Hidden Magic: A New Adult Urban Fantasy Novel (Touched By Magic: Dragon Book 1)

by Ashley Meira

  “We’ve been over this. We still live in the same city. I won’t let go.”

  “What is your obsession with this? My magic. My problem. I don’t care if you think it’s special. It’s not special. I’m not special. I’m normal, and I’m sick of you prying into my life.” My voice rose with each word. Even I thought I needed to shut up. But this would solve it, right? Being a total bitch had to get him off my back.

  Adam’s magic crackled, overwhelming my small kitchen. Vanilla oozed down my throat. The pleasant smell of pine was now an assault so strong it brought tears to my eyes. I tried to edge away in case his magic hit me, but two strong arms trapped me against the counter. A vein in his neck was bulging. I could see his blood pumping, matching the rhythm of his magic. I looked into his stormy eyes, expecting the worst.

  “It’s okay.”

  I blinked. Wait, what?

  “Most mages don’t care about hiding their magic. It doesn’t occur to them. The only people who try usually fall into two groups. There are the ones who prefer to work with a little more subtlety — like me or Damien. They keep their magic locked in so when they finally let it out, it’s makes more of a statement.”

  I swallowed thickly and held his gaze.

  “The second group are people who feel they have to hide their magic. Maybe they’re on the run from the Council—” he looked me over carefully “—or maybe they’re afraid of something.”

  Despite my heart slamming against my chest, I kept a calm face on. He was fishing. He had to be. If he wasn’t….

  He sighed. “We’ve spent enough time together for me to know you’re terrified of something. I won’t press. Even if I did, you wouldn’t tell me. So I’m more than willing to wait until you’re ready. But that fear is going to backfire one day. You’re going to lose control, and it’s going to get you — or someone else — hurt. You’ll expose yourself.”

  The counter dug into my palms. He’d hit every fear I had. My voice trembled. “I won’t.”

  “You will. Everyone does at some point.”

  Sounded like he spoke from experience. “Have you?”

  His eyes darkened, and he looked away. “Yes.”

  “Do you want to talk about it? I’m aware of the hypocrisy,” I added at his eye roll. After a beat, I said, “Why do you even care what happens to me?”

  “I’ve already told you why: I like you,” he said, cupping my cheek. “You like me too.”

  I scoffed, but there was no fight in it. “Don’t tell me how to feel.”

  “Not how to feel. What you feel.”

  His free hand wound around my waist, pressing us together. His nose grazed my cheek, and he nuzzled my skin. The hand on my face threaded into my hair, warm and strong. Our cheeks pressed together. I could feel him relax against me further. I closed my eyes, enjoying the peace being in his arms brought.

  The warmth of his body was intoxicating, a siren song I wanted to give into. My fingers gripped his shirt. It was too much. The parts of me that didn’t want to give in were growing fewer by the second. Fiona had been right. This went beyond physical attraction. I cared. He cared.

  But when people cared, they pried into your personal stuff. My personal stuff could get me thrown in prison. Which didn’t bother me as much as the fact that it could get my sister thrown in prison.

  His lips ghosted over my own. Before he could press them together, I turned. Undeterred, he kissed my cheek instead. “Would saying please help?”

  I smiled against his cheek.

  “Ask my brother. I never say please.”

  “No need. Your lack of manners doesn’t surprise me.”

  He chuckled. The vibrations sent heat zinging through my chest. “I have manners for you.”

  “Since when?”

  “I got you cake.”

  “That’s not manners, it’s self-preservation.” I pressed my cheek against his. “And thank you. You really have been nice. Too nice. It’s weird.”

  He snorted. “You’re weird.”

  “I’ll hit you again, sore arm be damned.”

  His magic flickered out, pleased. “Where are you planning on hitting me? Please be very specific.”

  I pulled back. “Urgh. In the face. In the middle of your smug, stupid face.”

  “Is that so?” he said with a smile. His lips hovered over mine. “Right here?”

  I leaned forward, brushing our lips together. “Maybe.”

