Page 66 of Roman

Roman frowned, looking at the two angels.“She wants to know where Turel is.”

“That’s what we came to tell you before we found this shit show,” Maalik said, rubbing his throat and glaring at him.

Guilt overwhelmed Roman once more.

“He’s gone, Roman.Charlotte left with him willingly,” Armaros told him, looking worried.

None of it made sense.Charlotte didn’t even know him.Ariel must have heard them.

“Roman, she’s in danger.I’m on my way to the mansion.Get everyone you can together.”

“Ariel, what the hell is going on?”Roman demanded.This whole situation didn’t feel right.

“He can’t be trusted.That’s what I couldn’t tell you on the phone in Rome.He’s a traitor.He’s the one who let the demons into the Vatican.I didn’t have any proof at the time, but he would go missing at the wrong times and began acting weird a few months ago.This has just confirmed everything I was thinking.He’s taking Charlotte to the gate.I’m nearly there, so get everyone ready, and I will tell you everything.”Ariel hung up.

Roman’s heart sank.Turel, someone he trusted, his brother for thousands of years, was a traitor.Why would he turn on them all like this?He couldn’t think of that now.He had Charlotte.Was taking her to Caral to her death?He could feel his eyes slowly glowing again and noticed Maalik and Armaros backing away from him.

“Get everyone here now.Turel is working with Lucifer, and he’s taking Charlotte to the gate,” he said in a low, dangerous voice.

“Roman, your eyes.Are you going to keep your shit together?Or do we have to lock you up?”Maalik asked him, the healing process kicking in, his voice sounding a little better.

The thought of Charlotte in danger made his demon side start to rise, but every time he roused her image in his mind, he managed to keep it in check.For the first time since the fall and changing into this being, he felt like he may have a way of controlling it.Charlotte was the way of keeping him in check.

He needed to stay focused.If he didn’t get his ass on a plane soon, he would lose her forever, and there was no doubt in his mind that if he lost her, he would lose himself.

“I’ve got it under control, brother.It won’t happen again,” he said, hoping it wasn’t a lie.

Armaros finally relaxed, his magic disappearing and his hands falling to his side.

“Ariel’s on her way.She has information she needs to share with us, and once done, we are out of here.I want everyone armed and ready to go within the hour.Armaros, send Cael ahead to fire up the jet.”

Armaros nodded, already dialing as he went to leave the room, halting at the door.He slowly turned around, head tilted to the side, his gaze surveying the area.

“What is it?”Roman asked impatiently.They needed to get moving.

Armaros slowly made his way over to the shattered windows, kicking debris out of the way.He bent down, shoving a chair to the side, and simply stared long and hard at a piece of the half-eaten roll that had originally been on the table before Roman had sent it flying.

“Armaros, what are you doing?”Roman snapped, frustrated.

The dark angel looked at him.“There’s magic, Roman.I can feel it.There is some sort of magic infused into this food.

“What the fuck?”Roman and Maalik both made their way to Armaros as he waved his glowing hand over it.

“It’s an enchanting spell.It makes the person it’s used on trust whoever gives it to them.The spell controls how the person thinks and feels.You could easily make the person submit to you and feel a sense of safety and trust.It’s Tora’s magic.Turel must have planted it in the fridge.We’ve all watched Charlotte eat fresh sandwiches and such for the last few days.That’s not something the rest of us typically eat.He knew she’d take it, or you would give it to her, thinking Grigori had made it for her.”

Roman’s blood boiled.He would flay the skin from Turel’s body, slowly, painfully.He poisoned her with magic.Tricked her.How dare he!There was no scenario where Turel would live once Roman caught up with them.He would suffer a fate worse than the bowels of Hell.

“He’s a fucking dead man,” he gritted through clenched teeth.

Armaros rose, looking at Roman.“It won’t last long.The spell will wear off soon.By the looks of it, she has only eaten enough for it to affect her for an hour, maybe two,” Armaros reassured him.“I will ring Cael and get the others ready.We need to get to them before the ritual is done.”

Maalik approached Roman as Armaros left the room, placing his hand on his shoulder in concern.“We will get her back, brother.”

“What if we don’t make it in time?Maalik, if she dies, you will have to take care of me.Do you understand?”Roman searched his brother’s face.

Maalik’s brow creased as he frowned.

“If Charlotte dies, I think whatever this demon is inside of me will finally take over.There will be no coming back for me.You will have to take me out, or I will kill everyone.Hell, I think I would rip the entire world apart.”

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