Magic Undying (Dragon's Gift: The Seeker Book 1) Read online

  “Okay.” I tried not to sound begrudging. “We work together.”

  Cass and Nix glared at the Warden. If they’d been dogs, they’d have growled. We’d never been any good with honey instead of vinegar.

  “Del will help you,” Nix said. “But don’t even think about trying to take her back to the Underworld. She doesn’t belong there.”

  Cass’s green eyes blazed. “We’ll stop you if you try.”

  The Warden said nothing, which was no surprise. He was definitely the strong, silent type. He turned to me. “We should get started.”

  “We’ll come,” Cass said. She and Nix stepped forward.

  “No,” the warden said. “I can only take one when I hunt the demon.”

  “I’m hunting the demon,” I said.

  “You’re leading me to it. I’ll do the hunting. He’s escaped my Underworld, so he’s my responsibility.”

  “We can still come,” Cass said.

  “If we need you, we’ll ask.” The Warden’s tone made it clear that would be a cold day in hell.

  I glanced at the Warden. “It’s fine, guys.”

  If he wanted to take me back to hell, he would—it wasn’t like we could kill the Warden of the Underworld. Even if we could manage it, how would we cover it up? And I didn’t want to get into the cold-blooded murder game, anyway. Demons were one thing. They just went back to their Underworld when you offed them. Supernaturals—that came with more guilt. It was why I’d never stolen another’s power, even though my FireSoul gift would allow me to. I’d have to kill to take the power, and that was something I wasn’t interested in.

  “Fine,” Cass said. “But give her any trouble, and we’re coming after you.”

  He nodded sharply. At first glance, one might think it silly that someone as physically slight as Cass and Nix would threaten the Warden. But they were massively powerful supernaturals. I was glad the Warden respected that. Respected them.

  “What’s your first step in finding the demon?” The Warden raised his wrist as if indicating a watch. His dark brows rose. “Time is ticking.”

  No kidding.

  “First, I need to wash the poison off myself. I’m a mess. Then, I’ll use my seeker sense to find the demon. It’s kinda like meditating until I feel a tug leading me to its location.”

  “Fine. Where are you going to shower? I’m coming with you.”

  My heart thudded. “No, you’re not.”

  “I’m not letting you out of my sight.”

  “Well, you’re not getting in the shower with me.”

  “Then I’ll wait outside the bathroom.”

  I sighed and pointed to the ceiling. “Fine. My apartment is upstairs.”

  “I’ll come with you.”

  “Right, then.” I nodded at my deirfiúr. “See you later.”

  Their gazes were skeptical, but they nodded. I’d find a way to sneak out and see them one last time.

  I hurried from the shop, giving the Warden a wide berth as I passed him. But I could tell when he followed me. The heat of his gaze on my back burned.

  It was dark when I got outside, the yellow streetlamps shedding a golden glow on the damp pavement. Sprinkling rain fell from the sky, cold on my face. It’d been too damned long since I’d had a shower. Or clothes not covered in my own blood. Or demon blood.

  Honestly, I just needed to get away from blood for a while. It was a hazard of the job, but everyone had a limit.

  I glanced back to see him close on my heels, towering behind me. I swallowed hard, then stopped at the green door punctuating the brick wall beside Ancient Magic and dug deep into my pocket, grateful to find the single key. I unlocked the door, then pushed it open and started to climb.

  “I’m the next floor,” I said, too aware of his gaze on me and the fact that it was level with my butt. The leather was practical fight wear. It was also tight. And revealing.

  Normally I wouldn’t mind that, but with this guy…

  I reached the small landing that held the door to my place and gripped the handle. Before I could push it open, a big hand appeared on the door above my head, pressed flat to the wood. My gaze darted to it, then up and behind to where the Warden stood at my back.

  He lowered his hand and nudged my shoulder to turn me around to face him. Anger flared inside me. No one pushed me around, certainly not literally. I growled as I swung back my fist and pelted it toward his face.

  He caught it, faster than I’d expected, stopping me about six inches from his perfect jaw. So I struck with my other fist, nailing him in the ribs.

