Magic Lost: A New Adult Urban Fantasy Novel (Touched By Magic: Dragon Book 3)

by Ashley Meira

  “That’s right,” she said with a dreamy smile. “I wonder if Todd still works there?”

  I scoffed. “I’m surprised you remember his name.”

  “I don’t, but his name could be Todd, and that’s what matters. I remember his pretty blue eyes, though.” She pinched me as I pretended to gag. “Hey, the waiter who took you home that night was still there when I came back, so don’t sass me.”

  Heat flooded my cheeks. “What do you mean?”

  “Please. I saw him rush into the bathroom when I came in, and I saw his reflection in the mirror as he snuck out behind me. I hope his skills in bed were better than his sneaking—”

  “What’s that?” I asked, stopping in my tracks.

  “That’s a weak way to change the subject.”

  I pointed to a structure roughly ten feet away. “That. Looks like a building.”

  The foliage here was so thick I could barely see the squarish outline in the distance. Fiona and I exchanged looks before nodding and moving toward it. I really hoped this wasn’t one of those cottage in the woods with an old lady serving tons of food deals. That story was based off actual fae — before it became illegal for them to eat humans — and I wasn’t quite sure I’d be able to resist.

  “Should’ve eaten more breakfast,” I mumbled.

  “Really, Hansel?”

  I pinched her side. “Why do I have to be the boy?”

  “Because I spoke first. Besides, fae aren’t allowed to do that anymore.”

  “On Earth,” I reminded her. “They’re not allowed to eat humans on Earth or abduct them back to Arcadia for dinner. Nothing in the law states they can’t snack on people who stumble in here. Besides, I doubt someone living all the way out here is going to care about the law. Fiona?”

  She’d gone still as I spoke, and when she turned to me, her eyes were wide as the moon. “I want to go home.”

  “You’re a fairy, so technically—”

  “You can’t scare people then be a snarky douche about it!” she hissed, shoving me in front of her.

  We spent a few seconds pushing the other ahead until finally pulling apart with a huff.

  “Fine,” I said, gathering magic around my hands. “I’ll go first since you’re such a big baby.”

  The jab had the exact effect I wanted. Fiona puffed out her cheeks and stepped forward. “I’ll go. And I’ll probably be the only one they don’t kill, because I’m not going in guns blazing.”

  “Hands blazing.” I waved a fire-swathed hand at her. “And that just means I’ll die quickly in a blaze of glory, and you’ll die slowly in someone’s soup pot.”

  Her lips pursed together, and she spun on her heel, stomping toward the shadowy structure. Yeah, because that wouldn’t be seen as aggressive. Still, I hurried after her. The only person allowed to kill my sister was me.

  When she was angry, she moved quickly, and I was still a few paces behind when I heard her say, “Whew! But also, hell no.”

  I raised a brow at her back, then shook my head at the structure that greeted me. “Hell no.”

  A large hedge maze stretched before us, taking up more space than any hedge maze needed. I followed it down toward the woods and saw that we’d have run into one of its walls if we’d continued on that path. The hedges split up in the middle, where Fiona and I stood, leaving an innocent-looking entrance for us to walk through.

  Which was never, ever happening. Fiona and I craned our heads around, trying to see inside without taking another step closer. We were a few paces away from the opening, but that still felt too close. All I could see beyond the entrance were more hedges, their walls stretching so high they blocked out the sky.

  Fiona was tilted sideways, nearly standing on her head, as she peered into the hedge. “That looks like a corner we can turn.”

  “We?” My brows hit my hairline. “I’m going around this thing if it takes me all year.”

  “I don’t want to go in either, but we—” A slight rustling from inside made her stiffen, and she turned to give me a rapid nod. “But we should totally not go in.”

  I kept my magic at the ready, though I switched to ice to avoid setting the woods on fire. Why was everything so flammable? Unfair. Fiona’s magic danced around her hands as well, the nervous beat circling around us. It wasn’t just her body that paced around when she was anxious.

