on Aurora’s forehead, and when she opens her eyes again, they’re glowing too. Tendrils of magic curl around her wrist, then spread up her arm, and the rest of her body. A small gasp escapes her lips, which makes my spine go rigid.
I’m about to pry the athame from her hand, but she turns to me and says, “I’m fine. The athame is healing me.”
I drop my eyes to her broken hand, noticing that the swelling is decreasing. Son of a bitch. I’m fucking glad that the strange magic is taking Aurora’s pain away, but at what cost?
When she seems to be completely healed, she raises the athame, holding it firmly in her hand, and then slashes the air in front of her while speaking words in a foreign language. Two glowing lines appear, forming an X. They turn into a mirror, and through it we can see the inside of Elena’s apartment.
“You did it! You opened the portal.”
“I guess Declan was wrong about the blood. Maybe Ashmedai’s ashes were enough.”
I step closer, finding Solomon and the High Witch standing on the other end, staring at us. I link my hand with Aurora’s. “Are you ready?”
“Yes.”
“On the count of three. One, two, three.”
We both step forward, but instead of crossing to the other side, we hit an invisible wall.
“What the hell!” I frown at the mirror. “Why is it not working?”
“I don’t know. Maybe I cast the spell wrong, or we did need his blood.”
Solomon and the High Witch begin to speak at once, but we can’t hear a word they’re saying. What I can hear is the growling of something large and foul approaching. My muscles tense as I turn around in a defensive stance. A few yards away from us I spot a beast on four legs, running in our direction. Damn it! We’re so close.
“Run, Rora!” I yell.
“No, I’m not going to let you fight that alone.”
There’s no time to argue. The monster is almost upon us. I’m ready to say my final words to her when something grabs my jacket and yanks me back. A terrible shock courses through my body, and then my back meets solid, smooth ground. My vision is blurry for a second, but when I can see properly again, I’m staring at a white ceiling.
“What the fuck!”
“That’s what I should be saying.” Solomon appears in my line of vision, his white hair sticking out and messier than normal. “Honestly, I’m sick of getting zapped because of you two.”
“Rora!” I sit up at once.
“I’m here.” She touches my arm with her fully healed hand.
I don’t care that we have an audience, I pull her onto my lap and attack her mouth. I came too close to losing her tonight. I need the connection, to let her know how much I love her. She tilts her head to the side, deepening the kiss while her arms wrap around my neck. Nothing matters besides us and this glorious feeling of completion.
Somebody whistles nearby, then Ryker tells us to get a room. I don’t want to break the kiss on anyone’s account, but when the High Witch clears her throat, Aurora eases off.
“Are you two done?” she asks.
“Not by a long shot,” I reply with a smile.
“That was hot,” Niko says, staring at us like we’re two lovers in a movie.
Okay, maybe it’s best if we keep the PDA PG-13.
Aurora slips off my lap and together we get back onto our feet. She turns to Solomon. “What happened? How did you get us out of hell?”
“You can thank you mother for that. Isadora worked out the spell. We formed a magical cord that allowed me to step into hell and pull you two back.”
Aurora switches her attention to her mother, not speaking for a moment. Her heart is conflicted—I can sense as much.
“What happens now?” I ask to break the tense moment.
The High Witch glances at me. “Now I explain to the council what happened.”
“Are you going to tell them the truth or your version of the facts?” Aurora snaps.
The woman frowns, pinching her lips together. “I’m sorry I doubted you before. Believing Elena betrayed the coven meant everything I’ve done for them, every sacrifice I’ve made, was done for the wrong reasons. Elena was my mentor, Rora. And your grandmother’s best friend.”
“You never told me that.”
She lowers her gaze. “I’ve been wrong keeping you and your sisters at arm’s length.”
“What’s going to happen to Rora now that she’s engaged to Saxon?” Niko butts in.
I choke