Origin of Magic (Dragon's Gift: The Protector #3)(13)

But this place was so dead. How could it be my home? I loved plants. I was Life in the Triumvirate, whatever that really meant.

This couldn’t be my home.

The only plants here were flowers and vines carved into the fountains that flowed out of the walls of the old buildings. Stone arches that spread over the top of the street were carved with flowers as well.

Though it was fabulously beautiful with the stone and amber and waterfalls, it was wrong somehow. My hair stood on end. Even my body sensed that something was off here.

I climbed past a few more houses, headed to I didn’t even know where. As I walked, déjà vu started to hit me hard. I’d been here before, hadn’t I? Or not?

Damn, this sucked. My mind spun as I tried to make sense of this place.

“Stop!” A commanding voice came from behind.

I turned, heart in my throat. The largest man I’d ever seen—he had to be nearly seven feet tall—stood about ten feet away from me, a sword drawn and his leather armor gleaming in the morning sun. Light glinted off metal discs sewn onto the leather.

I could have drawn my bow—met his threat with one of my own. But I didn’t.

Sometimes, in the movies, there’s a moment where the character realizes something huge has happened. They just stand there and watch, understanding that the world is changing around them. Like Neo in the Matrix. I was Neo, and I was about to take the red pill.

“Where am I?” I asked.

Confusion creased his brow. “You are trespassing.”

“Not sure about that. A portal appeared to me—felt a hell of a lot like an invitation.”

Surprise flared in his brown eyes. Then they hardened. “Come with me.”

“Where are you taking me?”

“To the head steward. She will determine what to do with you.”

“Is she in charge?”

“While the queen and king are away, yes.”

“All right then, let’s go.” They could throw me in a dungeon, kill me for trespassing, use me for archery practice—who knew? But I wanted answers, and my dragon sense was clear—there were answers in this place. It’d never led me wrong before and I didn’t think it was about to start.

“Good.” He almost looked surprised at my lack of fuss, but I didn’t have time to dillydally around.

He led me up the street toward a large building on the left. It looked almost like a municipal building, except that it had fabulous stone architecture and was probably about a thousand years old.

“What is this place called?” I asked as he gestured me inside the building.

“Elesius. But the steward will answer your questions.” He led me into a fabulous library.

Shelves of books surrounded me, leather spines lined up neatly. Comfy chairs were scattered about the large room, along with tables and a desk. Light shined in from a glass ceiling, along with windows high on the walls. Colorful glass lamps sat on surfaces, but the candles within were not lit.

“Wait here.” Morpheus left. Even though he hadn’t handed me the red pill himself, the nickname fit.

I explored the room, finding books I’d never heard of. The door creaked open behind me, a noise so slight I almost didn’t hear it.

I turned. A woman entered, shock sending her brows up to her hairline. Her dress was long and pale green, her hair a riot of red and gray curls around her face. She wasn’t my mother, but she was vaguely familiar.

The woman spread her arm out. “Phoenix Lividius, you are home.”

Chills raced over my skin. “What do you mean? How do you know my name?”

Footsteps sounded from the hall behind her. My eyes darted to the empty space in the doorway. Morpheus appeared.

“This is your home, Phoenix Lividius.” the woman smiled. “We’ve been searching for you.”

My home.

Something familiar pulled at my mind. My gaze darted around the room, taking in the books and the chairs and the windows streaming light that made the dust motes sparkle.

I was home? Could my parents possibly be here?

Joy and fear ricocheted through me, a lightness and a heaviness that didn’t know how to coexist inside one body. I searched my mind for more memories, but none came.

There were types of mind manipulation magic—Doyen’s had screwed with me enough that I was too intimately familiar. But this didn’t feel like that.

“I’m from here?”

“Yes. I’m Moira.” She gestured to Morpheus. “That is Orion. He is a guard. I am consul to your mother, the queen.”

“Is she alive?” My heart leapt. “My father?”

I had only the vaguest memories of them, gleaned from nightmares of the Monster using them against me. They’d been abducted along with me, according to my sparse memories.

“They are alive.” A tentative smile pulled at Moira’s lips. “They are on a trading expedition. One that could not wait. But we’ve sent word. They will be home soon.”

My head felt like a balloon, floating among the clouds. My parents were alive.

“I’m home.” The words felt foreign and strange.

“Yes.” Moira gestured for me to come forward. “Come, I’ll show you to your room.”

“What is this place? The library?”

“My personal study. As well as being consul to your mother, I’m the steward in Elesius. While your parents are gone, I act in their stead.”