Origin of Magic (Dragon's Gift: The Protector #3)(27)

Bree blasted it out of the sky with her sonic boom, but the next one was aimed for Ares. In a flash, he conjured his shadow sword. His magic flared, the scent of a cold winter morning at odds with the heat all around us. His shadow sword pulsed with the power, and when it collided with the rock, the stone exploded in a blast of powder.

Ana drove through the arches, trying to dodge the rocks that the giant hurled. As we neared the beast made of gravel and sand, Bree shot her sonic boom at a slender spear of rock that protruded right over the monster’s head. It plummeted from its perch, crashing onto him. The gravel that created him crumbled to the ground.

Bree whooped.

But another monster appeared farther in the distance, as large as the first. It hurled more rocks, right at us.

Bree blasted them out of the air.

Ares cut them down with his sword.

I felt spectacularly useless.

Until one of the rocks glanced off Bree’s shoulder, throwing her back into the buggy. Her harness kept her from flying out, but she dangled limply in the passenger seat.

I hit the red button on her harness, allowing her to collapse into the seat, and leapt upon the platform. We were nearly to the monster, but without Bree’s power to blast a rock onto his head, we were in a pickle.

We were nearly to him, a hundred meters away. I had only a second to think.

The arch above his head caught my eye. In a flash, I conjured a bow and an arrow that had a grappling hook end. A long rope trailed from the back of the arrow.

I aimed for the arch, firing. The arrow flew straight and true, sinking into the arch above the monster’s head. I grabbed the rope, leaping off the platform and swinging through the air.

Behind me, Ares roared. I swung for the giant’s head, realizing suddenly how insane this plan was. I neared him, hoisting myself up onto the rope and praying that he was a conglomeration of loose gravel and not a solid rock monster.

Man, I’d be so screwed if he was one big rock.

I swung for him, feet first, my boots colliding with his head. He crumbled, collapsing through the ground. Victory soared through me, quickly replaced by panic. I was swinging straight for the solid rock wall. An image of the Wile E. Coyote smashing into a cliff while chasing the Road Runner flashed in my head.

An insane laugh welled within me, but I managed to twist myself just enough to plant my feet on the wall and push off, swinging for the buggy as it sped by. I released the rope and landed in the back seat, an awkward pile of shaking limbs and trembling muscles.

“You’re insane!” Ares pulled me up, his gaze frantic with worry.

“You ever need a job, you call us!” Ana cackled, speeding out of the arches and away from the threat of gravel monsters and flying boulders.

Death Valley was insane.

Panting, I climbed up so that I was standing on the back seat, my butt propped against Ares’s platform. Ana was leaned over the seat, looking at me and shaking her head. “Stone cold.”

“Thanks.” I searched the terrain ahead of her. “There’s sand dunes up ahead.”

“The Guantlet,” Bree said. “Haven’t seen that one in a while.”

“The obstacles change frequently?” I asked.

“Depending on the season, or the valley’s mood, yeah.” Ana slowed the buggy to a stop before the sand dunes and Bree leapt out, crouching by one of the tires.

“What’s she doing?” I asked.

“Letting out some air,” Ana said. “Better for sand driving.”

Bree raced around the buggy, finishing the job, then jumped back into the passenger’s seat. Ana took off.

Bree ducked below the seat, looking for something. She popped up again and tossed two pairs of steampunk-looking goggles back at us. “Put those on.”

I tugged them on, the world suddenly going strangely reddish.

“The color will help you see the snakes.”

“Snakes?”

Bree shot me a grin as she tugged hers down. “Yeah. Big ones. Better get those swords ready.”

Ana looked at Bree. “Ready to take the wheel?”

“Yeah.” Ana took Bree’s place—all without slowing the vehicle.

Ana climbed onto the front platform, then looked back at us. “Get ready for some heat. And swords at the ready.”

“It’s always summer in the gauntlet.” Bree laid her foot on the gas, speeding toward the golden, rolling sand dunes.

I called upon my magic, conjuring a long blade. But if there were going to be snakes… I conjured a shield as well, handing it to Ares. Then I conjured another.

As soon as the buggy passed over onto the sand, it slowed slightly, the tires plowing over the golden stuff.

Suddenly, the heat was intense, a pounding fire that beat down upon my head. Sweat rolled down my face. I’d been in deserts before, even magically enchanted ones, but this was incredible.

Rain began to fall from the sky, sizzling when it hit the hood of the buggy. A drop hit me, burning like fire. I yelped.

Acid rain. Made of actual acid.

Ana knelt on the platform, raising her hands to the sky. Her magic swelled, bringing with it the scent of rain, and it shined from her hands, forming a barrier over us like a dome. The magic was gray and opaque, some kind of surreal mist that blocked the sun and acid rain.

I had no idea what her gift was, but it was working. The heat lowered to a bearable level. But Ana looked like she was about to collapse, the effort making sweat pour down her face and her muscles tremble—as if she were Atlas, holding up the world.