Page 30 of Until the End of Ever
Of course, he’d use magic to speed me up. I was so unused to other people wasting their energy on little things, it always took me by surprise to see Lucian’s casual use of effortless magic, like I did.
Lucian straightened me up before opening the tram’s door.
“And don’t they only hunt great monsters?” he continued, like nothing at all had happened. “Maybe we can shove them in the general direction of Python.”
Instead of seeming bewildered, the passengers waved happily, greeting him by name. It seemed expected for Lucian to appear out of the blue, making an entrance. After everything, was I surprised?
“Are you seriously excited?” I asked, unable to otherwise interpret the enthusiasm in his voice.
The short phone call from Silver, informing me that I’d better come to the Guard because they were out to supervise adragon hunthad horrified me, but my companion was beaming.
It was unfair how fucking beautiful Lucian was in his youthful, innocent joy brought about by dragons potentially trampling or roasting my friends. I should be annoyed at him, but how could I, when he looked so gorgeous and happy?
“How many dragon hunts have you witnessed?” Lucian countered. “That’s not supposed to bepossiblein this world.”
“Well, we’re not witnessing anything. Silver wanted me with the Guard in case my healing skills were necessary.”
He pouted. “Still, they can give firsthand accounts. Shit, couldn’t it have happened a month ago when I was working there?”
“So this is why you’re Gideon’s friend.” I shook my head in disbelief. “You’re another adrenaline junkie, deep down.”
“Please. Gideon will jump at a feral dragon head first without a shield.” Lucian huffed, offended. “I’d have a plan, an exit strategy, and a fire-repelling spell.”
He was right on all accounts. In truth, I’d feel a lot better if he were with Silver and Gideon.
I hesitated for a moment. “Lucian?”
“Hm?”
“Is there a way for you to track them?” I asked.
It was possible to track a person by following their magical essence. That was why we’d hidden me out behind iron bars last Friday. As it was logical that my attacker had some ofmy essence, in order to curse me from a distance, we had to take measures in order to evade them. My own knowledge of following someone through their essence was purely theoretical. I’d learned about it in college, but I had no clue how to do it.
Lucian seemed capable of doing, well, anything. He could find my friends.
“I mean, maybe. Dragons are tricky; they’re enormous, move too fast, and if they’re flying, they’re not even touching anything. Plus, there’s the matter of shields?—”
“Not the dragons,” I interrupted. “Gideon and Silver. Would you be able to travel to them?” I bit my lower lip. “It would make me feel better if they had someone who thinks with them. And you wanted to see the hunt, didn’t you?”
Lucian tilted his head. “I mean, that could be tricky, too. If they are currently travelling by portal, it’d be almost impossible to pinpoint them. And they might also have brought some shields which could muddle their location.” After a second, he added, “But I’m familiar enough with Gideon to give it a go. Once we get you to the Guard, I’ll try to get to them.”
“Good. Thank you.”
“No need to thank me, Valesco. I am dying to see actual dragons in flight. You just gave me an excuse for interrupting an official Guild mission. If they tell me off, I’ll say, ‘the darling of the Vale asked. Who could have denied her?’”
I managed a smile, knowing he was trying to distract me. It only worked for half a second.
Dragons were dangerous. Territorial, deadly, quick to anger. I should know. My aunt was one. But her family had left their world, and their clan, because they’d been rejected as small runts. If Silver and Gideon were truly facing an actual horde?—
I lowered my eyes to my lap, my mind thinking about the million ways my cousin and best friend could be burned, trampled, or eaten in the next few minutes.
Lucian grabbed my hand, rescuing the fabric of the shawl I was twisting between my fingers without meaning to.
“Hey, breathe,” he whispered. “Gideon has one of my runes. If he’s in trouble and presses it, I can home in on his location instantly. He’s not that much of an idiot. He'll use it if he needs to.”
I nodded. I’d forgotten about the rune. Lucian was right. Gideon would remember it.
13
