Origin of Magic (Dragon's Gift: The Protector #3)(22)

He just wanted to make sure he had my consent before he chomped into me. And frankly, it was awesome.

“Have you learned anything else about the connection we feel because I’ve had your blood?” I asked.

“I’ve asked scholars in the Vampire realm, but they know nothing. It’s how I found you, though. I was able to track you.”

“Wow.” I stepped back slightly, stunned. That was kinda huge. But then, I’d felt like I’d sensed him yesterday when he’d arrived at Ancient Magic.

“Exactly. It’s strange, but welcome.”

Welcome?

Maybe we were fated or something.

Nah. Crazy talk.

“Want to head back?” I asked, desperate to distract myself from any stupid thoughts of being fated with Ares. That was a dangerous path, and one I would not tread.

“Sure. Let’s go.” He took my hand, and we left the cave, heading back out into the dying wonderland that was my home.





Chapter Seven





The next morning, Moira and my parents walked us to the portal where we would leave Elesius. The town was quiet this early, the trickling water of the fountains a soundtrack as we walked down the street.

“This is the same portal that we use when we go on trade expeditions,” my mother said. “It will take you wherever you envision on earth.”

“Trade expeditions made necessary because I’ve sucked all the life out of this place.”

“No. You did not. Elesius gave you its power. You are the chosen one. It is different.”

I swallowed hard, hoping I was up to the task.

The portal was at the base of the city, near a massive fountain that spewed clear, cool water. My mother stood in front of me and took my hands. “Be careful, Phoenix.”

“Careful is my middle name.” Okay, that was kind of a lie.

A small smile curled my mother’s lips. “Somehow I doubt that. But we will be here. Now that you have found your way home, you may return whenever you wish. Just think of this place and a portal will appear.”

Joy warmed my chest. The idea that I could come back whenever—that I could have dinner with my parents—was surreal. I hugged her. “I love you.”

“I love you.” She squeezed me hard and let go.

I hugged my dad next, my heart overjoyed. My parents turned to Ares to say goodbye, and Moira came to stand next to me.

Her voice was fierce as she whispered, “You must return. You must stay.”

“What? Why?”

“You must.”

I frowned, about to ask for more detail, but my mother and father turned back to us. Moira snapped her mouth closed and smiled at them, as if nothing had happened.

“Ready?” Ares asked.

“Yeah.” I glanced at Moira one last time. Her insistence made me nervous. I’d get to the bottom of her weirdness, but it wasn’t a priority right now. “Let’s go.”

I said one last goodbye to my parents, then stepped up to the portal. I looked at Ares. “To Death Valley Junction?”

It was the closest town to where my dragon sense said Ademius would be, and we wanted to get started right away.

“To Death Valley Junction.” He reached for my hand.

I took it and clutched the box to my chest with my other hand, then we stepped through, together.

Once again, the world swirled around me, crazy sights and sounds from all over the globe. When I stepped out into the real world, the silence was deafening.

This time, I merely stumbled instead of landing on my face. When my eyes adjusted, I realized that we were in an old desert town. It looked like the Wild West, with a wide flat street made of dirt and wooden buildings running down either side.

There were actual saloons.

A freaking tumbleweed bounced across the road.

I turned to Ares and tipped an imaginary hat. “Howdy, Pardner.”

He grinned.

“Seriously, though,” I said. “I think John Wayne is going to come out of one of these buildings any second. We could duel.”

“You’d win.”

I punched him lightly on the shoulder. “Thanks.”

The dry heat was oppressive, but not unbearable. There were some people walking down the street, going in and out of shops or houses. There were no obvious threats, like angry demons or a corrupt sheriff looking to run us out of town, but still…

“Let’s duck out of sight,” I said. “I’d like to call Cass and Nix.”

Ares nodded. We walked to an alley between two buildings—the Death’s Door Saloon and the Murderous Mercantile—and I pressed my fingertips to my comms charm to ignite its magic. “Cass? Del?”

“Nix!” Two voices squawked out of my comms charm, fear and anger obvious in their tones.

“Where the hell have you been?” jumbled over top of “Why the heck haven’t you called us?”

“Sorry, guys! Sorry!” Shit. I really should have found a way to contact them when my comms charm hadn’t worked in Elesius.

“Where are you? We’re coming there right now,” Cass said.

“We’re in Death Valley Junction, in the alley between the Death’s Door Saloon and the Murderous Mercantile.”

They said nothing, but a moment later, Cass and Del appeared in the middle of the street, Cass having used her transportation magic to zap them here in an instant. They spun in a circle, their gazes finally landing on the saloon, then hurried toward us.