Page 35 of Dragon Compelled
“You’re not a keeper.”
Her brow furrows. “A what?”
“The Athenaeum. Do you know of it?” I ask, stepping forward. Is it possible she’s working with Constantine? That she is who helped him steal the Vetus collection?
“No. Should I?”
“Portal magic is not strictly a keeper power,” Mag tells me. “This is the world of Luxe,” he says. “It’s ruled by a man who grew up in the human world, and his wife, who was born in another. You must be Anastasia.”
“I am,” she replies.
“How do you know this?” I ask.
He arches a brow. “After the sirens, I made it my mission to know at least something about where we’re going.”
“Sirens?” Anastasia questions.
“Likely not the same ones you’re used to,” Mag replies. “We’re looking for someone. A man who was taken from us by another.”
“We haven’t had any visitors before you,” she replies. “I would have known.”
“He’s in great danger, and the one who took him is far deadlier than you could imagine.”
She smirks. “I’ve dealt with my fair share of dangerous men. And I assure you, if he shows up, he will be dealt with. Do you have a photograph of the man who is missing?”
I shake my head. “He’s large—a troll—and has a tattoo like this one on his arm.” I point to Mag, who holds out his arm.
She studies it. “If I find him, I’ll be sure to return him.”
“How will you know how to find us?” Mag questions.
Anastasia smiles again. “I have my ways. Good luck on your mission. If you feel the need to look around, I will allow it, but only if I can accompany you. The people of this world suffered greatly under its last leader, and I will not subject them to any potential threats.”
“We understand,” I tell her. The woman is willing to risk her own life to protect her people. It is something I can appreciate and relate to.
“If you don’t mind, we would like to check things out. Are there any areas that are populated with people? Villages they could be hiding in?”
She waves her arm and opens a blue portal, then gestures toward it. “I’ll take you to our capital.”
“How do we know we can trust you?” Mag asks.
“I suppose you don’t. But if you continue wandering around here, you’ll find nothing but meadow. And perhaps a few stray creatures who are looking for a quick meal.”
“We can take care of ourselves.”
“I’ve no doubt about that, fighter,” she replies. The way she adds the word makes me feel as though she’s bestowing a form of respect on me. “I am not trying to make any trouble. A fight is the last thing I am interested in. Follow if you wish.” She grins and turns to step through the portal, vanishing from sight.
Mag and I stand and stare at each other for a moment, each of us clearly trying to determine the threat level.
“I can get us out of any trouble we get in,” he reminds me. “As long as we don’t kill anything.”
“Then you’d better stay prepared,” I tell him. “Because if it’s our lives or another, I’ll choose ours.”
“Appreciate that.” Mag chuckles then steps into the swirling blue light.
I stare at it for just a moment before stepping into the vortex right after him.
* * *
