Immortal Reign (Falling Kingdoms #6)(3)

“You underestimate the reach of your magic—of your very existence. Melenia knew this. That’s why she envied you just as she did Eva. Perhaps this is why she wanted you dead after you’d served your purpose. Just like your mother wanted you dead.”

Lucia staggered back from him, as if his words were physical blows. “My mother feared my magic.” She turned her face away from the monster long enough for Jonas to see the tears streaking down her cheeks. “I should have let her kill me!”

“Your mortal life is the only one I still value, little sorceress. Take your rightful place by my side, and together we will rule the universe.”

Lucia stared at the fire Kindred for a moment in silence. “I don’t want that.”

The fire god chuckled. “You lie, little sorceress, especially to yourself. Ultimate power is all any mortal wants. You would allow your family, your friends, even your own child, to be destroyed if it meant you could achieve it. Embrace this, little sorceress. Little goddess.”

Trembling now, Lucia clenched her fists at her sides, and she screamed, “NEVER!”

The ear-piercing sound froze the fire god in place. In the next moment, he exploded into a million crystal-blue shards, each falling away to reveal the room at the inn behind them. And the girl sleeping in the small bed.

Lucia’s dark lashes fluttered. She opened her eyes, and her gaze locked on Jonas.

“What . . . what in the hell did I just see?” Jonas asked, his voice raspy. “Was that just a dream? Or was it a vision of the future?”

“You were in my head just now,” she whispered. “How is that possible?”

“I . . . I don’t know.”

Her eyes widened. “How dare you invade my privacy like that!”

“What—?”

Jonas suddenly found himself airborne, as if a large invisible hand had grasped him and thrown him back from the bed. He hit the far wall hard and fell to the floor with a grunt.

The baby began to wail.

Lucia gathered the child in her arms, her glossy eyes filled with outrage. “Stay away from me!”

He rubbed the back of his sore neck as he pushed himself to his feet and scowled at her. “You think that I did that on purpose? I was only trying to wake you from your nightmare. I didn’t know that would happen!”

“I’m beginning to wonder just how much magic you hold inside you.”

“Yeah, me too.” He willed himself to be patient. “I didn’t know I could enter your dreams . . . like . . . like . . .”

“Like Timotheus can,” she hissed.

A Watcher. An immortal who’d lived for millennia. Timotheus lived in the Sanctuary, a world apart from theirs, and Jonas didn’t trust him any more than he did the fire Kindred in Lucia’s dream.

“This is Timotheus’s doing,” Jonas mused. “It has to be.”

“Get out!” Lucia snapped.

“Listen, I understand that you had a rough night. We both did. But you’re being completely irrational right now.”

She thrust her hand toward the door. At her command, it flew open and slammed against the wall. Her cheeks were red and tear-streaked. “Leave me alone with my daughter!”

The baby’s cries hadn’t stopped for a single moment.

Was he supposed to simply ignore what he’d seen in Lucia’s dream just because she’d woken up in a foul mood? “I was trying to help you!”

“Once you get me to my father and Magnus I won’t need any more help from you, rebel.” She jabbed her finger in the direction of the door. “Are you suddenly deaf? I said get out!”

Before he knew it, Jonas found himself shoved out into the hallway by a blast of air magic, the door slamming shut in his face.

So this was the thanks he got for defying his own damn prophecy and saving her life last night by very nearly giving his own: a door magically slammed in his face the morning after.

“Doesn’t matter,” he said aloud through clenched teeth. “This is almost over. Can’t be soon enough for me.”

As soon as he delivered the Limerian princess to her hateful family, his association with the Damoras would officially and thankfully come to an end.

In a fouler mood than any in recent memory, he descended the inn’s stairway. He focused on finding some breakfast to fill his empty stomach. A traditional Paelsian breakfast of runny eggs and stale bread would be perfect, he thought. He didn’t expect to find the exotic fruits and vegetables that graced the dining tables of shiny, pampered Auranians or stick-up-their-arses Limerians. This close to the western wastelands, he’d be lucky to get a wilted piece of cabbage or partially rotting tomato to go along with his meal.

And he was just fine with that!

“Jonas.”

He froze momentarily at the unexpected greeting as he entered the shadowy, nearly vacant tavern. Instinctively, he reached for the dagger hanging from his belt. But when his gaze fell upon a familiar face, his scowl was replaced by a grin.

“Tarus?” he asked, stunned. “Am I seeing a spirit right now, or is that really you?”

The young boy with messy red hair and a memorable face full of freckles grinned brightly back at him. “It’s really me!”

Without hesitation, Jonas embraced his friend tightly. This welcome face from his past worked as an immediate balm for his wounded soul. “It’s so good to see you again!”