Page 105 of Discovered Magic
“Why not?” Her instant annoyance was swept away, and his shiny new bracelet flared brightly, illuminating the reddening skin beneath it. Abbie froze. “Did my anger just burn you?”
“It’s nothing I cannot handle, but if you could keep it in check, I wouldn’t be ungrateful.”
“Got it. No strong emotions. Now, can you tell me why you’re unable to advise me?” she asked.
“Rarely do I reveal the future. It could influence an outcome.”
Ronan stepped forward and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Sure, and there’s the feckin’ Fates to consider. They don’t love it when our man interferes with their plans.”
“But Isis gave me this.” She touched her new pendant. “They don’t have a say in my life anymore.”
“Not in yours,” Isis said softly, coming to stand beside her.
“Implying they still do in everyone else’s,” Abbie concluded. “Got it. All right. Let’s fire up our bodies’ heat, boys. We’re heading up to the peak.”
“I’ve been, so I’ll teleport at the same time as you, but at a safe distance. Preferably behind the evil jackass,” Royal said. He grinned and tapped his temple. “Thanks to my new owner’s manual, I can teleport like a big boy.”
Her new cousin grinned as if it were all a gas. “Sure, and you’re a grand fit with the Sentinels, ya are. You’re as cheeky as Castor and Blane.”
“Will the ravens make it as high as the peak?” she asked. “I’ve seen them while climbing, but I can’t recall them at the summit.”
“Yes,” Isis replied. “These will survive wherever the Protector lives. They are bonded.”
“So all that’s left is for Draven to alter the spell.”
A few yards away, the Guardian was reworking his charm, but the pressing sense she was running out of time was upon her. Abbie thanked the others and drew her two cohorts toward a section of dirt path.
“Royal, in precisely three minutes, I’ll have Morcunt’s back turned away from the western outcrop of rocks.” With a stick, she sketched a layout and pointed upward. “There. You sneak up and clamp the bracelet around his wrist, then I’ll signal Draven through our link to have Ronan join us. As soon as I can channel his power, I’ll send the dickweed back.”
She returned to Damian, who was deep in conversation with the Goddess, but they stopped when she approached.
“Do you have Quentin’s number? Can you have him here as soon as I’m done?”
He nodded.
“And if one of the other three outcomes happens, tell him I’m sorry we never got to meet. Tell him…” Her throat tightened, then eased as the band on Damian’s arm flared. “Oh, hell! I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine, Abbie. What else did you want me to tell him?”
“Tell him, thank you for giving me whatever time I had in Perdition Ridge with Wilder. I’m grateful he allowed us to reconnect, however brief.”
“I’ll tell him if it comes to that,” he assured her.
“Okay. Here goes nothing.”
Closing her eyes, she visualized the place in the snow where Royal had been. Using her third eye, she reached for the area, finding it empty. She then scanned the area where Morcant had been hiding from the elements.
Nothing.
“Something’s wrong. Either he’s not up there, or I’m doing this whole feeler thing wrong.”
Damian held up a hand and closed his eyes. His expression was grim when he dropped his arm.
“No, you’re right. He’s gone.”
“Where could he go?” she asked. “He doesn’t—oh! I know. Perdition Ridge.”
“It no longer exists.” His mouth turned down as he frowned. “It’s a ghost town.”
