough to figure it out. Though, I guess you were too busy fighting with the angel and lying to everyone else to notice.”
Warning bells rang through my bones. I needed more magic. More power. I could kill them both. I had to.
But when I reached for the magic that was supposed to be thriving inside me, I felt nothing.
Only a strange emptiness where Jessiah’s presence had made its home.
“What have you done to me?”
All my life I wanted to be rid of my magic.
Now, I craved it more than I’d cravedanything.
Cornelius approached until the toe of his boot brushed my knee. “I gave you a chance to be on my side, Rummy. But it’s clear where your alliances lie. All that power… did you really think you could kill me?” He tossed his head back and laughed. Really laughed.“Me?”
“Did you take my power?” I asked. Gods, I sounded so fucking pathetic. Two seconds ago, I was ready to blast him off this earth. Now I was scrambling on the ground, trying to piece together what just happened.
It wasn’t a good look.
“Not yet, darling.” He bent down until we were ateye level. “I’m simply blocking your ability to use it. But before I kill you, I can assure you that’s exactly what I’ll do.”
Blocking my power? Was that even possible?
My attention was cut off by Jessiah’s stunning white angel wings slicing through the air. He landed on one knee with his fist tight in the dirt before standing with a vengeance.
Jessiah.
His eyes were dark. His posture showed no mercy.
“Jes,” I breathed. “They’re blocking me. I can’t?—”
All three men drew swords.
“Ah,” Cornelius tsked. “I should have known you would never leave Rummy’s side. All the things I knew Rummy lied about, but you?” He tilted his head to the side. “You surprised me, angel. And I have to admit, it stings a bit.”
Jessiah ignored them. “You’re stronger than they are, Rummy. He can’t hold your power forever.”
Matthias stepped closer now. I pushed myself up to my feet and stumbled to Jessiah’s side while ignoring the pain in my ribs. Two against two.
But they still didn’t know.
I wasn’t just Rummy. I didn’t have onlymypower.
“She is strong, yes,” Cornelius agreed. “But I have the magic of hundreds. And I’m not alone.” He looked sideways to Matthias. I didn’t have to open my mouth to fill Jessiah in. The appearance of the standoff was enough.
“You should have left Pericius when you had the chance,” Matthias added. “Unfortunately, now, you’ll both die.”
Jessiah’s outstretched wings partially hid me. I searched and searched and searched for that spark of power, but I felt nothing. Numbness.
