Phantom Magic (Dragon's Gift: The Seeker Book 5)

by Linsey Hall

  “Thanks, guys.” The words were muffled by their hair, but they squeezed back. “I love you.”

  “Love you,” Nix said.

  “Love you too.” Cass squeezed me one last time and let go.

  As soon as she did, the aches and pains that I’d been able to ignore flared up. I may have avoided the Shadows’ bigger hits, but the demons who’d come before them had gotten in some good jabs.

  I sat down heavily, exhausted. Nix and Cass sat next to me. A closer inspection revealed that they were cut up and burned as well. Pond Flower, who looked unwounded, thank fates, flopped onto the ground in front of me, tongue lolling.

  Roarke landed next to me. He was coated liberally in blood that gleamed darkly against his skin. There were cuts and gouges from claws, along with bite marks and a lump that was already swelling on his shoulder.

  He smiled at me, his teeth white against his dark face. “You did it.”

  “We did it.”

  He nodded and sat, a wince twisting his features as his cuts made themselves known. Claire staggered over, along with Connor. They were leaning on each other, both looking like hell, and I was pretty sure that Connor’s arm was hanging out of its socket.

  Roarke noticed, too, and stood gingerly. “Let me get that for you, mate.”

  Connor nodded, looking vaguely ill. Roarke shoved the limb back into place. Connor gave a manly yelp, then sagged to the ground. Blood seeped from a head wound and various cuts, but he didn’t look like he was going to pass out. Claire swayed, sitting beside him.

  “I could use a beer,” she said.

  “Me too.” This wasn’t really a boxed wine situation.

  “Soon enough.” Roarke nodded to the battlefield behind me. “Our allies are coming.”

  I turned to look. Aidan was flying Corin and Alton over, while Mordaca and Aerdeca had hitched a ride on the back of a giant eagle. Zoya and Galina were riding up to the platform on a wave of snow, which was a neat trick, while Draka flew toward us through the white sky. Her translucent blue form was brilliant against the snow clouds. Prince Louie stood on his hind legs so that Emile could climb up onto the platform, and Cade landed next to us.

  Everyone looked like hell, covered in cuts and burns, but at least they were all alive. They all took a seat in our makeshift circle, Draka in her human form. In the tundra beyond, their warriors packed up, helping the wounded off the battlefield.

  “Were your casualties great?” I asked the group, worry twisting in my chest.

  Galina shook her head. Her pale sparkling skin was blended with the white backdrop of the clouds. “Not many, no. Many were wounded, yes. But the demons were so distracted with trying to reach you, we could strike them from behind in most cases. By the time they realized what was going on, we were in a position for victory.”

  I nodded, relieved. “Good.”

  The plan had worked.

  Mordaca shrugged elegantly, an unimpressed look on her face. “We only lost a few stupid ones, and that’s because they stopped to loot the bodies too early.”

  “Greed will get you.” Aerdeca wiped blood from her cheek, then rubbed it off on her pants. It blended right in with all the other blood. Her white outfit was entirely red, soaked with the blood of dozens of demons.

  “The monsters are fine,” Emile said. “Some cuts to legs and bellies, but nothing life-threatening. I only recruited the biggest, strongest ones. Most of them really enjoyed it, actually.”

  I grinned. I was glad for his foresight. I didn’t want the deaths of the smaller animals on my hands.

  “The Swamp Supes are pretty much good,” Cade said. “Mostly because the demons thought they were on the same side.”

  “Excellent.” I hadn’t expected that, but it made sense. Most of those folks smelled like dark magic. Same for the Darklaners. That had probably protected them, too.

  “The Order lost a few good mercenaries, from what I could see,” Roarke said. “And there are a hell of a lot of injured.”

  I glanced back over my shoulder to check on the battlefield. The healers were kneeling by bodies, performing triage and transporting those with the worst wounds. Grief for those who were lost flared in my chest, but I was grateful it wasn’t worse.

  “No losses amongst the FireSouls.” Corin leaned in and patted Pond Flower on the butt. “Thanks to the hellhounds, mostly. The demons couldn’t get near us as long as we had a hellhound at our side.”

