An hour later, after my mother and father had seen to the wounded and the five who had died, we gathered around a table filled with food imported from the outside world. That was one of the many downsides of me taking all the plant-life from Elesius, and guilt was heavy in my stomach.

We were in a small dining room in my parents’ house, a space that vaguely reminded me of childhood meals. Ares sat at my side, my parents across from us.

I swallowed a bite of potatoes covered in cheese and looked at my parents. “I’m sorry about those who died.”

My mother’s gaze met mine. “Don’t be. We are all prepared to defend our home.”

“But they were after me.”

My mother sighed, her eyes heavy with worry. “I was afraid of that. It has begun, hasn’t it? The great evil you are meant to fight?”

“Yes.” My appetite was waning. I explained what I knew of Drakon.

“He must be powerful if he made it through our barrier.” My father shook his head. “That has not happened in centuries. Now twice in one day.”

“But I didn’t come to wage war,” Ares said.

“Yes you did.” My mother smiled. “Fortunately, you didn’t need to.”

Ares nodded.

“This Drakon is your fate, then,” my mother said. “The reason Elesius died.”

I swallowed hard. I was always the sidekick, never the hero. And now a whole kingdom had died to give me the power I needed to win the battle?

Oh, man.

“Do you know your next step?” my father asked. “We will help you.”

I picked up the box from the floor and removed the beaker, then held it up. “I’m going to use this to untangle the prophecy. Then I’ll know what he’s after, and hopefully be able to stop him. The knowledge could even lead me to him.”

My mother’s eyes flared wide. “Where did you get that?”

“A tomb in northern England. Do you recognize it?”

She nodded slowly. “I do. And I cannot say that I am surprised.”

She held out her hands and I passed it across the table. She studied the incised decoration, tracing her fingers over the carvings. “This was made by the immortal wizard Ademius. He was one of us, long ago. An ancestor of ours who used his magic to extend his life. His name and deeds have passed through the ages.”

Ademius. The name tugged at a memory, but I couldn’t place it. “Could I maybe find where he went?”

“You’re meant to find him,” my father said. “It’s no coincidence that you were chosen for this, Nix. You are the Warrior of Elesius, created by our world. Given the tools to fight this battle.”

My mother swallowed hard, tears glinting in her eyes. “I’d hoped you wouldn’t have to face this.”

I reached across the table, gripping her hand. “It’s okay.”

“It’s not. But it is what it is.” She looked at my father, who nodded. “Before Ademius left, he knew that the Warrior of Elesius would have to seek him out. The seer told him so. He left something to help you track him.”

My heart leapt. It was going to be hard enough to find a guy who was thousands of years old—or dead—but at least I’d have a clue.

* * *

Later that evening, after showering in a little stone room with a fountain shaped like a lotus, there was a knock on my bedroom door.

“Come in.” I finished tugging on my boots and stood. It was only eight p.m., but I wanted to go find Ares.

My mother stepped inside, two small boxes clutched in her hands. “How are you?”

“Fine.” I didn’t think scared or feeing unworthy would go over well, so I stuck with fine.

“Fine never means fine.”

Of course my mother saw right through me.

“It might, if I keep telling myself that.”

She smiled and took my hand, then sat on the bed. I followed her down. “You are strong Nix. You can do this. You were born to do this, and I believe in you.”

My mother believed in me. It was something that should be obvious, but I’d been without her for so long that just hearing the words were a balm on my soul. And they helped, somehow. They erased a tiny bit of the doubt that I felt. I squeezed her hand. “Thank you.”

“That vampire is handsome.” Her green eyes sparkled.

“He is.” My heart fluttered.

The sparkle in her eyes faded. “Be careful, though. He is death, and you are life. Opposites.”

“Opposites attract.” I frowned. “And I’ve been responsible for my fair share of death, lately.” The reminder made my stomach turn.

“You’re fighting a greater battle. One for good, not evil. And you’ve only killed those who fight on the side of destruction.”