  The bastard grinned.

  I’d expected a grunt or a grimace. And my fist hurt, like he was harder than your average supernatural.

  My heart fluttered, stupid traitorous thing. Apparently it liked strength.

  “What the hell are you?” I whispered. His sandalwood scent wrapped around me, fogging my brain.

  “More than you expected.” His voice was low and rough enough to send a shiver through me. “Just as you’re more than I expected.”

  “That’s kinda my thing.” I shook myself. There was chemistry here, no doubt. I was attracted to him with a capital A. Hell, all the rest of the letters were capitalized too.

  But he was half demon, and they were evil and untrustworthy. How could I be attracted to someone like that?

  I didn’t know what to do about it. Use it to my advantage? Normally not my style. However, he might try to drag me back to the Underworld. So maybe I should give it a try.

  I rejected the thought almost as soon as it occurred, annoyed with myself, and demanded, “What the hell are you, really?”

  “Were-demon, like I said.”

  “I don’t even know what that means. I’ve never even heard of it.” But if it was real, it meant a demon was hunting me, the demon-hunter.

  “I’m one of a kind. Half shifter, half demon.”

  “What kind of shifter? What kind of demon?”

  “Don’t know. Never knew my mum or dad.”

  Same, I wanted to say. And I’d only learned my true last name today. From him. “You’ve got weird powers.”

  Like super strength and the ability to compel the dead. I didn’t even want to know what he looked like when he shifted. Because in this form, he looked about a thousand times different from any demon I’d ever met. They were all ugly and scary.

  “I’m not the only one.” His dark gaze turned intense. He loomed over me, too tall, and looked like a fallen angel who’d seen too much. Just the sight made my heart flutter.

  “What are you?” His voice was gravelly and deep, intrigued.

  Wish I knew. “Nothing special. Just a seeker like I told you.”

  “That’s hardly all. You’re different.”

  He’d tried using that as a threat earlier, but it was clear that deep down, he liked that I was different. But if he learned what I really was, that I was a FireSoul and had some strange power related to death that even I didn’t understand—he wouldn’t like that. I’d be budging into his territory, and no supernatural appreciated that. Not to mention that my power was one hundred percent against the law, and this guy seemed to like the law.

  My mind scrambled for something to distract him. “Uh, what’s your real name?”

  “Roarke.”

  Sexy. “That’s a weird one.”

  He grinned.

  “What’s your last name?” I asked.

  “Fallon.”

  Roarke Fallon. I liked that. My gaze skated over his handsome face. I couldn’t help but like it.

  Oh, I needed to get my head in the game. There was too much at stake here, and this guy was too much of a distraction. I was about to push him away when a thin leather cord around his neck caught my eye. Whatever was attached to it hung down beneath his shirt.

  “What’s that?” I reached up and snagged it, pulling the familiar cord out from beneath the fabric.

  He let me. I had a feeling that if he hadn’t wanted me in his space, he’d hav
e stopped me. It was rare that I met a supernatural as strong as me. Stronger, even, which was unsettling.

  “My comms charm!” I cried.

  “I thought it might be yours. I found it in the garden.” He reached up and fiddled with the cord at the back of his neck, then pulled the whole thing away and handed it to me. “Here. A gesture of goodwill.”

  I eyed him suspiciously as I took it, confusion ricocheting through me.

  “How about my sword?” I glanced down at the blade.

  “Not yet.”

  I frowned, but couldn’t help but like his gesture of goodwill. “Hmmm. Well, I’ve got to go get a read on your demon. So if you’ll excuse me….” I arched a brow.

  He stepped back.

  I turned and opened the door, then let him inside.

  My skin prickled uncomfortably. Having a stranger in my house was weird. And dangerous.

  Though I rented the whole floor, only a tiny front portion was my apartment. The rest was my trove, hidden behind a wall cloaked with enchantments. Like all FireSouls, I had a place where I stashed my treasures. We just couldn’t escape our dragon nature.

