Origin of Magic (Dragon's Gift: The Protector #3)(19)

“A tomb in northern England. Do you recognize it?”

She nodded slowly. “I do. And I cannot say that I am surprised.”

She held out her hands and I passed it across the table. She studied the incised decoration, tracing her fingers over the carvings. “This was made by the immortal wizard Ademius. He was one of us, long ago. An ancestor of ours who used his magic to extend his life. His name and deeds have passed through the ages.”

Ademius. The name tugged at a memory, but I couldn’t place it. “Could I maybe find where he went?”

“You’re meant to find him,” my father said. “It’s no coincidence that you were chosen for this, Nix. You are the Warrior of Elesius, created by our world. Given the tools to fight this battle.”

My mother swallowed hard, tears glinting in her eyes. “I’d hoped you wouldn’t have to face this.”

I reached across the table, gripping her hand. “It’s okay.”

“It’s not. But it is what it is.” She looked at my father, who nodded. “Before Ademius left, he knew that the Warrior of Elesius would have to seek him out. The seer told him so. He left something to help you track him.”

My heart leapt. It was going to be hard enough to find a guy who was thousands of years old—or dead—but at least I’d have a clue.



Later that evening, after showering in a little stone room with a fountain shaped like a lotus, there was a knock on my bedroom door.

“Come in.” I finished tugging on my boots and stood. It was only eight p.m., but I wanted to go find Ares.

My mother stepped inside, two small boxes clutched in her hands. “How are you?”

“Fine.” I didn’t think scared or feeing unworthy would go over well, so I stuck with fine.

“Fine never means fine.”

Of course my mother saw right through me.

“It might, if I keep telling myself that.”

She smiled and took my hand, then sat on the bed. I followed her down. “You are strong Nix. You can do this. You were born to do this, and I believe in you.”

My mother believed in me. It was something that should be obvious, but I’d been without her for so long that just hearing the words were a balm on my soul. And they helped, somehow. They erased a tiny bit of the doubt that I felt. I squeezed her hand. “Thank you.”

“That vampire is handsome.” Her green eyes sparkled.

“He is.” My heart fluttered.

The sparkle in her eyes faded. “Be careful, though. He is death, and you are life. Opposites.”

“Opposites attract.” I frowned. “And I’ve been responsible for my fair share of death, lately.” The reminder made my stomach turn.

“You’re fighting a greater battle. One for good, not evil. And you’ve only killed those who fight on the side of destruction.”

I smiled weakly, but it made me feel a bit better. It still boggled my mind that I was siting here with my mother after being alone for so long. I’d watched Cass and Del discover their pasts and wished so desperately to discover my own.

Now that I had, I was so lucky I couldn’t fathom it.

“Here.” My mother handed over the two small boxes. “For you.”

The first one, about the size of a cigarette pack and made of wood, contained a lock of hair, carefully laid out. Magic shimmered over it. Something to preserve it, if I had to guess. “This belonged to Ademius.”

My mother nodded. “Yes. He was one of the founders of this kingdom, so long ago.”

“I will find him.” Determination burned within me. “If Drakon has drunk the potion and understands the dragon prophecy as we believe, that means he’s found Ademius.”

“Perhaps.”

“Unless Ademius gave the potion recipe to someone else, he was in Drakon’s grasp. Or he’s escaped it, in which case he is likely hiding. Either way, he’ll be hard to get to.”

“It will be difficult, but you can do it.”

Her words warmed me. “Could you tell me a bit about him?” I’d need that info to help my dragon sense latch on.

“According to legend, he was tricky and wise. Not a seer, but he had a sense for things to come. That may have been why he left Elesius. A plague came not long after his departure. Perhaps he knew it was coming.”

I closed my fist around the box, calling upon my dragon sense. After a while, it tugged at me. “He’s in the American west. The desert.”

“You’ve found him, then?”

“It will take time. It’s a vague sense of location now, but as we get closer, it will hone in on him.”

“Don’t go until tomorrow morning. You must rest.”

She was right. A short sleep would regenerate my power after the battle and leave me fully prepped for what was to come. I tucked the box containing Ademius’s hair, which was kinda gross to think about, into my pocket. Then I opened the next box, which revealed a slender silver bracelet.

“It’s a powerful concealment charm,” my mother said. “Wear it, and hopefully it will keep Drakon’s men from finding you.”

I’d once worn one of these to protect myself from the Monster who’d stolen me as a child. But if this one was enchanted to conceal me from Drakon, that could be useful.