Origin of Magic (Dragon's Gift: The Protector #3)(40)

“We need to find him,” Ares pressed. “It’s the only way to stop him, and you’re our only lead.”

Ares was right. And I was desperately glad that he was asking this question. I could not have done it.

“I cannot.” Ademius shook his head. “I have done my part, the part fated since I was born. I am done now.”

“Please.” Ares’s voice softened, gentler than I’d ever heard it. “Lives are at risk. Thousands of them.”

Ademius sighed. “I cannot go back. But I can direct you to a man who can help. He found me while I was trying to escape and helped me.”

I jumped at it. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet. There is no easy way to access Drakon. But Torus hates him even more than I do. He lives at the edge of Drakon’s land. Perhaps he can help you sneak in. Though it won’t be easy.”

Yeah, it’d probably be a giant pain in the butt. Death Valley style. “That’s okay. I’m not expecting easy. I just need a clue. Something to help me find him.”

“Then you’ll have one.” He held out his hand, nodding toward the piece of paper he’d given me that contained the recipe for the potion. I handed it over. He scribbled something on it—a name and a place, it looked like—then handed it back to me. “There. He is a thin man with dark hair and eyes. He loves horses, so I imagine you’ll find him at the stable. Godspeed, Phoenix. I always enjoyed our time together.”

I reached across the table and squeezed his hand. “We’ll tell you when we’ve defeated them. Then you’ll be free to leave here.”

“It will not matter. Now that you have the information you need, my part is finished.” He sighed, both contented and a bit sad. “I will cross over.”

“Cross over?” Dread filled my chest.

His tired gaze met mine. “I’m thousands of years old, Phoenix. I’ve been waiting for you for a long time. I’m ready for the next phase.”

Death. I swallowed hard.

“No. Please don’t,” I said. This is what he’d meant when he’d said he couldn’t help us find Drakon. His time was up. “Please.”

Ademius smiled. “I must, child. The magic that made me immortal is linked to you. It allowed me to wait for you. But now that my role is done, the magic will fade.”

Tears pricked my eyes. I’d only had him back for a short time. I’d gotten cocky, crowing about all the family I had.

Fate didn’t like that.

“Don’t be sad for me, Phoenix.” Ademius smiled. “I’m happy to go. I want to see old friends and family.”

“You will?” I didn’t know what happened in the afterlife, but that sounded great. And Ademius sounded so happy about it.

“I will. I don’t know everything, but I do know that.”

I gave a watery smile. His contentment radiated from him. As much as the idea of his passing tore at my soul, I couldn’t help but appreciate that.

“I’ll miss you.” My voice broke.

“I’ll miss you, too. But you’ll see me again.”

Tears pricked my eyes. His voice was so final. But at peace. I hugged him. He wrapped his arms around me briefly, then stepped back.

“It is time for you to go now,” he said.

I nodded, somehow hating the words even though I knew he was right. It was time to go. Time to go and face my fate.





Chapter Eleven





We were escorted out of Hider’s Haven and told never to return. I was okay with that, especially once I stepped out of the tunnel and back into the open air of Death Valley. Even though this place was deadly as a six-headed rattlesnake, at least we were free out here. Out in the open. Not trapped like rats in a sewer, hiding from the daylight.

“I’ll miss him.” I reached for Ares’s hand.

He took it and squeezed. “I know.”

A sob tore through my chest. I let it out, then sucked in a breath and held it. I wouldn’t cry. Later, maybe. Definitely. But for now, I couldn’t mourn Ademius. He’d helped me. In my youth, and now. I had to honor that by succeeding.

I drew in a shuddery breath and turned to Ares. “Okay. I’m good.”

Sadness glinted in his eyes. “I’m sorry, Nix.”

I smiled, the corners of my mouth trembling. “Thanks. But it’s fine. Just getting my parents back was huge. Getting to even see Ademius again was a gift. I need to focus on that. Count my blessings.”

“You’re one tough FireSoul.”

“Thanks.” I looked out over the desert. “Now let’s get out of here. Could you try to transport us? Maybe it’ll work since we’re at the edge of the valley.”

“I can try.”

I crossed my fingers, praying that Ares’s transportation ability would work.

Of course, it didn’t.

“Damn it,” Ares said.

I looked up the mountain. It looked safer than trying to get across the valley. “We need to climb out.”

“Lead on.”

We began to hike, scrambling up the mountainside. The recipe in my pocket burned. I’d memorized it on the walk out of the tunnel just in case something happened to it. Now, we just had to get home so Connor could whip it up. If anyone could whip it up, it was the gifted potion maker.