by Linsey Hall
“Cade.” Cass shot him an appraising glance, like she was trying to figure him out. “Hang on. You’re Belatucadros!”
“Aye. But would you introduce yourself with that mouthful?”
I liked that he didn’t parade around with his godly name. He let his actions speak, not his title.
She laughed. “Fair enough, god of war.” She shook his hand, then turned to me. “Spill.”
“We need your help to track someone. We have something they used,” I said.
“Of course.”
I tugged the bandana out of my pocket and held it out. “Careful. The shards may have poison on them.”
Cass took it, then opened it and peered at the contents. “Do you know anything else about this person?”
“Yes,” I said. “We’re looking for the man who made it. A Blood Sorcerer named Ricketts. But it was deployed by another man. He’s dead.”
“All right.” She closed her eyes, no doubt calling on her dragon sense.
Because she was so powerful, I couldn’t feel a hint of her magic. She’d probably practiced long and hard to conceal something that strong. Her power came directly from dragons. Since the magical beasts were so covetous, they were able to find anything of value. FireSouls had inherited that gift.
A pretty valuable power, if you asked me.
A moment later, her eyes popped open. “Ricketts is somewhere in Europe. If I were closer, I could give you a more precise location. But the man who deployed it—he’s dead, you said?”
“Yeah,” I said.
“Well, his ashes or body are nearby.” She pulled out her phone and tapped some buttons, then held it out to me. “I think he’s in this house. I can feel it really strongly since he’s so close.”
I peered at the satellite image on Google maps. A modern mansion sat on a cliff by the sea. Several large, black SUVs sat in the drive. Exactly the kind of cars you’d think a mobster’s goons would drive. “That looks like a frat house for mob muscle.”
Cade nodded sharply. “That would make sense. We have reports that he keeps mercenaries on staff in different locations. Having his American base in Magic’s Bend is logical.”
It was the largest magical city in the world and had a massive airport for reaching headquarters in Europe, so yeah, that made sense.
“Even if he’s not there, I bet there’s a lead there,” I said.
Cass nodded. “Try that out. If it doesn’t work, I’ll be done with this artifact in a couple days. I could help you locate Ricketts in Europe.”
“Thank you.” I definitely wanted to get started with this lead, but the backup option was nice.
“Anytime. Really.” She handed the glass shards back to me, questions in her eyes.
“I’ll meet you on the street okay, Cade?” I shot him a glance. I wanted just a moment alone with her. She’d been the closest thing to a friend outside of my sister that I’d ever had, and that was really laughable, considering that I’d barely known her.
He gave Cass a searching look, then nodded. “Good to meet you, Cass.”
I watched him walk out, then turned to Cass.
“You’re stronger than you were,” she said. “Much stronger. And five years ago, when I met you, you were no one to be trifled with. But now it’s a bit crazy.”
“I know. I’m not sure what it is. I’m an Unknown. And my power has been going wild lately. Any control I once had is gone.” Unknowns often manifested their true powers later in life. Was that what was happening to me?
For the first time ever, I found myself spilling my guts. But I could trust Cass, because she knew what it was like to hide. And she’d keep my secret. Just like I’d kept hers.
I trusted very few people in this world—less than I could count on one hand—and she was one of them. Even if my pride was too big to accept more help than absolutely necessary.
“Don’t let anyone know what you are.” Her gaze was serious. “I know what that life is like. I found my way out—to happiness and honesty—but hiding is what kept me alive for the first twenty-five years.”
“That’s exactly what my mother told me to do. She was a seer, and she prophesied that someone would hunt me because of what I am. Except, I don’t even know what I am exactly. Just that I might be changing.”
She nodded. “Keep hiding. Try to get a handle on your magic. You must. And learn to control your signature. That will save you.”
I nodded, grateful for the advice. Cass was about seven years older than me and had lived a life that was just as hard and full of secrets. She knew what was up.
