My fingers shook as I slid it out. The cover was blank. I opened it to the first page. Writing was scrawled in a language I didn’t understand, but the book itself wasn’t what caught my attention.

A loose, folded piece of paper stuck out from the binding.

It gave off a pure, white aura.

I slipped it out and set the book back down. As I opened the folds, I got a case of the giggles.

I’d found a map. And if I was reading the symbols right, it led to a temple.

Oh my God. I’d found a map that lead to the temple of the white mages.

I set the book down and shoved the map in my purse. I needed to get out of here before the Fathers found me.

A throat cleared behind me. Father Alfred stood in the doorway, and behind him, Father Valentine and Matt glared.

Shit. I fumbled with the books that I’d dropped, trying to conceal the fact that I’d taken something from their stash. “I’m sorry, I got lost and thought this might be the outhouse. The smell was… So I lit the candles, and then I saw the books…” I piled all the fallen books in my hands and got up, trying not to drop them. “I do love a good magic book. I didn’t mean to snoop.”

“I’ll take those,” Father Alfred said, anger dripping from his words.

I swallowed. Should I scream now and hope Lucas got here in time, or see how it played out? Was Lucas even nearby? I couldn’t count on that. It would be better to get myself out of this. If I still could. My hands shook as I handed Father Alfred the books. “Thank you. Sorry if I ruined your organization.”

As Father Alfred took the books from me, he muttered something in Latin.

Before I could do anything—run, scream, anything at all—my body crumpled to the ground. I had no control over it.

Pure terror coursed through me and a drop of sweat rolled down my temple. I could feel it, but I couldn’t move.

“Drag her to the center of the circle,” Father Valentine said. “We’ll get you her power, but then you’ll owe a favor of our choosing. Do you agree to the terms?”

“Yes,” Matt said.

Rage like I’d never felt burned hot inside me.

I hadn’t liked Matt before, but now I hated him. Despised him.

He wanted to strip my power. He’d lied to my face yet again, and yet again, I’d fallen for it. Stupid. So, so stupid.

I tried to yell out, but I couldn’t. It was like my voice was stuck. But my magic…