  I blinked a few times to get her magic’s rhythm out of my head. It had never bothered me before, but now that I remembered how to Magic Break, the instinct came naturally, and my mind was filled with ideas on how to impede that rhythm. I’d grown adept at blocking it out most of the time, but it took me a moment to adjust.

  Fiona’s magic had died down by the time we reached a corner of the hedge maze. I didn’t blame her. It felt like we’d been traveling for hours, though the lack of pain in my legs told me it hadn’t been nearly that long. Did time work different in Arcadia, or were our attention spans just that short?

  The rustling inside the hedge started up again, but we paid it no mind as we turned the corner and were faced with another seemingly endless wall to follow. Sighing, we continued on, the rustling keeping up with us. It had been following us the entire time and had been so unnerving that we’d moved a few feet away in case something planned to leap out. But nothing had, and we’d grown somewhat used to it as we walked.

  “Do you think we’re going in circles?” I asked after a few more minutes of silence.

  “I think this is still better than entering the maze,” Fiona said. Her coloring had returned, and she’d eaten an energy bar we’d brought along, so I was less worried about her than I’d been at the start of our journey.

  “Maybe we are in the maze.” I gestured around to the empty space around us. Trees lined our other side, the leaves making it as impossible to see the sky as the hedge’s walls did. It occurred to me that we hadn’t seen Arcadia’s sky this entire time, and worry began sending little shocks across my spine. “Maybe it’s an reverse maze or something, and the way out was actually inside, but no one ever goes inside so they—”

  “Aren’t you a little too sober to be this esoteric?”

  I glared at her over my shoulder. “The rules don’t apply in Fairyland.”

  As if Arcadia itself was offended by the nickname, the hedge began to tremble, the unearthly green leaves vibrating so hard they were little more than blurs. My throat closed up as the hedge wall began to undulate. Odd shapes pressed against the leaves, like a baby’s hand pressing so hard against their mother’s stomach that people could see it from the outside.

  “Great,” Fiona hissed, her eyes glued to the writhing hedge. “You made it mad.”

  A loud howl rang out as piles of leaves sprung free from the hedge, taking on the form of giant dogs. Pit bulls, maybe. It was hard to tell since they were made completely out of leaves.

  I rolled my shoulders and drew my magic to the surface. Guess I could set stuff on fire after all. We waited for them to make the first move just in case they were friendly, but our luck held true, and they lunged right for us.

  I took the first out, a grin spreading across my face as ash scattered across the short grass. Fiona took out the next two with her Fairy Blasts, the impact causing their leafy forms to burst apart.

  We continued throwing spells, holding back the rapidly growing tide of living topiaries. But we couldn’t keep them away forever. The hedge was huge, and for every hound we destroyed, three took its place.

  “Run?” I asked, my body already poised to take off despite the fireballs I was flinging.

  “Run!” Fiona nodded, throwing one last burst of pink magic before pelting forward.

  We ran, the army of hedge hounds hot on our tail. My lungs burned with the exertion, seizing in protest. I kept going, ignoring both it and the throbbing stitch growing against my side. The muscles in my legs burned, twisting until I was scared they would cramp. But they held true for the next twenty or so minutes it took us to find the next corner of the h
edge.

  Elation boosted our pace as we realized the hedge maze ended here. The rest of the path was lined with the same glowing trees we’d seen and stretched toward a colorful field. Reinvigorated, we sprinted ahead, taking the winding path with a finesse that would have tinged an Olympian green with envy.

  The barks grew softer as we continued until they eventually faded away. We kept running, wanting to get as much distance from those things as we could. Soon, the area was silent save for the pitter patter of our boots against the soft earth.

  The stitch in my side became too much to bear, and I skidded to a halt, using a nearby tree to balance myself. “Why does this hurt more than getting stabbed?”

  Fiona didn’t reply, but I saw her clutching her sides as well. We were panting and sweat glistened across our reddened faces, but we were safe for now. Looking back revealed no angry plant dogs, and barely the tip of the hedge was visible past the rolling hills.

  “We went farther than I thought,” Fiona said, bringing a hand up to shield her eyes as she looked back. “The hill didn’t seem that high.”