“I don’t know how well you know Cade,” she said. “So I’m sorry if I blew your cover. I was just so shocked. It’s almost impossible for non-FireSouls to increase their magical power. And you aren’t a FireSoul. I’d feel it if you were.”
I hadn’t ever wanted to be—FireSouls were never Unknowns—but answers would be nice. “It’s cool. I appreciate the help.”
“Come back to see us again. Nix and Del would be happy to see you. And if you need us, we’ll help. Like you helped us.”
“Thanks. Really.” I took one last glance at her face, this almost-friend who could possibly be more if I weren’t so damned scared of getting close to people, then turned for the door.
“Hang on,” she said. “I don’t see a car out in the street. Did you take a cab? Where’s your crazy truck?”
I turned. “Temporarily out of commission.”
Cass grinned. “You’ll need a ride out to the target’s house, then. I bet Nix would let you borrow her new baby.”
From what little I knew, Cass’s sister Nix loved cars. “Really? I haven’t spoken to you guys in five years, and she’d do that?”
“You helped her a lot. And you’re going to like this car.”
“What is it?”
“A version of your truck. Nix loved yours so much she built a smaller one for herself. It’ll probably come in handy getting to the target’s house. Dollars to donuts there are protection charms around the property.”
Excitement thrummed in my veins. I was always most comfortable fighting from a vehicle, and this would come in handy. “Thanks.”
Cass nodded and pressed a finger to the golden charm at her throat. Magic thrummed in the air. “Nix? You’ll never guess who is here. Bree Blackwood. Can she borrow your truck?”
“Bree?” Nix’s voice spiked with excitement. “Heck yeah. There are spare keys in the desk, and it’s parked in the alley. Tell her she should come by more.”
“Thanks, Nix,” I said, directing my voice toward Cass’s communications charm. Ana and I really needed to get some of those.
“No problem,” Nix said. “Good luck with whatever you’re after. And Cass, I’ll see you in twenty?”
“Yeah, I’ve got the artifact and I’m coming.” Cass hung up on the comms charm and looked at me. “Let’s get you in this car, then I’ve got to get this damned artifact away from civilization while we try to sort out the magic.”
“Thanks again.” I smiled at her, my heart warmed.
Had Ana and I done the wrong things, sticking so close to ourselves all these years? I hadn’t realized that Cass and Nix had liked us so much. Maybe we’d given up something good.
Maybe.
Chapter Four
Nix’s car turned out to be a modified Hummer with fighting platforms on the front and back. No spikes on the sides, but massive tires gave the thing good clearance, and the engine was nothing to be trifled with.
I waved goodbye to Cass and pulled out of the alley, Cade at my side.
“You like your cars,” he said.
“Depends.” I turned off of Factory Row and headed out of town. “I like cars that help me fight. Beasts like this do that.”
He grinned, then looked at his phone, where he had the map. Cass had marked the house for us. “Go left up here.”
I turned at his directions, heading toward the forests that surrounded Magic’s Bend. Thirty minutes later, we ne
ared our target. The woods had thickened, and the street had narrowed.
“You can tell they’re up to no good just by their location,” I muttered. We were well away from any of the perks of town. There weren’t even any other houses out here.
“Turn here.” Cade pointed to an even narrower road that cut through giant, twisted trees.
I turned onto the gravel lane, the car easily tackling the gravel road. “It’s like we’re headed into the Big Bad Wolf’s forest.”
“Dark magic can warp a place.” Cade leaned forward, studying the terrain. “Two hundred yards ahead.”
I peered through the trees, unable to see the house. It was darker here, unnaturally so. But magic sparked on the air, growing stronger. Like most protection charms, it stung the skin. Tiny bee stings that said get the hell out of here.
I pressed my foot to the gas, speeding up. Trees closed in. Magic vibrated on the air.
Then the ground began to rumble, rough and low. Moving earth.
I kicked into action, instinct born of years fighting in the desert. “Take the wheel!”