  “Good.” I drew in a shaky breath, feeling weaker by the minute. I wouldn’t pass out—I knew that feeling all to well—but the battle was starting to take its toll. “Thank you, everyone. You’ve saved us.”

  “We’ve saved us,” Emile said. “It took everyone to finish the fight.”

  I smiled and nodded. They were right. Planning and friends had made this a success. And hopefully, we’d never have to fight a battle like this again.

  That was cause for celebration. “We should have a party.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  My parent’s castle had never looked so good. It was sparkling and clean, all the color returned to it after the portal to hell had been closed. The chandeliers glittered, along with twinkle lights that had been strung all over the property. There were flowers and furniture, and the place even felt warmer.

  It was a weird location for the party—travel was particularly difficult normally—but an appropriate one. Particularly given all that had happened.

  After the battle, we’d all rested and gotten healed up. It’d taken about a week, since some of the injuries had turned out to be pretty bad. We’d then set about party planning and sent out invitations to everyone who’d fought. It was going to be a big crowd, which was one of the reasons I’d chosen this place. But I’d also wanted to claim it as my own and banish all the old ghosts.

  My family had played a pivotal role in hatching the plot that had led to so many problems. But now they were all over. And we were waiting for the guests to arrive at a party to celebrate our victory. A special portal had been put in place, allowing people to transport directly into the courtyard if they had an invitation.

  It was the perfect solution. As excited as I was for them to arrive, I was enjoying the peace and beauty of my old home now that it had been restored.

  “You’ve done a good job.” Draka’s voice made me turn.

  She was walking toward me in her human form, blue and glowing. Pride shined on her face. For me? My heart warmed.

  “Thank you,” I said. “Though I wish some things had been different. That I’d never opened the portal to Oriamor at all. But I’m glad it’s over.”

  “You know that you had no choice in opening the portal. It was fated. Even the Ice Fae had a prophecy about it.”

  Her words made me feel a bit better.

  On the side of the room, Connor fiddled with the speakers. Music began to fill the room.

  “Thank you for all of your help,” I said.

  Draka smiled. “My pleasure. I’ll always be there for you, Del.”

  “Well, I hope I won’t need too much help, but that you’ll continue to come see me.”

  “Of course I will.” She reached out and hugged me.

  I gripped her tight. For most of my life, she was the closest thing to a mother I’d had.

  She stepped away, then gestured to the wall behind me. “There is someone waiting for you.”

  I turned, confusion flaring into disbelief. My parents stood against the wall, looking uncertain and out of place. They were hazy and transparent—ghosts, most definitely—but they were here. I looked back at Draka. “You’re sticking around?”

  She nodded. “Go to them. They want to see you.”

  I wanted to see them, too, though it felt kind of weird, given everything that had happened.

  “I love you, Draka,” I said.

  She smiled. “I love you too. Now go.”

  I nodded and turned, walking over to my parents. Up close, they looked even more uncertain. They were wearing old-fashione
d clothes, and my father had the same beard and piercing eyes that I remembered. My mother looked the same as when I’d seen her before.

  “How are you here?” I asked.

  “We’ve received special permission to haunt this place occasionally,” my mother said.

  I laughed, unable to help myself. “That’s a thing?”

  “Yes. When one has unfinished business.”

  “What’s your unfinished business?” Hope for something that I didn’t even understand filled my chest.

  “Having a relationship with you,” my father said.

  Shock pierced me. “What? I—I—”

  “Don’t know if you even want that?” my mother asked.

  Exactly. Though didn’t I want that? I’d always wanted it—a good relationship with parents who loved me.

  “But you guys gave me to the Monster,” I said. “He locked me in a dungeon. And you wanted to use me in a plot to destroy the world. I mean, that’s even worse than stuff on daytime TV.”

  Sadness shined in my parents’ eyes. My head spun. This was surreal and strange, and I had no idea how to process it.

  “We were wrong,” my father said. “We realize that now. The portal—”

  “I know. Twisted your minds with dark magic. But it didn’t twist my mind. Why were you susceptible.”

