Page 69 of Roman

“Did you know about this prophecy?Did you know her baby could release Lucifer?”Ramiel asked her carefully.

Ariel shook her head.“I didn’t know.I found out at the same time you all did.”

“You mentioned that Arella had been hurt, not killed.Where is she now?”Lucian sounded on edge again.

“She is dead,” she whispered.“Not long after I fled Delphi with the baby, our connection was broken.Her presence was gone, empty.”

“Where is this witch, Ariel?Just because you can’t feel her doesn’t mean she isn’t alive.”Lucian said with a hopeful voice.

Roman could see Lucian’s mind churning.

“I don’t know, Lucian.She disappeared that night as well.I’ve never been able to find her.I searched all of Greece, spent years looking.There were no leads, no evidence of her anywhere.She disappeared.”

Lucian stared at Ariel, his eyes flickering green for a second before returning to normal.Roman knew what Lucian was thinking.He wouldn’t accept Arella’s death until he found that witch.But now was not the time.It would have to wait.The longer they sat there talking, the further away from him Charlotte was getting.

“Okay, story time is over.Any more questions you have, either do it on the plane or after we complete this mission.We’ve wasted too much time already, and we need to get to Caral and fast,” Roman snapped, turning and leaving.

It was time to get to the jet.Roman prayed they would make it in time.God help everyone if they were too late.

23

Charlotte sat in the passenger seat of Turel’s black SUV.Her mind raced as she nervously pulled at the bottom of her sweatshirt.Of Roman’s sweatshirt, she reminded herself.

Guilt ate away at her as her thoughts turned to him.He’d still been asleep when she’d crept back into the room.Thank God for that.By the time she’d returned upstairs and stood anxiously outside his door, she’d already begun to lose her nerve.If he’d been awake, she doubted she would have been able to lie to him.He would have easily talked her out of leaving.

Charlotte’s heart ached for him.Now that they had gotten out of the hills and were making their way to God knew where, she felt his loss immensely.It had been subtle and slow, so Charlotte hadn’t realized how much Roman had fused with her soul.Now, it felt like someone had ripped away a piece of it, leaving an empty, aching hole in her chest.She couldn’t believe how hard and fast she had fallen for her fiery angel.She wished she had met him earlier, that they’d been able to have a life together before all this chaos had come crashing down around her.But that just wasn’t the way things worked for Charlotte.Her life had always been a struggle.Everyone always had to leave her in the end.

Her grandmother passed, Ava was still missing, and now she had to give up Roman.It wasn’t fair, but Charlotte had learned long ago that life wasn’t fair.She needed to focus on her plan, and once it was done, she wouldn’t feel any more of this pain.Because she would be dead.

She glanced at Turel, who was driving the car and focused on the road.The sense of safety and trust she’d had with him back at the mansion had disappeared.The disorientation that had enveloped her mind had slowly lifted as they’d been driving.She frowned.Charlotte couldn’t even remember why she thought she could trust him or why it had been a good idea to go with him in the first place.The realization made her uneasy.

Maybe this wasn’t the best idea.

“Where are we going?”she asked nervously.

He turned his head slightly, his dreadlocks brushing his shoulder as he gave her a sideways glance.“You’ll see.We aren’t too far away now.”

Her chest tightened, his answer making her feel worse.Definitely not a good idea.

She’d fucked up.Something didn’t feel right.She wanted Roman.How could she have been so stupid?She had no idea what had come over her in that kitchen.She was normally smart when it came to people, so she didn’t know why the hell she’d gone with this man.

“Thank you for wanting to help me, but I, um, I think I’ve changed my mind.I want to go back.It was a stupid idea.I shouldn’t have gotten you involved.”Charlotte spoke so fast she stumbled over her words, the panic rising even more.

Turel burst out laughing.Charlotte sat staring, mouth open, surprised at his outburst.

He shook his head with a crooked smile.“Yeah, that’s out of the question.You got this ball rolling now, and nothing is going to stop it.I couldn’t go back, even if I wanted to.By now, they’d have figured out you came with me, and I’m sure they have learned a lot more about me that they won’t be too happy about.”

Charlotte didn’t understand what was happening.Where was the understanding guy she’d spoken to before?Who the hell was this guy?

“Turn around.I want to go back,” she demanded, her voice shaking.She cursed herself for being so weak all the time.Come on, Charlotte.Take control.

He turned, clearly annoyed with her.“I’m done with this bullshit.Sit there and shut up.”

Charlotte tilted her chin defiantly.“No!”she snapped, getting angry now.“If you won’t take me back, then give me your phone so I can call Roman.”

“I told you to shut up.I won’t ask you again,” Turel growled.

Charlotte finally reached her breaking point.She had been kidnapped, beaten, and held against her will countless times now.And she’d finally had enough.Anger coursed through her.She’d never been so mad in her life, and she wouldn’t have it.

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