Chapter 47 Long Time, No See. Witch.
Maya did not follow Damon and Sloane when they turned toward the infirmary.
The moment their footsteps began to fade, she slipped into a narrow side passage she had memorized long ago. The base had been her home once. Its corridors were etched into her bones, every bend and shadow familiar. Even now, with her heart racing and danger clawing at her spine, her feet knew where to go.
Levi.
The thought alone tightened her chest.
She let the illusion fall as she ran, the borrowed face dissolving until she was herself again. There was no point pretending here. No one ever came willingly to the cages.
The closer she got, the colder the air felt.
The stench of iron and old blood hit her first.
“Makers,” she whispered under her breath.
She turned the final corner and froze.
Levi was slumped against the iron bars, head bowed forward, one massive arm hanging limply at his side. Blood stained the floor beneath him in dark, drying streaks. His chest rose shallowly, uneven, like every breath hurt.
Her heart dropped straight into her stomach.
“No,” she breathed. “No, no, no…”
She rushed forward, panic tearing through her limbs. Without thinking, she threw her palm out and released a sharp blast of energy. The iron bars screeched violently as the locks snapped apart, metal bending outward as if struck by a god.
The cage opened.
“Levi!” Maya cried as she dropped to her knees beside him, arms immediately wrapping around his torso.
He was heavy. Far heavier than she expected. Solid even in weakness.
His head lolled toward her, eyes barely open.
“Witch,” he rasped, lips tugging into something that tried to be a smirk.
She swallowed hard. “Don’t talk. Gods, you’ve lost so much blood.”
“We need to get you the hell out of here,” she added quickly, fingers fumbling with the chains binding his other arm. Her hands trembled as she forced them open.
Levi hissed when the restraints fell away.
“The cage,” he muttered, voice strained. “It’s woven with bane. Into the wards. Pull me out. Drag me away.”
Maya looked at him, chest aching. “You can’t even stand.”
“Do it,” he insisted weakly. “I’ll… take it from there.”
Her throat burned, but she nodded.
She braced herself and pulled with everything she had. His body sagged heavily against her, nearly sending her crashing to the floor. She gritted her teeth, muscles screaming as she dragged him inch by inch out of the cage.
Her arms shook violently.
“You’re impossible,” she muttered through clenched teeth.
“And yet,” Levi murmured faintly, “you came back.”
Once they were clear of the cage, she collapsed beside him, chest heaving. Levi went unnaturally still.
Too still.
Maya froze.
She leaned forward, pressing her ear to his chest.
Nothing.
Her breath hitched sharply.
“No,” she whispered. “No no no—”
She grabbed his shoulders, shaking him. “Hey! Hey, don’t you dare do this to me now.”
Her hands slid up to his face, cradling it as his head rested in her lap.
“You don’t get to die,” she whispered fiercely. “Not after all this. Come on, vice commander.”
Her voice broke despite herself.
“No… please.”
Tears burned her eyes, blurring her vision as panic overtook reason. Her heart thundered painfully in her chest.
Then she felt it.
Cold.
Not deathly.
Controlled.
Frost crept slowly across his wound, sealing torn flesh with delicate sheets of ice. His body temperature dropped steadily, the magic finally answering him.
Maya exhaled a broken sob of relief.
Moments later, Levi inhaled sharply and his eyes fluttered open.
He stared up at her for a long second, clearly disoriented, before his gaze focused.
“…Are those tears, witch?” he asked quietly.
She sucked in a breath and immediately rolled her eyes. “No. I sweat a lot. Especially when I think I’m about to deal with a dead body.”
Levi huffed weakly. “Liar.”
She looked away quickly, cheeks warming. “Shut up.”
He studied her face with surprising gentleness. “I’m… thrilled to see you again.”
Her lips twitched despite herself. “You have a funny way of showing it. Well I'm not, in case you were wondering.”
She helped him sit up carefully, keeping one arm wrapped around him just in case.
“Fernanda,” Maya said suddenly, voice dropping. “She’s here. In the base.”
Levi stiffened. “The Queen?”
“Yes.” Maya nodded. “Damon is trying to awaken her catalyst powers.”
Levi frowned. “Her what?”
Maya sighed. “It’s… complicated. He came to see me once. Talked just like you’re talking now. Said things I didn’t understand then.”
Levi shook his head. “You’ll explain later.”
“Yes.” She met his gaze firmly. “Later. Right now we save Fernanda.”
His eyes flicked to the emerald pendant resting against her chest. “I see you got back what’s yours.”
Maya raised a brow slowly.
“You,” she said. “You took it. You did!”
Levi stood, testing his strength. “I Borrowed it. I figured out it might lead me to you one way or the other as you were taken, turns out I was right about that.”
She opened her mouth to argue, but he was already moving.
“There’s no time,” he said over his shoulder. “We get the Queen out before this place becomes a grave from the doing of Kozlov. And I need to find a way to report back to him as soon as possible. Knowing Kozlov, he is sure as hell closer to getting back his wife.”
Maya stared after him for a moment, heart racing.Then she followed. Levi was right, Sebastian was definitely advancing with his army. He would not let this down until he has Damon's head. Sebastian was ruthless like that, it doesn't matter if he got Fernanda back safe and sound. You don't mess with what Kozlov has claimed his.
Maya knew Damon was smart as well, there's no way he wouldn't know about Sebastian's marching army. Which is why he would try to speed up the process of awakening the catalyst. That can't happen. Which is why they both needed to act fast.