Breathless Magic Read Online Free

mine.
    But my dearest friend was safe and nothing could take that
incredible relief away from me.
    Distantly, I heard Jericho shouting my name through the
phone dangling from my fingertips, but I was still processing the intense joy
that came with knowing Lilly was alive and the confusion that accompanied it.
    “What is it?” Kiran asked immediately  
    No sound came out but I was able to mouth, “Lilly.” I pushed
past the emotional blockade in the center of my throat and croaked out, “She’s
alive. Jericho has her and she’s alive!”
    Kiran ripped the phone from me and I heard him interrogate
Jericho on exactly what they were doing and when they would be here.
    Eight hours.
    Eight hours and Lilly would be here- far from Terletov and
reunited with Talbott.
    I tried to stand up to run to the back of the ballroom where
I could wait and watch for their plane to land, but my knees gave out the
moment I put any weight on them. I sunk to the floor in a heap of happy tears
and sad tears. I had just lost two of the most important people in my life; but
I was getting another one back, someone I counted as close as a sister and as
important as my own life.
    Terletov was slowly tearing my Kingdom apart with his
malicious terror, but I had the man I loved at my side and his children growing
in my belly. Such contrasts of extreme delight and absolute despair were at war
with me and so I chose one.
    I chose to be relieved and excited. I chose to anticipate
Lilly’s arrival and the promise of finally being able to do something- finally
being able to save someone.
    Because I would use my smoke with her. There would be no
stopping my intervention. She would live.
    I would make sure of it.

 
    Chapter Three

 
    “There,” Avalon pointed to the distant jet stream that
approached our general area.
    Avalon and Amelia had come out of hiding with the news of
Lilly’s arrival. I’d sent Seraphina off with Sebastian, Roxie, Xander and
Xavier to go help Jericho rescue his mom and Kiran’s mom back in Brazil.
    And the rest of us waited anxiously for Lilly’s arrival.
    The four of us gather in the ballroom and held a silent
vigil through the night. Syl had checked on us a few times as we struggled
through the idle hours, but she was needed with Ophelia until Lilly came. Syl
wasn’t sure what she could do for Lilly if she needed help beyond what my blue
smoke could do; but just like with the babies, we were all exceedingly grateful
Syl decided to give up her human life and stay with us.
    With the jet in sight and the distant Magic growing
increasingly stronger as they prepared to land, we filed out the
recently-restored doors- that Olivia had destroyed when she’d discovered her Magic-
and walked quickly down the deck steps.
    Kiran had thoughtfully had the Guard bring out snowmobiles
for all of us. They were waiting on the other side of the Magically protected
Citadel wall. We each had one for the ride to the tarmac, but would double up
on the way back with the passengers from the plane.
    We were silent still as we arrived on the frozen airstrip.
The Guards had been out earlier, melting snow and ice to prepare for the
plane’s arrival, but the temperature was below freezing and snow piled higher
than my head on every side of the airstrip.
    We stood back as the small, luxury jet dropped down. Titus,
the pilot for this particular trip, landed without incident and soon the engine
was whirring to a stop and the stairs descended.
    We took off running then, anxious to get inside. Before the
staircase even touched the tarmac I leapt onto it and sprinted up the stairs.
The door opened and I rushed into the small cabin, expending my blue smoke
before I could even visually assess the situation.
    Lilly lay across Talbott’s lap like a petite, wounded bird.
My heart shattered at the sight of her so frail and helpless. Her already pale
skin was nearly translucent in this light. Her closed eyes were sunken and
black and blue with fatigue or