I hopped out of the seat, launching myself onto the front platform without waiting to see if Cade followed my orders. He was a smart guy. He’d figure it out.
Just as I landed on the small metal platform, one of the trees ahead burst out of the ground.
Ha! I’d known something was about to pop out.
Death Valley threw a lot of things at us, and monsters made of the terrain were common.
The massive tree vibrated with magic as it morphed into a giant boar made of wood and bark. Pine needles for hair stuck out wildly, and the eyes were gaping black pits.
Always the gaping black pits with these monsters.
I grinned, kinda liking it. Made it easier to destroy them if I didn’t have to look into their eyes. They weren’t real, but it was easy to pretend they were.
Cade kept the car on the lane as I powered up my magic and aimed for the boar that charged us. It was bigger than the car, its wooden hooves pounding the earth and its great tusks ready to flip the vehicle onto its back.
I sucked in a deep breath, then hurled my magic at the boar. It shot out of me like a deflating balloon.
Shit!
Totally unpredictable these days.
A deep growl rumbled from the boar’s chest as the beast thundered toward us, kicking up massive clods of earth. It was only twenty yards away now.
One shot.
I tried to grab the magic tumbling around inside my chest, a wild thing that refused to cooperate. Finally, I nabbed it, imagining a giant sonic boom and heaving it toward the monster.
It cracked on the air and bowled the beast over, slamming into the surrounding trees and uprooting two of them. The boar was now twigs.
I winced.
Slight overkill.
“Faster!” I shouted to Cade as I crouched on the platform and held on to the railing. Ana would not be pleased by my lack of safety harness. I didn’t know if we could outrun any of the protection charms, but we could sure as heck try.
“Aye!” Cade shouted.
The vehicle shot forward, racing past trees. Wind tore at my hair as I scanned the forest, searching for threats. The way the magic prickled on the air, there was something waiting for us.
When the ground ahead shifted, like something slithered under the leaves, I drew my sword and shield from the ether. They were familiar and comforting in my hands, but I’d really have to watch my balance without my harness.
“Something up ahead!” I shouted. “Be wary.”
A massive black snake burst from the ground ahead of us, to the right of the road, scales gleaming black in the light. Diamond eyes flared bright in its head.
Nothing this big could be natural—not in Oregon. And not with diamond eyes. Magic, then. Not living.
Whew.
Less on my conscience this way.
I shifted, ready for it.
The creature struck, fast as lightning, coming straight for me. Fangs glinted in its mouth. I raised my shield to block and swung my sword, going for the neck.
My sword sliced through the creature’s neck, and the head flew off. Sparkling gray blood sprayed from the neck, splattering my shield and sizzling.
Whoa. Definitely not blood.
The massive body thudded to the ground.
“Left!” Cade shouted.
I spun, catching sight of a second snake coming from the other side of the vehicle. I lunged for it. Too late for the sword. I crouched low, raising my shield as it struck. The head slammed into my shield, driving me backwards. I barely maintained my footing, my arm aching from the blow.
When I lowered my shield, the snake was rallying for a second hit. One of its foot-long fangs was broken, no doubt from its collision with my shield.
The snake’s diamond gaze darted between me and Cade.
“Shield!” I shouted, just as the snake struck out at Cade.
His magic surged on the air as he conjured his shield on the arm that faced the snake. It appeared just as the beast neared him.
I lunged, slicing the snake’s neck with my blade. The silvery gray blood sprayed again, sizzling as it struck Cade’s shield and the side of the car. I ducked, barely avoiding the spray, as Cade pressed his foot to the gas and the vehicle sped forward.
“Good job,” he shouted.
“You too!” I turned for the front of the truck, searching for more protection charms.
Instead, pain flared in my chest like an explosion of acid, making me gasp and double over. I barely kept my footing on the platform. The Lithica poison was really hitting me now. I sucked in ragged breaths, trying to get it together.