  I couldn’t let him anywhere near that space. Fortunately, it was hidden and protected. I had to keep reminding myself of that as I let him into my little apartment. It was done all in jewel tones. My clothes and hair might be black as an Ubilaz demon’s soul, but my home was a technicolor paradise.

  “You can sit on the couch.” I pointed to the bright red couch. “I’ll take a shower.”

  “I’ll check the bathroom first. Just to make sure there are no windows for you to crawl out of.”

  “There aren’t.”

  I stalked to the tiny bathroom and let him look in.

  “See?” I gestured. “No windows.”

  He leaned in, then nodded. “Fine.”

  I sighed. “Now sit on the couch. Don’t go in my bedroom.”

  He inclined his head, then moved to the couch.

  I went into the bathroom and slammed the door, then slumped against it, leaning my head back against the wood.

  Okay, I’d gotten myself into a mess with this one. No two ways about it. Not only was I in trouble with the Underworld and had only a week until I turned into a demon, but Roarke made my brain go foggy. A half demon.

  Great.

  So now I just had to find this Ubilaz demon, keep my secret, and convince the most powerful Supernatural I’d ever met to give me everything I wanted. All while trying not to drool on him.

  Easy peasy.

  What I wanted was a long shower, a mug of boxed wine, and a nap. But I wasn’t going to get that.

  Instead, I turned on the shower, then touched the golden comms charm and ignited its magic.

  “Cass? Nix?” I whispered.

  “Del!” Cass’s voice cried.

  “Shhh!”

  “Everything all right?” Nix asked quietly, worry in her tone.

  “Yep. Tall, dark, and deathly hasn’t tried to drag me off yet. I’m in my place. But can we meet at Nix’s in five minutes? Ask Aidan and maybe Dr. Garriso for any dirt they’ve got on the Warden. His real name is Roarke.”

  “Sure. Aidan just got back. I’ll ask him and meet you there,” Cass said.

  “I’ll call Dr. Garriso,” Nix added.

  Dr. Garriso was our friend, a historian who worked at the local Museum of Magical History. He knew just about everything, and I hoped he’d know about this.

  “And can you bring me a sword, Cass?” Her trove was full of weapons. “Something that might fit in my scabbard. I don’t know if the Warden will give mine back.”

  “Sure.”

  “Thanks, guys.” My friends were the best.

  “No problem. See you soon,” Cass said.

  “Will do.” I broke the connection with the comms charm and yanked off my clothes, sadly tossing my old lucky shirt on the ground.

  I glanced down at my chest to see if there was a scar from the sword wound that had killed me and grimaced at the sight.

  About two inches long and raised, it wasn’t exactly pretty.

  Ah well, at least I was alive.

  How? No idea. I’d figure that out after dealing with the demon.

  I jumped in the shower, scrubbed myself off in record time, and hopped out three minutes later. I left the water running while I grabbed the robe off the back of the bathroom door and put it on, then called upon my Phantom magic, doing my best to keep my magical signature contained. This plan would only work if I was quick, and if Roarke thought I was still in the shower.

  Once I’d completed my transition to Phantom, I climbed up on the tiny vanity that held the sink. The mirror reflected my bright blue glow, and I looked eerie as hell. With minimal effort, I reached up through the floor and pulled myself up into Nix’s bathroom above. One of the great perks of being a Phantom half blood was the ability to walk through walls but still interact with the physical world on my terms, unlike ghosts, who just passed through things.

  I let myself return to human form and hurried out into the living room to find Nix, Cass, and Aidan sitting in the living room. He was a massively tall, dark-haired Scot who also happened to be the most powerful Shifter in the world.

  Though he was handsome, he wasn’t my type. Maybe because he lacked the dark fallen angel air that Roarke possessed. And he was Cass’s.

  “Hi, guys,” I said.

  “That was quick,” Nix said.

  “Yeah. Not sure I got all the shampoo out of my hair, but whatever. I only have ten minutes, max.”

  Aidan stood to hug me, then pulled back. “Can’t tell you how glad I am to see you alive and well.”

  “And we’re going to keep it that way,” Cass said.

