Magic Undying (Dragon's Gift: The Seeker #1)(54)

“I could give you a lift,” Roarke said.

I glanced at him, my mind temporarily blanking out. Let Roarke carry me to the top of the wall, which meant holding me in those stupidly hot arms of his? It hadn’t been a great idea at the river in Scotland; it wasn’t a great idea here. Though he did seem pretty keen on it.

“Uh, no thanks,” I said. “I feel like a good climb.”

We’d scaled plenty of walls in our time in the treasure-hunting business. This little castle wall was nothing.

“Me too,” Nix said in solidarity.

“Well, I’m taking my ride,” Cass said.

Beside her, silver light swirled around Aidan. A moment later, a massive golden griffin stood in his place. His wings were as big as Roarke’s, but he was a lion/eagle/magic combo instead of a demon half blood. Scary as hell, though, with his massive claws and a beak that could crush a Buick.

Cass climbed onto his back, and he launched himself into the air.

“Better get started,” Nix said.

I didn’t hang around to watch Roarke shift. Nix and I scrambled to the top of the craggy hill. Dim moonlight lit the way, giving us just enough light to see. When we reached the base of the castle wall, I was relieved to see that the stone and mortar were a bit eroded by wind and rain. Enough so that I could easily get a handhold and start climbing.

Side by side, Nix and I made quick work of climbing up the wall. But I couldn’t help but worry about my magic triggering the history here and bringing back the dead. As soon as the thought crossed my mind, the magic in the castle started to vibrate. Like I’d jinxed it.

No!

Magic vibrated in the air, as if the castle were coming alive. We were only halfway to the top. Too far to fall. I glanced around frantically, but didn’t see the familiar blue glow extending out from me.

Maybe it wasn’t coming alive.

I looked up, heart pounding.

A face stared down at me, confusion in his gaze. He was clad in one of the historic Norman helmets favored by eleventh century warriors. The ones with the weird nose pieces.

“Shit!” I hissed. “Climb faster!”

The man shouted an alert. At least, that’s what I assumed he shouted. He didn’t speak English as I knew it.

There was a scuffling at the top of the wall, and a second later, a shout.

I looked up to see a black, shining liquid being poured from above. Steam rose off of it. My skin chilled in an instant.

Boiling oil.

And there was nowhere to go.

The burning black substance was almost upon me when a strong arm grabbed me around the middle and pulled me off the castle wall. My stomach plummeted as my grip was torn away, but a second later, my brain processed what had happened.

Roarke.

Oh, thank fates.

Below me, Aidan grabbed Nix in his claws, pulling her away from the wall before a second vat of oil could be poured on her.

I clung to Roarke as he carried me to the top of the castle wall and set me down. Six helmeted guards turned toward us and shouted. I drew my blade and charged them, plunging my sword deep into the chest of one who had only half the teeth he’d been born with.

At my side, Cass hurled a fireball at another guard. Its orange glow lit up the night. Roarke and Aidan each tore into one—Aidan with his beak, Roarke with his clawed hands. Blood sprayed in all directions. Nix sent an arrow into the eye of the fifth attacker while I sliced into the jugular of the final one.

When the bodies lay still around us, Nix leaned close to me and whispered, “Was that your weird magic?”

“No, I don’t think so.” Thank magic. I hadn’t seen the blue glow, at least.

One by one, the bodies faded to nothing. They hadn’t been real. Not truly.

“There are strong enchantments protecting Arthur’s resting place from intruders,” Nix said.

I had a feeling she’d have said that anyway, just to cover for me, but I thought she was right.

“Yeah,” Cass said. “Keep a wary eye out. There’s still a lot of magic here.”

She was right. In the quiet night, I could feel it humming in the air, shrouding the ancient castle like a protective cloak. Who knew what would trigger the protective spells, but I had a feeling we would run into a few more.

The top of the tower wall was wide—at least twenty feet across. I walked to the interior edge and inspected the castle grounds. A labyrinth of ruins surrounded a grassy courtyard—buildings and rooms built up against the exterior castle wall. It would have once been filled with people and smaller wooden buildings. No way was I going in there. Who knew what I could bring to life in an area that had once been so rich with activity. I’d stick near the wall.

On the far side of the courtyard was the main keep, the massive, tower-like building that had been so distinct on the Pictish stone. That looked promising. Perhaps it was under there.

Cass and Nix joined me as Roarke and Aidan spread out in either direction, no doubt looking for threats.

“Can you feel where Arthur is resting?” I asked.

After a moment, Cass said, “No.”

“Dead as a doornail,” Nix said.

My dragon sense was dormant too. No matter how hard I tried, I got nothing. “I think the magic here is blocking me. Making it harder to find what it protects.”

“But he’s definitely here,” Nix said. “Right?”