  “I was too busy with the dogs to notice,” I said, noting with delight that I could finally see the sky.

  But my delight didn’t last long. The blue afternoon sky coupled with the soft rays of a hidden sun made me think of a pleasant country painting. That, coupled with the colorful field ahead, reminded me of the dream I’d had of my parents, and my heart tightened like it was being strangled.

  Fiona sniffed the air with a bemused expression. “What is that?”

  I copied her, catching a whiff of something floral, which wasn’t surprising since the field ahead was likely filled with flowers. Blackberries were also present in the scent, but I didn’t see any bushes around. Could they be in the field?

  “It’s probably the field ahead,” I said when Fiona remained silent. Her brows were furrowed so tightly they nearly touched above her dainty nose.

  “Starlight blooms,” she mumbled. “I’ve smelled these before.”

  My back straightened. Could she be remembering something from her past? “Where? On Earth?”

  She shook her head. “I don’t know. I don’t think so. The smell makes me happy, but also sad.”

  I took her hand and gave it a squeeze before placing my other hand on her shoulder. “We should check out the field. Maybe you’ll remember more.”

  “You think?” she asked me, her emerald eyes gleaming with hope. For a moment, we were teenagers again, lost and afraid — desperate to learn about our pasts.

  “Maybe,” I said. “Only one way to find out.”

  Hands linked, we walked the short distance toward the field. The flowers that greeted us took my breath away. A collage of pinks, yellows, whites, greens, and purples swirled around us, the beautiful petals glistening as if they’d just been hit by a spring rain. The flowers swayed, but I couldn’t feel a breeze around us, and I noted the different types of flowers appeared to be moving in different rhythms.

  Trees with thick white trunks surrounded the field, their branches heavy with pale pink flowers. But what really drew my attention was the patch of dark purple flowers to our far right. Unlike the rest of the sunny field, the far right appeared to be bathed in moonlight. A shadow rested over the space, covering just past the large gathering of dark blooms in the corner.

  Fiona walked toward them, and I followed after her, keeping my grip around her hand tight as we waded through the sea of flowers. Their faces brushed against the tops of my knees, marking me with their sweet scent. But none held that distinct berry aroma.

  As we approached, the midnight flowers became clearer. The closest flower I could compare them to were bellflowers or perhaps lilies. Their petals were so dark they could have been black, and had they held a more blue-ish tint, I’d have thought they resembled the portal Fiona had created. A splash of white offset the darkness as I peered into their insides, where it looked like all the color had been sucked out. The contrast made them even more beautiful, though I was apprehensive about the way they made this part of the field appear like night.

  “That’s them,” Fiona whispered in awe. “Those are starlight blooms.”

  “They look out of place,” I noted, glancing at the summery field behind us. “Beautiful, but not part of the field.”

  “That’s because they were planted here by our queen,” an old, feminine voice with a soft Scottish accent called from near the starlight blooms. A woman stood from among them, looking surprisingly human. Her face was leathery and riddled with deep wrinkles, but she had kind brown eyes and a smile on her face when she turned to us. “They’re her favorite, for they remind her of her dearest— Oh, Queen Titania!”

  The old woman swept into a curtsey with a grace that belied her wizened appearance. She walked to Fiona and took a strand of her hair between two thin fingers. The old woman peered carefully at the strand before giving it a good tug and letting go.

  “Changed your hair color, have you? Haven’t seen you try such a thing since you were a young girl. Used to drive your parents crazy. They couldn’t imagine why you hated that pretty blonde hair of yours. Not that it really matters, dearie.” The old woman patted Fiona’s cheek before returning to the flowers. “You’re beautiful no matter what your hair looks like.”

  “What?” my sister squeaked, looking like she’d been sucker punched. “Titania? Is that my name?”

  “Hm? What’s that, dear?” The old woman looked up from the patch of starlight blooms she was kneeling beside. “Come to show your new friend the blooms, have you? Well, don’t let old Grizelda get in your way. I’ve just come to collect some flowers to bring home. I know how much you enjoy them.”