  “I’ve called my contact at the Order of the Magica,” Aidan said. “I thought this guy sounded familiar, and I was right. He’s called the Warden of the Underworld. All the Underworlds.”

  “That sounds bad.”

  “It is,” Aidan said. “At least if you want something different than he does.”

  I frowned. “Like me.”

  “Exactly. He’s the most powerful figure in the Underworld, but his position is kept quiet because he likes it that way. It’s one of his rules.”

  “But the Order of the Magica doesn’t follow anyone else’s rules,” I said.

  “They follow his. They need him. He keeps the peace in a place that no one else has access to. He keeps Underworld problems from spilling over onto Earth.”

  “How?” A lot of underworlds made up what we collectively called the Underworld.

  “I don’t know. But he appeared on the scene about ten years ago after convincing all of the kings of the different hells to report to him.”

  “Holy shit,” I breathed. How did one man accomplish that? He wasn’t even thirty yet. Late twenties, max.

  “The dead obey him,” Aidan said. “As for how he convinced the kings of hell to do the same, I don’t know. But because of it, he’s now a liaison between the Order of the Magica and the Underworld.”

  “So he’s government,” Cass said.

  Aidan nodded. “In a sense. He doesn’t work for them, though they pay him a fee. But he’s ruthless about law and order. It’s the only way to keep the different Underworlds in control. If he discovers what you are, he will turn you in to the Order. It’s in his nature. It’s how he’s maintained his power—constant adherence to his rules. He’s notorious for it.”

  “Dr. Garriso said he even turned his own brother in for some infraction,” Nix said.

  “What?” My stomach dropped. I couldn’t imagine such a thing. His own brother? I’d never do that to Nix or Cass.

  “That’s it. I don’t like it.” Cass gripped my hand. “You should run, and we’ll do this on our own. It’s not worth the risk. You’re a FireSoul, and your power over death is too unknown. You’re as different as they come.”

  “I can’t run.” The idea made me ill. “Then I’d never stop. I don’t want a life away from y
ou guys. And I need to figure out what I am. He might be able to help.”

  Cass looked at Aidan. “You can keep her hidden, Aidan. Your wealth could hide anyone. And we could see her.”

  He reached for her hand, the love in his eyes so clear it made my heart clench. “If I thought it would work, she could have all of it. But the Warden makes me look like a pauper. There’s no resource he doesn’t have.”

  My jaw slackened. Aidan was the richest guy I’d ever met. He owned a freaking plane, for magic’s sake. A big one. The Warden was wealthier than him? And powerful enough to cow the kings of hell?

  I couldn’t hide from a guy like that. Not that it was the right thing to do with this demon on the loose, anyway.

  “He’s going to go after the Ubilaz demon,” Nix said. “What if he catches it before we do? Then we won’t get its blood. It’s best if Del tracks that demon with the Warden, and we try on our own to find another one. We’ll double our chances of getting what we need.”

  “And he’s not outright evil,” Aidan said. “Not according to my sources. He adheres strictly to the rules and has a strong sense of honor. Find the demon, make him beholden to you. After that, his honor will demand that he help you. It’s the best way.”

  “But he’s half demon,” I said. “How could he have such a strong sense of honor? They’re known for being untrustworthy.”

  “Maybe he’s different,” Nix said. “Remember—people judge us harshly because we’re FireSouls. But we’re not evil.”

  Shit, she was right. I hated stereotyping people. It was a jerky thing to do.

  Still, unease tugged at me. He was part demon. Every other one that I’d met—that anyone had met—had been an evil killer. I tried to shove the thought aside.

  “You can kill two birds with one stone this way,” Nix said. “Cure yourself, and maybe get the Warden off your back.”

  Cass frowned. “Fine. I don’t like it, but fine.” She reached down on the other side of the couch and pulled out a short sword, then handed it over to me. “This was the closest to your sword. Think it will fit?”

  I hefted the short steel blade. The weight was off and the balance weird, but it was a quality blade. Cass only collected the finest. “Yeah. It’s great, thanks.”