When I could finally tear myself away, I sighed. I had to do this now, while Silas was gone, or I would never be able to.
Closing my eyes, I focused my energy. The newly reviving magic sparked in my veins. It was barely enough for this to work, and I only had one shot. Ithadto work.
Doubts plagued my mind. What if Cinderhollow was the same as when I left it? What if it wasworse?
No, I refused to believe that. Despite the hatred the Cinderhollow of four hundred years ago felt towards me, I still knew there was good amongst the people. I had faith that nobody would pass the opportunity to help a child left alone.
And, for some strange reason, I had a good feeling about this. As good a feeling one could have when leaving their child behind, anyway.
“Someone out there will find you,” I promised Angel, though it was probably more to reassure myself.
I shut my eyes again and let out a deep exhale. The magic sparked and fizzled, like a fuel tank close to empty. Just enough for one burst of magic. And I was going to make it count.
My focus strained. My nails dug into the side of Angel’s carrier. I nearly stopped breathing.
Then, a flash of white.
The chains were gone. The cabin vanished.
The faint scent of alcohol, deep-fried food and rain soaking the stone beneath my unsteady feet. My head spun, and my stomach churned uneasily. I let out a soft groan. Whatever I’d done, it wasn’t nearly as smooth as the last time I time travelled.
But this time, itwasn’ttime travel. I’d done something different. Judging by the streets and lights and sounds, I was inside town. I’d teleported.
A mix of excitement and anxiety hit me. As much as I wanted to see everything, I didn’t have much time. If I waited too long, the burst of magic would extinguish, and I wouldn’t be able to return to Silas’s cabin.
And if I don’t go back, they’ll come hunting for us. I’m so sorry, Angel. It’s safer this way.
Before me stood what appeared to be a shop built into the mountainside. Wearily, I lifted my head to the sign hanging above.
The Drunken Dragon... Is this a bar?
I grimaced, realizing I probably hadn’t chosen the best place to end up. But there was no time to search for a better option. Angel was inside town now, and would be quickly found by someone, and that was all I could hope to accomplish.
“Maybe somewhere there’s an omega who wants a child of his own,” I murmured out loud to Angel. “I hope… I hope whoever he is, he finds you.”
Worn out by the constant stress, Angel couldn’t keep her eyes open. They fluttered shut. My throat tightened as the tears threatened to overflow. I leaned in and kissed her forehead, taking in one last drag of her sweet scent.
“I’m so sorry.” The hot tears broke loose, stinging my eyes. “I’ll come back. I swear it. Goodbye, Angel.”
Tears blurred my vision as I took one last heartbroken glance at my daughter before the dying sparks of magic in my veins took me back to the abandoned cabin and left her behind in Cinderhollow - alone.