  His grip tightened and he pulled me closer. Before he could do anything else, his phone rang, and he backed away with a growl. “What? Fine. Set up the conference call. I’m on my way.”

  “Duty calls?” I asked, seriously considering setting Pierce Incorporated on fire.

  “Yes.” He kissed my cheek. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning at Adrienne’s.”

  I rubbed my cheek, trying to calm my racing heart. When Adam’s magic was out the door and across the street, I stepped back into the living room.

  A red blur grabbed me. “Tell me everything.”

  Heat surrounded my pinky. “Symeon’s calling me.”

  “Sophia—”

  Ollie lured her back to the couch by threatening to eat the last slice of pizza. Someone was going to end up eating in the bathroom.

  “Sophia, darling,” Symeon greeted. He was panting slightly, and I could hear people in the background. Uh-oh. “What can I do for you?”

  “Can we meet?” I asked. “Any time before tomorrow morning.”

  “It is tomorrow morning,” he said. “But if you insist, you can come over now.”

  A pleased shriek came through. I rolled my eyes. I was really hoping I’d been wrong. “Will the orgy be completely over by the time I get there?”

  “I can hold them if you—“

  I hung up.

  “Why the hell would you mention my name to Adam Pierce?”

  I scoped out his apartment. If any of his playmates were around, they were hidden in his bedroom. That thought was disturbing on its own, but it was better than having naked people draped all over the furniture.

  “Coffee?” Symeon asked, sly smile in place as he adjusted his silk robe. “It’s Oliver’s blend.”

  I crossed my arms and sat at his counter with a huff. “Yes.”

  “Nice to know something is capable of placating you,” he said, preparing the coffee. “Though I worry his food is spoiling you. One day you won’t be able to eat anything he hasn’t made.”

  “You’re calling me spoiled? You just had an orgy.”

  He rolled his eyes. “I have orgies all the time.”

  “I know. I get invites all the time.” Very pretty invites with gold lettering and scary checkboxes asking about my hard limits.

  “Invitations you don’t respond to. At least get some from Adam. That strapping young man—”

  “Strapping young man?” People hotter than me shouldn’t sound like my grandfather.

  “I hear he’s quite the lover. His brother too.”

  Thinking about what Adam did to start that rumor made my gut churn. It was stupid. He was allowed to have a sex life. Even if it wasn’t with me. My Fire smoldered, clearly disagreeing. “Where’d you even hear that?”

  “Blue bloods talk.” He shrugged. “Though now that I think about it, it’s been a while since I’ve heard anything about either of those boys. Surprising, really.”

  I came here for work, but couldn’t resist asking. “Why?”

  “Damien loves being in the public eye. Scandal was practically his middle name a few years ago. He’s found more legitimate ways of getting in the news now. Growing up, I suppose.”

  “And Adam?” I pressed, kicking myself.

  “Adam’s always been more private.” Symeon placed two cups of coffee before us and took a seat. “Not that I mind the company, but you could have just texted me if you wanted gossip about your boyfriend.”

  “He’s not my boyfriend. I’m just—”

  “Interested.”

  “No. I have
a question about my latest job,” I said before he could press. “The Heart of Gaia.”

  “First Poseidon, now Gaia,” he said. “I certainly hope this trend continues. I’ve been having a terrible time finding Hermes’ sandals.”

  “You know about the Heart?”

  He let out a non-committal grunt. “Not as much as I’d like. The story goes that Gaia, to escape being thrown into Tartarus with her children after Zeus’ coup, fled south.”

  I sipped my coffee, letting the heat mellow me out. “Didn’t flee for long. Egypt isn’t too far from Greece.”

  “There’s a reason for that. As she was passing through the desert, she came across a man…and he killed her and took her heart.”

  I raised a brow.“Um?”

  “It was a long time ago, dear. The details are lost to the sands. Some say they were lovers and she spurned him, so he killed her. Others say he planned to kill her for her power all along. Others still claimed she taught him the magic of the earth, and he went mad with power and killed her for more. They all agree he was involved in a demonic cult, and their temple of worship is where he stored the Heart.”