I smiled weakly, but it made me feel a bit better. It still boggled my mind that I was siting here with my mother after being alone for so long. I’d watched Cass and Del discover their pasts and wished so desperately to discover my own.

Now that I had, I was so lucky I couldn’t fathom it.

“Here.” My mother handed over the two small boxes. “For you.”

The first one, about the size of a cigarette pack and made of wood, contained a lock of hair, carefully laid out. Magic shimmered over it. Something to preserve it, if I had to guess. “This belonged to Ademius.”

My mother nodded. “Yes. He was one of the founders of this kingdom, so long ago.”

“I will find him.” Determination burned within me. “If Drakon has drunk the potion and understands the dragon prophecy as we believe, that means he’s found Ademius.”

“Perhaps.”

“Unless Ademius gave the potion recipe to someone else, he was in Drakon’s grasp. Or he’s escaped it, in which case he is likely hiding. Either way, he’ll be hard to get to.”

“It will be difficult, but you can do it.”

Her words warmed me. “Could you tell me a bit about him?” I’d need that info to help my dragon sense latch on.

“According to legend, he was tricky and wise. Not a seer, but he had a sense for things to come. That may have been why he left Elesius. A plague came not long after his departure. Perhaps he knew it was coming.”

I closed my fist around the box, calling upon my dragon sense. After a while, it tugged at me. “He’s in the American west. The desert.”

“You’ve found him, then?”

“It will take time. It’s a vague sense of location now, but as we get closer, it will hone in on him.”

“Don’t go until tomorrow morning. You must rest.”

She was right. A short sleep would regenerate my power after the battle and leave me fully prepped for what was to come. I tucked the box containing Ademius’s hair, which was kinda gross to think about, into my pocket. Then I opened the next box, which revealed a slender silver bracelet.

“It’s a powerful concealment charm,” my mother said. “Wear it, and hopefully it will keep Drakon’s men from finding you.”

I’d once worn one of these to protect myself from the Monster who’d stolen me as a child. But if this one was enchanted to conceal me from Drakon, that could be useful.

“I can’t guarantee that it will work,” my mother said. “He’s amazingly strong if his men have the magic to break through our barrier. But wear it for me. Please.”

“Of course.” I slipped it onto my wrist. The wide band that Ares had gotten me sat higher on my arm.

“Be careful when you seek Ademius. And we’ll be here if you need us.”

I hugged her, so grateful to have my mother back. For so long, I’d only had Cass and Del. But now, with my parents and Ares, my world had grown so much larger. My throat tightened and I squeezed my mother’s hand.

As much as I wanted to be with her always, I couldn’t stay here. Not with my life and responsibilities in the outside world. Cass and Del were my family too. But hopefully I could visit. At least occasionally.

* * *

I found Ares in his room down the hall. At my knock, he pulled open the door.

“Uh, hi.” My gaze went straight to his bare chest. It wasn’t that I was a horndog. But I kinda was, because he looked good. I jerked my eyes up to his face. “You want to take a walk?”

The corner of his mouth kicked up, and I stared way too hard at his full lips. “Sure.”

“Great, I’ll uh—just wait here.” Smooth, Nix, real smooth.

He left the door open and found the towel on the bed, then scrubbed it over his wet hair. He must have just gotten out of the shower. My eyes traced his muscles like he was a sculpture. He dropped the towel. And because I’m super smooth, I blushed and looked away so fast you’d have thought I was spying on his income taxes.

Whistling, I walked down the hall a ways, willing my cheeks to cool. The door shut behind me.

I turned. He wore a dark T-shirt and a smile. Though the smile should have made him look less deadly, I was pretty sure nothing did that. It didn’t help that he had a burn on his cheekbone from the fire mage. It just made him look rakish and more dangerous.

“Where to?” he asked.

“Not sure. I just want to explore.”

“Fair enough.”

We didn’t speak as we walked down the stairs and out the door. I was ridiculously grateful that we didn’t see my parents on the way out. I wasn’t a teenager and he wasn’t taking me to the movies or the prom, but it would still feel kind of like that if I saw my parents. I didn’t know how to do those things. I’d forgotten what life with family was like. Del and Cass were definitely family, but not this kind. Though they might have heckled me before a few dates.