  I watched Fiona try to process what was happening, but couldn’t make sense of it myself. Was Fiona’s real name Titania? Was she truly a queen here in Arcadia? Maybe no time had passed here at all since she’d been taken, and no one knew she was missing? But that made no sense — even if time did work differently here, would the eight plus years she’d been gone have passed in a few hours? I didn’t think so, and I kicked myself for not asking Bane more when I had the chance.

  “You’re not fae, are you?” the old woman, Grizelda, asked, turning toward me. “Come from the other side to pay the queen a visit? I hope you find your stay enjoyable. The Heartwood is just as lovely at night as it is during the day.”

  “The Heartwood?” I asked. “We’re here?”

  “Of course you are!” Grizelda exclaimed, looking puzzled. “Where else would Queen Titania take you but her home? Speaking of, my queen, shouldn’t you be having tea with Roman right now?”

  “Roman?” Fiona repeated, her voice thick with confusion. I placed a steadying hand against her back as she wobbled slightly, her eyes glazed with confusion. “What the hell is going on?”

  If the swearing bothered Grizelda, she didn’t show it. “You’re looking a bit pale, dear. Are you feeling okay?” She waved a hand in front of Fiona’s face, but my sister just stared blankly ahead. “Did she fall?”

  “No,” I said quickly, trying to make sense of at least one thing Grizelda had told us. “She’s just tired.”

  “I see.” Grizelda frowned. “Still, I’d feel better if Roman took a look at you. Shall we return together, dearies? He must be terribly yearning of your company after meeting with the Court all day.”

  “Court?” I repeated. “They’re here?”

  “Of course. But didn’t my queen come get you after she finished the meeting?”

  “Yes,” Fiona said quickly, her face still twisted in confusion. “I’m sorry, Grizelda. I really am just tired. Perhaps you could show us home and direct us to Roman?”

  “Certainly,” Grizelda said with a smile. She rose, picking up the basket full of flowers at her feet, and led us toward the exit.

  I waited until she was a fair distance away before whispering, “Are you okay?”

  “No,” Fiona breathed out. “Am I really this Titania person? Am I a que
en sitting on the Court?” Her panicked eyes met mine. “What the hell is going on, Sophia?”

  “I have no idea.” I pulled her into a hug, feeling her trembling arms squeeze me tight. “I know a lot just happened, but we need to focus on Trixie. We need to tell the Court what’s going on, and hopefully figure out what Grizelda is talking about along the way.”

  Fiona nodded and let out a loud sniffle. When she pulled back, her eyes were glassy. “Let’s just hope I don’t get arrested for impersonating a royal.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  The Heartwood looked like it came straight out of, well, a fairytale. We didn’t have time to take in the magical sights, though. Despite her apparent age, Grizelda walked faster than most people I knew, and we had to hustle to keep up with her.

  Fiona appeared to have calmed since our brief chat in the field. She could be one cool customer when she needed to be, but I wasn’t sure how all this would affect her. That single dream about my parents had been enough to throw me for a loop — I couldn’t even begin to imagine how messed up I’d be if I were in her shoes right now. Though if my reaction to Diana was any indication, I’d probably sit there in shock and almost get my head blown off.

  Her hand tightened around mine as we crossed the gilded bridge to the giant tree where the Court convened. It rested in the very middle of the Heartwood, surrounded by water. Its leaves stretched out to touch the other trees around it, forming an emerald canopy above the entire city. There were two open spots on opposite ends of the city where the setting sun filtered in.

  Interestingly enough, the light that filtered through one spot was a deep orange that matched the setting sun, but the light streaming through the other side was green. The lights mingled together, converging around the center tree and giving it a warm, yet ethereal glow.

  We craned our necks up to see the top of the giant tree, but it was too tall for us to see past the first three layers of branches. As we stepped off the bridge and into the courtyard, the lights dimmed. I thought for a moment that the sun had finished setting before realizing it was because we’d fully stepped into the shadows of the tree’s leaves.