  “There’s no information on what it does?”

  “Supposedly, it controls earth. The element, not the planet.”

  “Like an earth mage?”

  “More like a thousand earth mages.”

  I set my cup down. “What else can it do?”

  “I don’t know,” he said with a shake of his head. “The fact that it belongs to Gaia explains the affinity to earth, but reveals little more.”

  “Earth….” The gears in my head turned. “Could it summon golems?”

  “Possibly. Were you attacked?”

  “Twice.” I told him about my encounters with Cyrus and on the Pyrenees. Magic had been messing with me on the mountain, so I couldn’t remember if the magic around the golems was Cyrus’. “But Cyrus wasn’t on that mountain. No way the Council would release him. Plus, he’s not powerful enough to summon that many golems on his own.”

  “Well, if Cyrus used the Heart to summon those golems, they’d still be feeding off his magic. The Heart is a conduit. It isn’t sentient. If someone else is using the Heart, the golems would have their magic.”

  “But Cyrus sold the Heart before we met him. He didn’t have it when we caught him, and he couldn’t have sold it after.”

  “Were the golems already out when you found him?” he asked. “He could have been showing the Heart’s power off, and the buyer escaped when you crashed in.”

  “I think they were. As good a theory as any,” I said, rubbing my temples. “But I feel like hiring a thousand earth mages would be less trouble than pissing off the Pierce family. There’s got to be something more to the Heart. Something it can do that nothing else can.”

  “I can tell you one thing for certain — whoever stole it has bad intentions.”

  “Well, duh. How dumb do you think I am?”

  “You mentioned the dark magic around the plateau. Something bad enough to leave that kind of cloud is going to bring death and destruction with it. What have you gotten yourself into, dear?”

  I sighed and slumped in my seat. “Trouble. Big, big trouble.”

  “At least you got a boyfriend out of all this,” he said, patting my hand.

  “I have no boyfriend,” I said, standing and pulling my hand away.

  The Heart of Gaia was supposedly a powerful artifact that no one knew anything about. No one except the person who bought it from Cyrus. And that person was likely the one who kidnapped me all those years ago. Throw in sixteen years worth of amnesia and being public enemy number one, and I had absolutely no time or room in my life for a boyfriend. Especially not one like Adam Pierce.

  “And I won’t be getting one.” I kissed Symeon’s cheek. “Thanks for the info. Sorry for bothering you so late.”

  He grabbed my wrist. “Do you consider us friends, darling?”

  I raised a brow. There was no humor in his eyes, which had never happened before. “Depends on what you’re about to ask.”

  He scoffed and rolled his eyes. The lightness was back. Thank god. “Forget it. I’m giving my opinion anyway.”

  “Since when do you give me a choice?”

  “Last time I make that mistake,” he said. “Be happy.”

  Frowning, I waited to see where he was going with this.

  “With Adam.” He held a hand up before I could reply. “Or anyone. Though Adam Pierce is certainly a catch. You deserve — need, in your case — to have some someone in your life. A partner. And no, Fiona doesn’t count. Try to let someone in.”

  Symeon too? What next? Was Roger going to call and say the romance clause in my contract was null? Why was everyone pushing me toward Adam? My Fire sizzled. Great. Even it was pushing me toward Adam. Maybe I should move to Tibet.

  “It’s complicated,” I said lamely.

  Symeon snorted. “I’m sure it is. And I’m sure Adam can handle it. He turns into a phoenix, you know.”

  “Yeah, I noticed.” I pulled my hand away and headed for the door. “Bye.”

  “You could do a lot worse,” he called after me. “Especially considering the way your eyes twinkle whenever he’s brought up!”

  “There is no twinkle!” I said, slamming the door behind me. It wasn’t as satisfying as hanging up on him, but it was all I had.

  Chapter Seventeen

  We were wearing masks. Leather with ridges on the forehead and a mouthpiece designed to look like fangs. Mine was black, hers was white. Same mask on our faces. Same brand on our thighs.