“Are you all right?” Cade shouted.
“Fine.” I bit out the words, straightening as the pain faded to a dull roar. Still there, but not incapacitating. These flare-ups were getting worse and worse.
Ahead of us, there was a massive mansion, sitting on the cliff. It gleamed with metal and glass, a modern construction that looked like a rectangular spaceship. If that kind of thing even existed.
Two men stood on the porch, magic glowing around them like a threat.
“Looks like we lost the element of surprise!” I shouted. “Let’s ditch the car!”
I really didn’t want to hurt it more than we already had. I’d definitely be repairing those burns in the paint from the snake’s weird blood—I didn’t want to actually total the whole car.
Cade slowed the vehicle about twenty yards from the house. Before he could stop, I leapt off the platform, running full out for the mages, shield and sword raised.
One looked just like the dead mage who’d nailed me with the poison—his twin brother. Unlike the mage who had hit me with the potion bomb and had worn a hideous blue leather jacket, this one wore a sleek three-piece suit. The other was a hulking blond man wearing a horrible gold track suit.
“Where is Ricketts?” I demanded as I neared. Maybe we’d get lucky and they’d tell us.
“Hell if we’re telling you.” The mage’s brother flung out his hand. An electrical whip snapped through the air, coming right for me.
Right. So that had failed.
I raised my shield. The electric whip cracked off the metal. The shock sent vibrations up my arm, but it didn’t electrocute me. The shield was backed by rubber—I wasn’t a total newb.
But Cade needed to park the car and get here ASAP, because magic was starting to glow around Goldie. He was about to get into the action, and I didn’t want to fight off two.
“Your brother hit me with the Lithica poison,” I shouted. “That means Ricketts wants me to come to him. Where is he?”
“Like I can trust you.” He struck again, this time going low.
I barely managed to shield myself in time. The whip cracked against the metal.
The man next to him growled, his magic glowing even stronger, a bright light that flared as he grew larger. His muscles popped, and he shot up four feet in height—l
ike some transformer doll or the Hulk.
Except that he was an unfortunate peachy color and looked like a twelve-foot-tall ‘roided up body builder. Cade’s footsteps thundered behind me as he approached. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him shift into a massive wolf, then lunge for the giant.
Holy crap.
He was no ordinary Shifter. Apparently the god thing gave him some extra juice, because he was four times the size of a normal wolf.
I left him to it, raising my blade as the mage across from me powered up his magic. Fortunately, he needed a few seconds between blasts.
“Seriously, man,” I shouted. “I need to know where Ricketts is. The potion proves he wants to see me.”
“Tony didn’t mention ‘nothin about no Lithica potion.” He snapped out with his whip, which I barely avoided. “You think we’re idiots? We got protocol, lady! Ricketts keeps his location a secret. Lotta people want him dead, but none of us squeal on him. That’s the point! If you have to nail someone with the Lithica curse, only you deliver Ricketts’s location.”
Dang, he was red in the face. Pretty pissed, really.
And he was not gonna give up the location of Ricketts. I knew what commitment looked like, and this guy had it. That meant we had to search the house.
The growls and shrieks from nearby indicated that Cade was taking care of his goon, so I just had to handle mine.
I lunged for him just as he struck out with his electrical whip. I blocked it, then swung my sword. He danced back, faster than I could see.
“Super speed, too.” He grinned evilly, raising his hand again. “I am going to fuck you up. Rip out your intestines and turn them into a bow.”
Right, then. Super speed plus electrical whip equaled this was not a sword fight.
I stashed my sword in the ether, then flung out my hand, aiming a moderate sized sonic boom at him. I’d just knock him unconscious and start searching the house.
It exploded out of me like a freight train, bowling him over and destroying half of the house in a shower of glass and metal.
Shit.
I stumbled back, muscles suddenly weak. I’d blown all my magic in one go. And that dude was definitely dead.