Page 111 of Ancient Magic

Like smothering a fire.

Engrossed in cutting off the vampire’s hold, Skye didn’t consider the possibility that there might be more than one danger. Not until the glow from the crystal flooded Lynx’s mind, severing Azra’s connection and nearly wrenching away her own grip.

Blinded by the abrupt flash of crimson, Skye didn’t see Lynx continue his path to the pedestal, but she sensed his movement.

“Lynx.” She added another layer of magic. “Turn around.”

“He can’t hear you,” a female voice abruptly drawled. “Can you, my pet?”

With a soft gasp, Skye whirled around to discover a tall, slender form standing in the center of the cavern. No, not standing, she realized as the image faded before reappearing. It was a vision, but not in her mind, it was filling Lynx’s brain, and somehow Skye’s connection to the fairy was allowing her to see what he was seeing.

She’d never heard of anything like it. Not even in the ancient manuscripts that had been written by various seers.

But then again, most seers had never encountered a dragon. And Skye didn’t doubt for a second that was exactly what she was looking at. A real, fire-breathing dragon who could destroy her with a random burp.

She also didn’t doubt that it was the same dragon she’d seen in the memory spell. The creature had replaced the fur cape with a floor-length black robe, and her hair was left loose to tumble down her back like a river of red fire, but her skin still shimmered with the same bronzed sheen and she had the same solar blasts of power that surrounded her in a hellish aura.

Skye’s breath was squeezed from her lungs, and sweat trickled down her face. Catching a glimpse of one in a memory spell was considerably different than being up close and personal. It didn’t matter that the creature was there in spirit rather than flesh. Or even that she was viewing the creature through Lynx.

Without warning, the black gaze settled on her with an unnerving intensity. “Who are you?” the female demanded, not bothering to hide her disgust.

Wait. Could the vision see her? More importantly, could the beast belch fire at her? Raw fear pulsed through Skye and she desperately battled against her natural instincts. No. She had to stay strong, she sternly chided herself. Whatever her urge to flee in terror, she had to keep Lynx from reaching the pedestal. And the only way to do that was to regain her control of his mind.

Which would be considerably easier if she could somehow keep the dragon focused on her instead of the fairy.

An alarming but necessary sacrifice.

“Zanna, I presume.” The words came out more like a croak than a taunt, but her effort wasn’t wasted.

The female hissed, sounding weirdly snakelike as she continued to glare at Skye. “Queen Zanna to you, human.” The dark gaze narrowed. “Ah, no,” she breathed. “Not a human. Magic user.”

“Seer to you, dragon,” she retorted, sending a ripple of magic through her connection to Lynx. The fairy hesitated, the silver in his aura flaring as he was caught between the two powerful forces.

“Well what do you know. A female with a backbone.” Zanna moved forward, appearing to float over the mosaic tiles. “Shall I rip it out?”

Skye stood her ground. Oddly, the closer the female approached, the less afraid she felt. Or maybe the stress of the past few days had finally caused her to snap and she didn’t have the sense to be terrified. A much more likely explanation.

Still, Skye was willing to indulge her reckless lack of caution. Right now it was exactly what she needed.

“Are you asking my opinion or telling me what you’re going to do?” she asked in flippant tones.

“Who are you?” Zanna asked again, this time with something that might have been genuine curiosity.

“Nobody. Just a mage who happens to have visions.”

“Visions of what?”

“The world burning.”

“Ah.” Zanna released a slow breath, the scent of brimstone swirling through the air. “I have those visions as well. Aren’t they glorious?”

“Not so much,” Skye said dryly.

“Mmm.” Zanna pursed her lips. “I suppose a mortal creature wouldn’t be as excited at the thought of the world drowning in fire. For some of us it’s going to be pure paradise.”

Skye refused to be baited. Instead, she tightened her grip on Lynx’s mind, forcing him back a step. Satisfaction flared through her, even as a voice in the back of her mind warned she needed a better plan. Eventually she would run out of magic. Or more likely, the dragon would get tired of playing with her. Then she would force Lynx to complete his mission and the dragons would be free to fulfill her visions.

“You signed a treaty,” she reminded Zanna, wondering if she could shame the female into backing down. Unlikely, but hey...it wasn’t like she had a plan B. “Do dragons have no honor?”

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