Origin of Magic (Dragon's Gift: The Protector #3)(31)

“How’s your hearing?” I asked. “Extra good, right?”

“I’ll be able to hear any approaching threats, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“That’s what I’m asking.” I leaned my head against his shoulder, enjoying the closeness. “Though I do trust Bree and Ana. If they said to camp here, it’s safe.”

“Mostly.”

I laughed, but he was right. You never could quite tell what would come at you. And those girls were so brave that their idea of safe could still be pretty dangerous.

The night grew darker as I rested against Ares. Wind whistled and the air grew cooler. Stars came out, glittering high in the sky above. Eventually, I had enough power to conjure us some water and sandwiches, along with a big sleeping bag.

“You’re impressively resourceful,” Ares said.

“Conjuring is a good skill to have.” I polished off my sandwich and took a sip of water, then huddled into the sleeping bag.

Ares joined me, and I curled up against him, seeking his heat. The desert was cold at night, down to the forties at this hour. Though being close to him set my blood on fire, I was too exhausted to sit upright, much less do anything else.

“Not just the conjuring,” Ares said. “You created new magic today. You saved us from the Phantoms.”

I sighed. “Yeah. A bit of a surprise.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. The new magic was a shock. And… I’ve been doubting myself a lot lately.”

It felt good just to say the words out loud. Even feeling doubt could be guilt inducing. Like I should be strong enough not to feel uncertain in the first place. Which was just a vicious circle.

But saying it out loud… kinda took the burden off.

“You’re one of the strongest, most resourceful people I know.” Ares’s arm tightened around me.

“It’s just that I only have the conjuring power. It’s super handy. But if you’re up against a seriously powerful magic, conjuring a sword doesn’t get you very far.”

“It’s gotten you pretty damned far, I think.”

I smiled. “I’m proud of that. I am. But one day, I’m going to be out-powered.”

“That’s a risk for anyone. But fate wouldn’t choose you if you weren’t worthy.”

“Thank you.” And maybe he had a point. I’d blasted those Phantoms away with my new magic. Magic from Elesius, which had chosen me over all my ancestors. “Considering everything that my city had given me, I really ought to have had some faith. To honor its sacrifice.”

“Doubt can be a tremendous burden. It will slow you down.”

I looked up at him. Moonlight cut across his face. “You know something about that?”

“I do. For a long time, I thought I couldn’t uphold my father’s legacy as Enforcer. Or be worthy of the post at all.”

“But you are.”

He shrugged. “Took some time to realize that. But I’d have been better off if I’d have realized it sooner.”

“How did you realize it?”

“Just forced myself to do the job and give it my best. Eventually, I started to believe in myself.”

“Not a bad plan.” It was something I needed to do. Just try—try to succeed, try to believe I could do this.

Yeah, there was a lot at stake. And sometimes I felt like I was standing at the base of Mount Everest in flip-flops.

But getting mired in doubt was a terrible way to spend the magic that Elesius had given me. I owed it to myself to have a little faith in my abilities. I owed it to my home.

“You’re going to be fine, Nix. I’ve always believed in you. And I don’t say that easily.”

I smiled. Whatever came my way, I’d do everything in my power to stop Drakon. To finish what fate had started for me.

“Thanks.” I snuggled closer to him, exhaustion dragging at my muscles. It was pretty awesome to confide in Ares. Scary, to get this close to another person, but awesome. Really freaking awesome.



I ran through the forest, leaping over tree limbs and dodging boulders. Tears poured down my cheeks, fear turning my chest to ice.

All around me, the forest died. Trees lost their leaves and grass shriveled to nothing. Elesius was dying, but Mum wouldn’t tell me why. She said I was too young to know, but I was thirteen! Nearly an adult.

I scrubbed the tears from my cheeks, but my blurred vision made it impossible to see the tree root. I tripped, sprawling on my hands, pain shooting through my knee. A rock.

I sobbed, head bent.

The forest was betraying me. As if it were my fault it was dying. I shook my head.

“No,” I whispered. That was crazy.

I rolled onto my butt, sitting with my back against the dead tree that had tripped me. All around, wind whistled past the trees. But there were no leaves to rattle. No grass to wave in the wind.

At my side, there was a tiny, struggling vine. It leaned toward me, as if blown by the wind. But the wind came from the other direction. I reached out to pet it.

A footstep sounded behind me.

I whirled, catching sight of the old man who occasionally visited me when I was in the forest.

“Grandfather Ademius!” I called. I sniffled, shoving back the tears.

He turned his head in my direction and smiled, as if he’d been looking for me. I hadn’t seen him in ages.