Magic Undying (Dragon's Gift: The Seeker #1)(9)

Emile shuddered hard, no doubt remembering his time in prison. His bleak gaze met mine. “Don’t let them discover that you’re different. Don’t. Being a FireSoul is bad. Coming back from the dead is worse.”

“I know,” I said. “I’ll be careful.”

Only the people who’d been at the battle with us knew that I’d died. They’d have my back. My deirfiúr, Connor, Claire, Emile, and Aidan definitely wouldn’t turn me in. I even had faith in Aerdeca and Mordaca, our friends over in Darklane.

“Where is Aidan?” I asked.

Cass’s boyfriend was a serious badass and respected by the magical governments because of his massive wealth and power. He descended from the first Shifter and could turn into any animal he pleased. Griffins were his creature of choice. Cass was just as tough as him, though. She was a Mirror Mage who could mimic any supernatural’s magic, and she also had a whole bunch of stolen powers from her rocky past as a FireSoul.

“Aidan’s okay, right?” I asked.

“Yeah.” Cass nodded quickly. “He’s fine. Everyone is fine. Connor, Claire, and Emile. Aerdeca and Mordaca, also. You were the only one who…”

“Died,” I finished for her. Calm settled over me at the knowledge that all of my friends were okay.

Cass threw her arms around me again and muttered into my hair, “I was so scared. You were such a hero.”

Nix’s hand rested on my back, as if she couldn’t help but touch me to confirm I was really back.

I squeezed Cass, then pulled away. “We all were. Another fight, another day, right?”

“Yeah, yeah, I know. Dangerous world out there.” Nix tipped her chin toward the window. “But you went above and beyond. And now that you’re back, it’s safer for the rest of us.”

I grinned. “It was easy.”

Nix hugged me.

When I pulled back, I asked, “Where’s Aidan?”

“Off following a lead about a portal to the Underworld, but I’ll text him now that you’re back.” Cass pulled her phone out of her pocket.

“Yeah, I found that portal, thank fates.” I swallowed the last bite of food and leaned toward Emile so that Ralph and Rufus could jump off my shoulders onto his. “We should get out of here.”

Claire came over with a to-go cup and handed it over. “I figured you’d want to take this on the road. I added a boost.”

“Thank you. You’re a life saver.”

In addition to the Cornish pasties they served, P & P’s drink specialty was enchanted coffees. I didn’t know what they added, but the special boost was like a shot of Red Bull in your coffee, without the jitters. I didn’t always add it, but today… Totally necessary.

“No, that would be me.” Connor approached from the back. He handed me a small black pouch. “There are a few helpful potion bombs in here. Red are Portlothian acid bombs. Deadly. Gold are freeze bombs. Blue unfreezes whatever you’ve frozen. The dark green is your potion. Take it every day. They’re labeled, so you don’t get them confused. Do not drink the acid bomb.”

“No problem.” I grinned and took the bag. “Thanks.”

Connor looked at me hard. “Don’t forget to take it every day. The poison is still in your system. You’ll start looking like an Ubilaz demon if you don’t take it, and that’s just the beginning of the transition.”

Okay, yeah. I wouldn’t be forgetting this potion.

“Thanks. You’re a life saver. Literally.”

“Come on,” Cass said. “You need a shower, then we’ll come up with a plan for getting that demon.”

“Yeah.” I looked at Claire, Connor, and Emile. “Thanks again, guys.”

“Let us know how we can help,” Claire said.

I felt almost entirely normal as we said goodbye and left P & P. The night was cool and dark, the silence punctuated only by crickets.

“The best thing we can do is split up,” Cass said. “Use our dragon sense to try to find a different Ubilaz demon. That increases our odds of catching one.”

Nix nodded. “Smart.”

We neared Ancient Magic and Cass said, “Let me duck inside and get my bag.”

“Yeah, I left mine too.” Nix followed her in.

I trailed them into our shop, soothed by the familiarity of the place. It was filled with all sorts of magical artifacts that we sold to the highest bidder. But we were totally legal.

My deirfiúr and I might hunt ancient artifacts for a living, but we didn’t keep them. Our goal was to retrieve the magical spells encased in the artifacts. The magic decayed with time, becoming unstable and dangerous. We removed the spell from the artifact and transferred it to a replica, which we then sold. Once it was all done, we returned the artifact to its original resting place.

It was how we stayed on the right side of the law and kept our consciences in the clear. None of us wanted to steal from the dead, or disrupt archaeological sites.

Cass held up her bag. “Right! I’ve got it. We can go.”

As I turned to leave the shop, the air vibrated around me, something I’d never felt before. I snapped my mouth closed and glanced around.

“You feel that?” Cass asked, her green gaze darting.