The moon was high overhead, half full and gleaming with light that shined on the city around us. Golden lanterns hung from buildings and the water fountains made the loveliest noise.

“You’re from a nice place, Nix.”

“Yeah. Weird, but nice.” I turned left, heading up toward the mountains. The street inclined in this direction, but I always liked to get the hard part done first.

Ares walked at my side. It was warm enough here that I’d been able to forego my jacket, and the bracelet he’d given me wrapped around my bicep. I pointed to it. “What is this thing, exactly?”

“Protective charm. Unfortunately, it can’t repel shots of magic, but it’ll blast anyone who touches you with ill intent.”

“Cool, thanks. It saved me from that mage.”

“You saved yourself from that mage. It just helped.”

I smiled at him. “It definitely did. Where’d you get it? Is it what you went to the Vampire realm for?”

“It was.” He raised a hand to the burn on his cheek, as if checking it. It was nothing but a faded mark now. “It’s from the Pūķis.”

“Really?” I loved the idea that my fiery dragon friends had helped me out.

“Yes. It is imbued with their magic. I’d once heard that they could enchant objects like that, but had never actually seen one.” He shrugged. “But with Drakon after you, I wanted you to have extra protection.”

“So you went to the Pūķis.” We’d reached the top of the street, where there was an open expanse to our left—a dead garden, I was afraid—and a path into the mountains on the right. I chose the path on the right. It almost felt like I could feel a hint of life in the forest around me.

“Yes. Except they didn’t understand what I was asking for at first. Hence, this.” He pointed to the burn on his cheek. “But eventually they understood what I wanted and that it was for you. It’s damned hard to talk to a dragon, though.”

“Thanks for trying.” I reached out and squeezed his hand. He squeezed back, and we walked like that for a moment.

I released his hand to climb up a rock. The path was becoming windier and more narrow. I could imagine this place with flowers and grass and trees. Devastation made a wasteland of my chest. “All of this is dead because of me.”

“Not because of you. For you.”

“Feels like the same thing.”

“It doesn’t matter. You didn’t want it, you didn’t ask for it.” His voice was firm, as if he wanted to force me to agree. “And you’ll risk your life for whatever fated task you must accomplish. It’s your sacrifice too, Nix.”

He was right that I’d give it back in a heartbeat if I could. But I was part of something bigger—something I barely understood and definitely didn’t feel worthy of.

Up ahead, a glitter of water caught my eye. I hurried forward, the sound of a crashing waterfall delightful in the stillness of the night. Somehow, the water sparkled brighter under the light of the moon, a tall, thin spire of water that poured from the cliff above. I went right up to the edge of it, then turned and surveyed the town below.

It was beautiful, a series of ancient buildings climbing up the valley ridge, the golden lamps like stars spread across the night sky. “It’s beautiful.”

“It is,” Ares said. “It’s your home.”

“It doesn’t quite feel like it, though I’m glad to be here.” The word home would always be reserved for Magic’s Bend. I turned back to the waterfall. Cool mist sprinkled my face. There was space behind it. A walkway. “Let’s check this out.”

The waterfall fell into a gleaming pool, but there was a ledge that was just wide enough to sneak behind the falls. I started on the path, then looked back at Ares. “Can you do your hand light thing?”

He held up his palm and light glowed from it. I grinned and turned back, edging into a cavern behind the falls. It was about the size of my apartment. The light from Ares’s palm gleamed on the glittering topaz rocks studded into the cave walls. They were the most beautiful gems, shimmering with a deep richness that made me think worlds could be found within them.

“This place is amazing.” Wonder filled Ares’s voice.

“It is.” I turned, awed, to face the waterfall. It still glittered in the moonlight, creating a sparkling veil that shielded us from the world.