  “You are rare, Del.” My mother’s gaze was full of pride, just like Draka’s had been. “Strong and brave and fated to save the world. You could never be susceptible to something like that.”

  I liked her words, but they still left me confused.

  “We understand that we’re not going to be a normal, happy family,” my father said. A small grin tugged at his mouth. “For one, we’re dead. We can come here occasionally, but we’re still ghosts. But if you’re willing to give us a second chance, we’re here for that. We want that.”

  “So badly.” Tears gleamed in my mother’s eyes.

  I didn’t know what to say, nor what I truly wanted, but I did believe them. If I wanted a relationship with them, I could have it. That was something I’d figure out later, though, when things had settled down.

  “Thank you,” I said. “I’m glad that you’re seeing things differently now.”

  “So are we.” My mother reached out and hugged me. Her touch was warm and soft despite her ghostly form. “I love you, Delphine.”

  My father hugged us both. “I love you, Delphine.”

  “I love you both.” I hugged them back, then stepped away.

  “We must go now, but if you come back, we can visit you again,” my mother said.

  I nodded. Though I was still confused, I had the distinct feeling that I would work on forgiving them.

  They waved, then drifted away, out of the room.

  “That looked like it went well.”

  Roarke’s voice made me turn. He looked so handsome that I couldn’t look anywhere else.

  I smiled. “I think it did.”

  “I have some more good news. I spoke to the Order of the Magica. Their mercenaries witnessed some pretty intense power on your part.”

  Nerves tightened my skin. They still didn’t know I was a FireSoul, or the true extent of my powers. They wouldn’t like it. “And?”

  “And they’ve agreed to not question you.” His gaze hardened. “At my strong suggestion. They don’t know exactly what you are, and they won’t ask. Though they are wary of the extent of your power—especially since they don’t know much about it—you were clearly willing to sacrifice yourself to save everyone. Because of that, they’ve agreed to drop the matter. And they will pardon anyone who was a fugitive before the battle, like Emile.”

  A smile spread across my face. Emile had been hiding from the Order since we’d busted him out of their prison a few months ago. Now, he was a free man. And I was off the Order’s radar. Temporarily, at least. Either way, they had to like me at least a little now.

  “You’re the best.” I threw myself at Roarke, wrapping my arms around his neck and leaning up to kiss him.

  Happiness flowed through me as his lips moved expertly on mine. I fell into the kiss, temporarily losing my mind as his lips moved on mine. We’d spent the last week living in both our houses, with Pond Flower stopping in for frequent visits. It’d been amazing. Just like his kiss.

  “Chill out, guys.” Nix’s voice broke my concentration.

  I pulled away from Roarke.

  Nix grinned, her green eyes bright and so familiar. I was so damned grateful she was alive. I didn’t always love my weird powers, but I was thankful for them. Especially now.

  “Guests are starting to arrive.” Nix hiked a thumb toward the main entrance. The courtyard is filling up fast. Dr. Garriso is here, along with some crazy lady wearing a rainbow-sequined jumpsuit. And so are the FireSouls, and Aerdeca and Mordaca. Emile brought the dog Prince Louie. I think it’s time for the party to start.”

  “It’s definitely time.” Cass approached, a can of her favorite PBR in her hand.

  She had believed in me when I’d had to turn back time to save Nix. She’d always believe in me.

  I loved both my deirfiúr so much.

  “There’s already dancing,” Cass said. “And the Swamp Supes have brought their own band. They’re all covered in slime. Should they be allowed in the house?”

  “Sure.” I shrugged. After all the darkness this place had seen, a slimy fiddle player wasn’t a problem. “Let’s get this party started.”

  As a group, we walked toward the main doors to let the crowd into the house. Aidan joined us, along with Connor and Claire. As I pulled open the doors to welcome everyone to the party, I couldn’t help but marvel at my good fortune. Joy like I’d never known flowed through me. My life hadn’t been easy, but it’d given me everything.

  Thank you for reading!

