Page 91 of Touched

Cyrus is also watching her, though I can see the questions circling in his eyes, too.

Devyn’s voice draws everyone’s attention. “Yes, that could very well work. Now pay attention.” Devyn closes her eyes, chanting in what sounds like Latin. The same language as the incantation she taught me to shield myself earlier. We all watch as pebbles start to roll together on the ground. They shimmer as they move… black, dark gray, silver, green hues, and white. Twisting and rolling, resembling large, chunky glitter. They form a line and start to move and twist as one unit. She utters the last word and opens her eyes. The sparkly, shimmery rock line begins to move, almost slithering like a snake on the ground, leading us around cargo containers, forging a path through the warehouse. As we follow it silently, it stops at some metal stairs. Then, it climbs up the side, using the railing as a guide. We watch from below as it continues on its trek, only stopping as it reaches what appears to be a container to the side of the stairwell.

I race up the stairs, sprinting. Taking two at a time. As I reach the landing, Aeris, Cyrus, and Devyn land beside me, the wind from their wings flinging my hair against my neck and face. Glaring at them, I mutter, “Cheaters,” as Aeris grins at me.

“One day you’ll remember you have a faster mode of transportation,” she cheekily retorts before patting my back, where my wings would be.

Cyrus laughs heartily at my expense and Devyn nods, sporting what I’m now calling her trademark half smile.

Shit! I gotta get used to that!

I have these wicked, badass wings now!

I need to use them!

Grinning down at Aeris, I lean in to kiss her forehead. “You’re right. I have these bad boys… I need to use them!” My brow arches as I look over at a smug-looking Cyrus. “They’re bigger than yours.” I retort.

His eyes narrow and he scowls.

“Really, boys? Again? Do you just want to whip them out right here and compare?” Devyn snaps.

Aeris snorts while I feel my face heat. Cyrus’s cheeks and chest flush. Devyn pointedly looks at us both, “Are you done, or…?” she asks, waving at the box extravagantly. “Would you like me to try?”

Looking down at the box, I lean down, grasping the top tightly. With my dedicated time in the gym, plus the added bonus of my new Fae abilities, I manage to pry the lid off the good old-fashioned way. “I got it,” I grunt, shooting a quick grin at Aeris, and then, a pointed look at Cyrus. He rolls his eyes, and I smirk, before setting the top down beside the box.

We all lean in, peering down into the box in eager anticipation. Staring back at us are dozens of bottles of wine… freaking wine… packed in straw.

What the fuck?

Wine? The damn magick rock snake led us to this.

It’s wine.

“Magickal wine?” I snap.

“This is not it. It’s got to be near here,” Devyn replies, pointing at the magickal glittering rocks still moving around the circumference of the box.

“Cyrus, help me move this shit. Something is behind this,” I say firmly, not asking.

He grabs one end of the cargo box and I grab the other. We move it. The rock snake slithers behind it, and we hastily move the boxes stacked there as well. The rocks continue to circle, indicating we need to move more things. Together, we push all the boxes back toward the landing.

The rock snake rapidly circles itself, spinning faster and faster over a spot against the wall until all we see is a dark blur. Cyrus bends down, running his hand over the smooth concrete floor. The rock snake stops, pointing directly at the spot where Cyrus’s hand is settled. He closes his eyes and concentrates. Furrows appear on his brow. His eyes fly open as he exclaims, “There’s no hidden compartments or anything in this floor. It’s not deep enough. We could see the underside of this landing from the bottom floor.”

What is it?

Where is it?

It’s here.

Not beneath us, so…

My eye catches the sledgehammer sitting in the corner, directly beside us. Grabbing it, I wield it over my head and bring it down into the wall with my entire strength. Aeris screams with fright and Cyrus and Devyn quickly look toward me before jumping back, out of the way. Not stopping my intent, I quickly do it again. And then, again. A hole appears in the wall. The rock snake glides up the wall and rushes into the opening.

After a few more swings, I see I’ve made a hole large enough for us all to fit in. It was a damn false wall. I peer inside.

It’s another fucking room!

An otherworldly glow that is not coming from the magick rock snake hovers protectively around it, hugging the walls, encasing the entire room.

---