Suddenly, I realized how close Ares was standing. He was right at my side, his shoulder just inches from mine. All I could hear was the pounding water. All I could smell was his winter fresh scent. All I could feel was the heat of him.

As if in a trance, I turned toward him. His gaze was hot on mine, his head tilted down because he was so much taller. The light from his hands blinked out, as if he were distracted. By me.

My eyes adjusted quickly, but there were only shadows here. Somehow, it made it easier to feel him, even though we stood inches apart. Tension thrummed in the air between us. My breath caught in my throat.

All I could think of was kissing him—pressing my lips to his and tasting him.

So I did it, standing on my toes and wrapping my arms around his neck. He groaned low in his throat, as if he’d been waiting for this, waiting for permission, and yanked me toward him. His touch enveloped me, his whole body burning against mine when I pressed full length against him.

I could feel the curves and planes of his muscles, the heat of his skin beneath his clothes. Every inch of me lit up. His lips were warm and soft, skilled in their pursuit of my surrender.

A small noise escaped me as I parted my lips beneath his, letting his tongue plunder my mouth. Warmth flowed through every inch of me, a current that made me tingle.

Ares’s arms tightened around my waist as he lifted me onto my tiptoes.

“You taste so damned good,” he muttered against my lips. “I want to taste you everywhere.”

The words stole my breath, images flaring in my mind. Images of Ares and me, doing everything I’d ever wanted to do. Even some things I’d never imagined before now.

His lips trailed from my lips across my cheek, grazing my earlobe.

“You’re so beautiful,” he rasped.

“I don’t need the words.” I stared blindly at the ceiling as sensation flowed over me.

“You’re getting them.” His lips trailed down my neck, his kiss delicate.

When his tongue traced my skin, it flooded me with heat and pleasure. I shuddered. His teeth grazed me, at first blunt, and then sharper.

Fangs.

I should have been terrified, but instead, heat shot through my veins. Bite me.

I wanted it more than I’d ever wanted anything. Wanted to feel him inside me.

His tongue swiped out, a lash of electric pleasure between the points of his fangs. All thoughts blanked out of my head. I clutched him to me, nothing but sensation and want and need. I’d have done anything at that moment.

But he pulled away, panting and shuddering.

My eyes flashed open. He thrust me away from me, but didn’t let go of my waist, no doubt so I wouldn’t fall. Because I would fall. My legs were made of Jell-O.

“What’s wrong?” My breath heaved.

Ares’s eyes were wide, his fang white in the dark. “Too close. I was—too close.”

“To biting me?”

“Yes.” His voice was hard, disappointment clear in his voice.

“But that’s not so bad, right?” Vampire bites—as long as they didn’t drain you dry—were supposed to be awesome. Especially in situations like this.

“No. No, but… it’s a big step. You should think about it. Or at least say yes while you’re in your right mind.”

Amusement peeked through the desire that was still turning my brain to mush. “You mean, when I’m not under the spell of your sexual charms.”

“That’s exactly what I mean.” He all but growled the words, as if this situation pained him. Which it did, if he was feeling anything like I was. He had to be suffering a real serious case of blue balls right now. In the dim light of the cavern, I could barely make out the tension in his neck and the way his jaw clenched. Yet his hands were so gentle on my waist.

He just wanted to make sure he had my consent before he chomped into me. And frankly, it was awesome.

“Have you learned anything else about the connection we feel because I’ve had your blood?” I asked.

“I’ve asked scholars in the Vampire realm, but they know nothing. It’s how I found you, though. I was able to track you.”

“Wow.” I stepped back slightly, stunned. That was kinda huge. But then, I’d felt like I’d sensed him yesterday when he’d arrived at Ancient Magic.

“Exactly. It’s strange, but welcome.”

Welcome?

Maybe we were fated or something.

Nah. Crazy talk.

“Want to head back?” I asked, desperate to distract myself from any stupid thoughts of being fated with Ares. That was a dangerous path, and one I would not tread.

“Sure. Let’s go.” He took my hand, and we left the cave, heading back out into the dying wonderland that was my home.