Ancient Magic (Dragon's Gift: The Huntress #1)(60)

Del appeared beside me. She leaned heavily on my shoulder. “Is it in there?”

“Yes. I’m going to try to destroy it.” I withdrew the scroll and threw it on the ground about ten feet in front of me, then glanced at her. “You might want to back up.”

She stepped back.

For the second time today, I tried to access my magic. It felt a bit more natural this time, but still foreign. Even trying to use it made my heart pound. I’d trained myself to repress it for so long that this felt entirely wrong.

I closed my eyes and focused on the magic within myself, letting it unfurl in my chest. It woke with a bang, rolling over me, as if it had been waiting years to be willingly released. I suppose it had been. I’d used it before—but only in unconscious moments of panic. Though I was freaked out right now, I was still consciously accessing my magic.

It felt strange and natural at the same time. But above all, necessary.

Flame would be needed to destroy the scroll. I reached for the flame that Aaron had taught me how to use. I felt the snap and crackle, smelled the scent of burning wood. I gathered it up and molded it, then released it in a great jet of fire that enveloped the scroll.

The fire roared, casting a glow on the cathedral walls. When it faded, I had to squint through the dark.

The scroll remained, lying untouched on the singed grass.

“Oh, shit,” Del said. “It’s protected.”

Damn it. “I’ll try one more thing, then we’ve got to get out of here.”

I reached for the spark of lightning inside me. As I had before, I envisioned myself as a lightning rod. When I had collected enough, I released a bolt at the scroll.

Thunder boomed and the lightning lit up the night with a harsh white light. Instead of one direct bolt aimed at the scroll, two burst from my hands. One struck the corner of the cathedral, crumbling it, and the other bounced off the scroll.

Double damn. I might have finally accepted being a FireSoul and taken someone’s powers, but I was still crap with my magic.

“It’s not going to work,” I told her. “We’ll figure it out at home. We’ve gotta get out of here.”

I grabbed the gym bag off the ground and raced to the scroll. It was cool to the touch when I picked it up—damned thing—and tossed it into the gym bag.

“Help me carry Nix,” Del said. “She’s easier than Aidan.”

I slung the bag over my shoulder and ran to where she stood by Nix. I took Nix’s feet while Del took her shoulders, and we carried our limp deirfiúr’s body over to Aidan.

“Like old times,” I muttered to Del.

She gave a wry laugh. “I was glad those time were over.”

We’d gotten in a lot of scraps as girls on the run. Thieving meant sometimes running into supernaturals more powerful than ourselves. Until we’d learned to fight well, two of us often were left to carry the third to safety.

Gently, we placed Nix on the ground next to Aidan. I stood, then caught sight of Aaron’s body.

“I can’t just leave him here,” I said.

“Uh, isn’t he the bad guy?” Del asked.

“Not really.” We couldn’t bring him back with us for a proper burial. He’d said the collar was enchanted so that his master could find him, but it was possible that he, too, had been enchanted with a tracking spell.

“Get ready to go,” I said to Del as I reached once more for my magic. I didn’t want to use it again, but I owed it to him.

My power reached out for Aidan’s once more, gathering up the flame. I wished I had a flower or something to put on top of him, but there wasn’t time. I released the jet of flame. It struck Aaron’s body and enveloped him, reaching high into the night. The damp grass around him would keep the fire from spreading.

My goal had been cremation on a funeral pyre like in a Viking ceremony. I hoped Aaron saw it the same way. My vision was blurry as I took one last look at Aaron, then turned to Del.

“I’m ready.” I reached out for her hand.

We crouched down so that we were touching Nix and Aidan. The cathedral glowed in the orange light of the flame. Whoever was coming to meet Aaron would be here soon. Possibly the man from my dreams. Part of me wanted to stay and fight him. Confront him. To have vengeance for Aaron’s life and maybe even for what had happened to me and my deirfiúr.

But a bigger part of me—the scared, smart part—wanted to run. I would meet this man. The hunter who sought us. But it wouldn’t be today.

“We’re going,” Del said.

I felt her magic pull us through the ether.





CHAPTER FIFTEEN





We appeared at Ancient Magic a moment later. The plywood over the glass windows and door blocked out the sunlight, casting the room in shadow. Or maybe it was just nighttime. I had no idea.

“Call an ambulance,” I said to Del, adrenaline still surging through me. “I’ll hide the scroll.”

I left Del dialing emergency services and headed out the main door. I’d have to stash this stuff in my trove until we found a more secure location. I didn’t know why Aaron’s master wanted the chalice, but I was hesitant to hand it off to Mr. S. More than likely, it wasn’t just a youth charm. I’d have to find him something else to replace it, but I’d worry about that later.