  Want to find out how Del died? Dragon’s Gift: The Huntress, which stars Cass, is the series to read. Her series starts with a free novella called Hidden Magic. You can get the novella by signing up for my mailing list here. There’s an excerpt of Hidden Magic on the next page.

  If you liked Aleta Indigo, the mysterious girl who helped Del in the cemetery, you can read more about her in Alison Claire’s upcoming series, Hell’s Belles. It looks like it’s going to be fabulous. Check out the author’s note for more info.

  Reviews are so helpful to authors. I really appreciate all reviews, both positive and negative. If you want to leave one, you can do so on Amazon or GoodReads and I would really appreciate it.

  Turn the page for an excerpt of Hidden Magic.

  Excerpt Of Hidden Magic

  Jungle, Southeast Asia

  Five years before the events in Demon Magic

  “How much are we being paid for this job again?” I asked as I glanced at the inhabitants filling the bar. It was a motley crowd of supernaturals, many of whom looked shifty as hell.

  “Not nearly enough.” Del frowned at the man across the bar, who was giving her his best sexy face. There was a lot of eyebrow movement happening. “Is he having a seizure?”

  “Looks like it.” Nix grinned. “Though I gotta say, I wasn’t expecting this. We’re basically in a tree, for magic’s sake. In the middle of the jungle! Where are all these dudes coming from?”

  “According to my info, there’s a mining operation near here. Though I’d say we’re more under a tree than in a tree.”

  “I’m with Cass,” Del said. “Under, not in.”

  “Fair enough.” Nix’s green eyes traveled around the room.

  We were deep in Southeast Asia, in a bar that had long ago been reclaimed by the jungle. A massive fig tree had grown over and around the ancient building, its huge roots encapsulating the stone walls. It was straight out of a fairy tale. Monks had once lived here, but a few supernaturals of indeterminate species had gotten ahold of it and turned it into a watering hole for the local supernaturals. We were meeting our local contact here, but he was late.

  “Hey, pretty lady.” A smarmy voice so
unded from my left. “What are you?”

  I turned to face the guy who was giving me the up and down, his gaze roving from my tank top to my shorts. He wasn’t Clarence, our local contact. And if he meant “what kind of supernatural are you?” I sure as hell wouldn’t be answering.

  “Not interested is what I am,” I said.

  “Aww, that’s no way to treat a guy.” He grasped my hip, rubbing his thumb up and down.

  I gagged, then smacked his hand away, tempted to throat-punch him. It was a favorite move of mine, but I didn’t want to start a fight before Clarence got here. Didn’t want to piss off the boss and all. He liked it when jobs went smoothly.

  The man raised his hands. “Hey, hey. No need to get feisty. You three sisters?”

  I glanced doubtfully at Nix and Del, with their dark hair that was so different from my red. We might call ourselves sisters—deirfiúr in our native Irish—but this idiot didn’t know that. We were all about twenty years old, but we looked nothing alike.

  “Go away,” I said. I had no patience for dudes who touched me within a second of saying hello. “Run along and flirt with your hand, because that’s all the action you’ll be getting tonight.”

  His face turned a mottled red, and he raised a fist. His magic welled, the scent of rotten fruit overwhelming.

  He thought he was going to smack me? Or use his magic against me?

  I lashed out, punching him in the throat as I’d wanted to earlier. His eyes bulged and he gagged. I kneed him in the crotch, grinning when he keeled over.

  “Hey!” A burly man with a beard lunged for us, his buddy beside him following. “That’s no way—”

  “To treat a guy?” I finished for him as I kicked out at him. My tall, heavy boots collided with his chest, sending him flying backward. I might not use my magic, but I sure as hell could fight.

  His friend raised his hand and sent a blast of wind at us. It threw me backward, sending me skidding across the floor.

  By the time I’d scrambled to my feet, a brawl had broken out in the bar. Fists flew left and right, with a bit of magic thrown in. Nothing bad enough to ruin the bar, like jets of flame, because no one wanted to destroy the only watering hole for a hundred miles, but enough that it lit up the air with varying magical signatures.