Page 5 of Light Magic

Shit, this wasn’t good.

I sat up, my back to the bed, and tried to slow my breathing. I couldn’t sleep now. If I did, I wasn’t sure I would wake up.

I looked around, searching for a miracle. Some magical pain medicine or healing powder.

Three gold coins sat piled beside my bag on the dresser.

I blinked, feeling my consciousness slipping away.

Without a choice, I snatched one of the coins and called to her.

“Lacey,” I whispered.

A moment later, a purple portal appeared in front of me and a pretty witch crossed.

“Ariella?” I heard her, but I couldn’t really see more than a shape. “By the moon.” She hissed and reached for me.

And everything went black.

2

I woke up with a start, but I couldn’t even sit up, because my shoulder hurt like a bitch. I groaned and lay back in bed.

“Hey, easy now.” Lacey leaned over me in bed and help me prop up the pillows so I was half sitting.

I frowned for a second and then it all came back to me.

The supernaturals, the fight, the stake in my shoulder, the coins on the dresser, me calling for Lacey.

Shit.

I glanced down at myself. My shirt was cut above my breasts, revealing most of my blood-stained bra, and a bandage covered my shoulder. “Is it too bad?”

“Not anymore.” She sat down on the edge of the bed. “If you hadn’t called me, though.” She shook her head. “but just so you know, when I healed you, the dye in your hair faded completely.”

I reached to the ends of my hair and sure enough, the silver-blond was back. “Shit.”

“What happened?” she asked, her tone concerned.

“What do you think? It’s the damn reward. The entire supernatural world is after me.”

“That’s not true.”

“All right. Then ninety-nine-point-ninety-nine percent.” One corner of her lips tugged up and that reminded me so much of her brother. I cleared my dry throat. “Lacey, look, thank you for coming, and I’m really sorry I brought you here, but you can go now. You don’t need to babysit me.”

Her brows slammed down. “You don’t get to do that. You called me and now I’m staying until I make sure you’re okay.”

“I’m okay.”

“You’re the patient. I’m the healer. I’ll tell you when you’re okay.”

“Lacey—”

“Don’t Lacey me,” she said with a snap, the harshest she had ever talked to me. She rose to her feet. “It’s midmorning, so I’m going out to get us some breakfast.”

She headed to the door.

“Lacey.” She glanced at me, ready to cut me off again. “Hm, I don’t think you should go out like that.”