Magic Undying (Dragon's Gift: The Seeker #1)(22)

The familiar scent of Melly’s magic drifted to the backseat. The smell of lilacs and the taste of honey. Lovely, and as strong as I remembered, which was good. Hopefully it’d cover my own signature as I tried to locate the demon using my dragon sense.

Melly zipped into traffic, driving along a large bay filled with sailboats. We were on the left side of the road, which was disorienting, especially since Melly drove like a bat out of hell. Every time I thought she’d hit a light post or another car, she zipped nimbly around. I’d have bet she had killer aim with her daggers, too.

“You’re still hell on wheels, Melly,” I said.

“Only way to get around. Now where are we off to?” Melly asked.

“Give me a sec, and I’ll let you know.” Now that we were closer, I could get a better feel for the demon’s location.

I closed my eyes and called on my dragon sense, careful to keep my magic contained. I’d practiced that a lot in my life, trying to hide what I was. Now that I was more used to Roarke—though honestly, I’d never be truly used to him—it was easier to do.

After a moment, the familiar sense tugged at my middle. Fortunately, it didn’t seem as if the demon had moved since I’d last checked. “North. Near the coast.”

“North it is,” Melly said and put her foot on the gas.



“This is it,” Melly said as she pulled the car to a stop on a quiet road. We’d been driving for hours, sometimes through moorland, sometimes on narrow roads surrounded by hedges. “Tintagel castle.”

I peered out the window at the winding path that led up the craggy hill on the coast. “This is where King Arthur lived?”

“So they say,” Melly said. “Though no one has been there in years. Haunted.”

Excellent. Just what I’d been hoping for. “How so? Ghosts or what?”

“No one’s seen any ghosts that I know of. But some ancient places protect themselves.”

Wasn’t that the truth.

“Thank you, Melly.” Roarke climbed out of the car. “We’ll call you if we need a lift.”

I followed, turning back to Melly.

“Thanks.” I waved and she sped off, her little car bumping down the narrow road back to the village.

“Why would the Ubilaz demon be here?”

I turned at the sound of Roarke’s voice. The wind whipped at his dark hair and shirt while the setting sun illuminated his fallen-angel face.

I scowled at my stupid poetry. What was this guy doing to me?

“Honestly, I don’t know,” I said. “It’s a weird place.”

We were on a high cliff overlooking the sea. A path led upward toward the castle ruins, which I could just make out ahead.

“There’s nothing here.”

“Maybe that’s the point.” I reached up to touch the hilt of the sword that was strapped over my back, a habit when I was feeling uneasy. “Let’s go. It’s getting dark.”

Roarke nodded and turned, starting up the path. I hurried to join him, keeping pace with him as we climbed. Every now and again, I’d catch a glimpse of the sea and the setting sun.

“This silence is eerie,” I muttered.

Roarke grinned. “Good thing you broke it.”

“I try to be helpful.” I smiled up at him, then slammed straight into an invisible wall.

“Ouch!” I reached up and rubbed my nose, then peered forward. “There’s nothing there.”

Roarke reached out and pressed his hand flat against something. “Magical barrier.”

I frowned. There’d be a way around, but it would take time to find. “I wonder if there’s a way to break the enchantment.”

“There is.” Roarke’s magic swelled, hitting my senses with the scent of sandalwood and the taste of wine. My head went a bit woozy, it was so strong.

He drew his fist back and slammed it into the invisible wall. Brilliant white lines, like cracks in glass, radiated out from his fist as the enchantment crumbled.

“Whoa.” Tentatively, I reached my hand out. It passed right through where the barrier had been. “How’d you do that?”

He shrugged. “Same way I break through to the Underpath. I can disrupt the ether, which destroys this kind of protective barrier.”

“So you can break through enchantments.”

“Some enchantments. Mostly just protective spells that are placed upon the ether.”

“Whatever the case, it’s handy.” I eyed him appreciatively. Not only was he all kinds of brute strength, but he could break through ether itself. Talk about a useful skill. “You ever need a job, you can come work for Ancient Magic. It’d sure be easy to get into protected tombs and temples with you around.”

He grinned. “That’s a kind offer, but I’ve got a job.”

“Oh, yeah.” I frowned. I hadn’t forgotten, but the joking had been nice. “Boss of the Underworld.”

“Something like that.” He glanced up at the sky, which was now a dusky gray as the sun dipped below the horizon. “Let’s get a move on. Night’s falling.”

I nodded and followed him up the path. Or at least what I thought was the path. It was overgrown with grass. “Apparently not many people get past that barrier.”