  We were young. Ten, maybe twelve. And shorter than I ever remember being. Matching swords clanged against each other as we danced around in perfect matching rhythm. For a moment, I thought I was attacking a mirror, but nothing shattered when I hit it.

  “That’s enough,” a masculine voice said. “You’re both improving. Though your mirroring could be cause for concern.”

  The speaker wasn’t in the room, but he didn’t need to be. He was in our heads. Earrings, I realized — communication charms. We sheathed our swords and stood at attention. I couldn’t remember who was speaking, but I knew he was important. The most important thing in my life, actually. More important than myself and the girl next to me.

  “Blades are inferior to magic,” the voice continued. “But they’re more subtle, low-key. So long as you continue the practice of hiding your magic as I’ve taught you, even the Inquisitors won’t be able to sense you. Further tutelage will be required, of course.”

  The voice echoed in my ears, hollow and cold. The room was lit with sterile white lights. Combined with the dark stone walls and floor, it looked like part hospital, part medieval dungeon. But I was used to it. This was our home now.

  “Nonetheless, magic is needed. It’s your birthright, after all. And the magic you two have within your bodies, the potential…. Your power will bathe this world in fire,” he finished with conviction.

  I wanted to look at the girl beside me, to reach for her hand. But I wasn’t allowed. We weren’t allowed. And if we didn’t follow the rules, we’d be punished.

  “But first, you must learn. Bring them in.”

  The heavy doors were wrenched open and two men were thrown in with us. They were dirty and scared, looking at us with wide eyes and hollowed cheeks. Prisoners. Normal humans, based on the lack of magic coming from them.

  “Fireborns possess the Fire Within,” the voice said. “Feel it in your soul. Feel the power burning inside you. Let it spread through your veins. Let it glide beneath the surface of your skin.”

  We did, feeling the rush of power burn through us. My heart fluttered, its butterfly beat making me lightheaded. A sense of elation washed over me, stronger than the fear I had for the man speaking to us.

  “Now,” the voice said, “release it. Turn your magic outward and let it overwhelm the targets before you. Don’t stop until nothing is left standing in your way.”

  But these
men weren’t standing. They weren’t in our way. They were tired and scared. Like us.

  And we were supposed to kill them.

  We finally exchanged looks. Our watery eyes filled with doubt that was overshadowed by fear. Disobeying was bad. It wasn’t allowed. It led to punishment, and punishment was….

  Pain swarmed my body. Phantom pain. Reminders of what happened when we displeased the master. Bad things happened to those who disobeyed.

  “I’m waiting.” His voice was calm, but the threat lurking underneath screamed at us.

  We held our hands toward our targets, pale fingers trembling. My Fire crackled under my skin. Stray sparks of magic flew past my fingertips. I took a deep breath and let it fly further, letting the sparks turn to streams, the streams to a river.

  Fire engulfed every inch of the room, us included. Flames danced over my skin, soothing my muscles and focusing my mind. The other me’s magic smelled like hazelnut and tasted like sugar cookies, familiar and painful.

  The odor of burnt flesh made my stomach churn. Screams pierced the roaring flames. Tears slid down my face but the heat caused them to evaporate. I wanted to stop. I didn’t want to do this. But I had to. That was my order, and I didn’t disobey orders.

  “Enough.”

  The flames vanished, leaving the stone walls a scorched black. Ash covered the floor at our feet. We kept our backs straight and our gaze forward. The other girl’s fingers twitched, reaching for mine. Before I could reach for her, the door behind us opened.

  I swallowed a gag as dark magic swallowed up the room. It reeked of death and hate, pain and power. The magic was so intense my knees shook. But I could tell it was being held back. Though it was too powerful to be held back naturally. A barrier? Something like that. If it wasn’t there, I knew I’d be on the floor. Maybe even dead. Drowned by his magic.

  The hand of death came down on each of our shoulders. He was standing behind us. I couldn’t see any details without turning my head, but I wasn’t allowed to turn my head. All I knew was his skin was icy enough to send chills down my spine.