Magic Undying (Dragon's Gift: The Seeker #1)(40)

My heart thundered in my ears as we hurried toward them. Why did we need to hurry? What would I find? Some terrible ritual in the crypt of an ancient cathedral?

I shuddered and gripped my sword tight.

We turned a corner in the crypt, immediately coming upon a long, low-ceilinged room that was filled with demons. We pressed ourselves against the wall and peered in.

Nine demons.

Shit. The ghost had been right.

Worse, they were massive, at least a foot taller than Roarke while he was in his Were-demon form. Their magic smelled like dust and felt like paper cuts.

In the middle of the room, there was a pit. Dirt flew out of it, like someone was shoveling. Must be the Ubilaz demon.

I sheathed my sword at my back and reached into my pocket for three of Connor’s potion bombs. The glass vials were red, which meant they were deadly Portlothian acid bombs. I could take out three demons from a distance with these.

I looked at Roarke and mouthed, “Let’s move.”

His black gaze met mine and he nodded.

We raced into the room, each taking one side of the pit. I hurled the potion bombs in quick succession, taking out three demons in a row. They collapsed to the ground, shrieking. I drew my sword and headed straight for the demon who stood at the edge of the pit.

He looked even bigger up close. I leapt, swinging my sword for his neck. But he reached out with one massive arm and swatted me away. I crashed against the ground, skidding on stone until I could see into the pit. Inside, the Ubilaz demon shoved the top off of a massive stone coffin. Within lay a skeleton dressed in tattered robes. A gleaming golden pendent lay on her chest.

The Ubilaz demon reached for it and yanked it off. The skeleton’s head tumbled to the side.

That bastard!

I heaved myself to my feet and spun to face the demon who had hit me. He approached, his massive fists clenched and ready to strike. This time, I went low, hurling myself at the demon’s legs and swiping out with my blade. I landed a blow that made him stagger, so I capitalized on it, leaped up, and planted my feet in his chest. He stumbled backward. I leapt upon him and plunged my blade into his heart.

His mouth opened on a snarl as I yanked my sword free and jumped back. Just as he was about to fall, he swung his massive arm, knocking me in the chest and hurling me into the pit.

I crashed to the ground. I scrambled to my feet, but before I could raise my sword, the Ubilaz demon spotted me.

His muddy eyes flared with rage as he backhanded me.

Pain exploded in my cheek as I flew through the air and crashed against the side wall of the pit. Instinct alone kept my blade in my hand. My head spun as I lurched to my feet, briefly catching sight of the carving on the top of the stone coffin’s lid.

Gwenhwyfar.

I called upon my magic, desperate to shift into Phantom form. Roarke couldn’t see me here in the pit, and I’d need everything I—

The Ubilaz demon jumped on me before I could shift. His clawed fingertips slashed against my front. Pain fired through me, whiting out my vision. Another clawed blow pushed me off him. More pain flared in my side.

I had to shift or he’d kill me!

The demon’s heavy form crushed mine as he landed on top of me. His claws raked down my arms. Acid pain shot through me. I shrieked.

It didn’t matter if Roarke saw me. I couldn’t survive this in my human form. I struggled to throw the demon off as I tried to shift, but I was too weak.

My magic stayed dormant, crushed by the debilitating pain that roared through me. I was thoroughly human, and I was staying that way.

Because I’d waited too long.

Blood coated my hands, and I lost my grip on my sword. Through blurry vision, I could make out the demon’s enraged face.

He was going to kill me.

Help!

The demon raised a massive clawed hand, ready to swing the death blow that would break my neck. I thrashed, my motions now weak as my blood pooled around my broken body. Too weak.

His arm swiped down. Death coming.

A transparent blue cloud swooped into the pit. But instead of encompassing me as it had the last time, it swirled around the demon and lifted him up into the air.

Magic sparkled, familiar and warm. It smelled sweet, something I recognized. The blue light whirled around the demon, keeping him suspended. It whirled faster and faster, then began to coalesce. Taking shape.

Blackness crept in at the corners of my vision. I struggled to stay conscious as the blue cloud rose up, away from me. Through my blurry gaze, just before I passed out, I thought I saw the blue cloud form something recognizable.

But impossible.

A dragon.

Definitely a dragon.





Chapter Nine





Light flickered in the distance, pale gold and beckoning. Pain seethed through me as I struggled toward it. Heaviness weighted my limbs.

Trapped. Blind.

I struggled, or tried to. I couldn’t move. Something held me down. Through the morass of pain and exhaustion, I pulled myself toward consciousness.

When I first opened my eyes, I saw nothing. Blackness all around. Then light filtered in, revealing a high wooden ceiling. A figure leaned over me. Pale, slanted eyes and a pair of tiny horns stood out starkly in my vision.

A demon!

I shrank back.

“It’s okay, it’s okay.” Roarke’s voice, rough with concern. “She’s helping you.”