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Excerpt Of Magic Revealed
CHAPTER ONE
Deep in the Honduran Jungle
“Those vultures can’t be a good sign,” Nix murmured from behind me.
“Yeah. They know something we don’t.” I glanced up as I pushed my paddle through the muddy brown river. Vultures circled above us, black spots on the patch of blue sky visible through the gap in the jungle canopy.
Sticky sweat rolled down my back as I turned my gaze back to the wide river. The jungle crept in on either side, a brilliant green death trap. The scent of foliage, water, and mud was so strong that it drowned out the stink of my sweat.
Slightly behind me, Nix manned her own paddle.
“The vultures must mean we’re close,” she said. “We’ve been going for at least three hours. And my dragon sense is really starting to buzz.”
“Mine, too.” The treasure we sought was near. I’d read all about it in an old treatise I’d found in the back of my trove, which had given my dragon sense just enough of a clue to work. “And the magic is getting stronger.”
“No kidding,” Nix muttered.
The jungle’s magic buzzed along my skin, prickling like gnat bites. The farther we pressed on, the stronger it became—protecting the treasure we sought. The long-abandoned hidden city deep in the Honduran jungle had been built by supernaturals. Which meant there’d be some serious booby traps.
My ears strained as I searched the river and forest ahead. On either side of us, massive green leaves rustled in the faint breeze. The jungle was thick, the sounds of birds and monkeys like an out-of-tune chorus. Through the greenery, I caught sight of a flash of black. It appeared again a moment later, keeping pace with our boat.
I squinted into the jungle. The black glinted in a ray of light. Fur. Sleek, black fur. And a big yellow eye.
“We’ve got company.” I paddled faster. “A jaguar is stalking us.”
“Great,” Nix muttered. “Vultures and jaguars. The next thing we need is a giant snake.”
“Careful, or we’ll get one.” I knocked on my head, hoping to ward off the jinx.
Mountains loomed ahead, steep green peaks jutting up into the cloudless sky. My muscles tensed, awareness of surrounding threats keeping me on a tightrope.
“My money’s on the city being in the valley ahead,” I said.
“Not taking that bet,” Nix said. “I think you’re right.”
Thirty minutes later, the river had carried us deep into the mountains and we could see glimpses of white ahead.
“That’s it!” Nix cried.
We drifted down the sluggish river, mountains hulking over us like silent sentinels on either side. In front of us on the left side of the river, an abandoned city spread across the jungle. Small white buildings—houses, maybe— popped up between the foliage. The vultures overhead had tripled in number, and the jaguar stalking us still popped up now and again alongside.
Magic prickled fiercely against my skin. A warning.
“Stay alert,” I said. “Something’s coming.”
As soon as the words left my lips, the water ahead of us exploded in a massive splash, drenching us. I sputtered, heart pounding, and barely managed to keep my grip on my paddle.
I blinked the water out of my eyes, only to see a huge snake rising high in front of us, its beady black eyes riveted to our boat. I nearly swallowed my tongue, my gaze glued to the long white fangs protruding down from its mouth. Pearlescent poison dripped from the tips.
“Crap!” Nix cried.
The bottom half of the snake disappeared under the murky water. I couldn’t see, but the thing had to be at least fifty feet long given the size of the part I could see. Magic rolled off the snake, thick and pungent. Smelled like a freaking swamp.
“A booby trap to protect the city,” I said.
In a flash, Nix’s magic swelled on the air behind me, the scent of flowers strong. I followed suit, calling on my magic and letting the icy cold fill me as I started to shift to my Phantom form.
Before I could change, the snake struck, its huge head shooting toward us. I swung my paddle up and struck it in the eye. The thing hissed and reared back.
As the snake shook its head, I chucked the paddle into the boat and shifted fully, letting the ice fill my limbs as they turned transparent blue. My heart thundered as I reached out and drew my sword from the ether, the slender blade appearing from thin air. Fates, I loved that trick. This new sword was amazing.
Nix stepped closer to me, holding a massive spear that she must have conjured.
“I’ll—”
The snake struck, cutting her off. She thrust the spear up, piercing it high on its body. The thing hissed, and for the briefest second, it held still, stuck on the spear. I leapt up, turning corporeal long enough to slice my blade through the snake’s head. The massive thing dropped off, blood spraying me on the face and shoulder. I gagged as the head dropped into the water with a splash.
The huge body collapsed, yanking the spear from Nix’s hands. The splash that followed rocked our little boat, throwing me to my butt. Pain seared through my hip where I fell hard against the wooden bench, but I kept my grip on my sword. Nix landed beside me as water splashed over us.
“Not bad,” she said breathlessly.
“Nah.” I struggled to my feet, gazing out at the rippling water and trying to wipe the blood from my face. “I just hope there was only one.”
“We can handle another.” Nix stood and dusted off her hands. She strained and pointed to her face. Then to her head and shoulder. Finally, she gestured to her whole body. “You’ve got a little something there.”
“You don’t look so good yourself.” The spray had gotten her, too, speckling her brown hair and pale skin with red flecks. Her green eyes stood out starkly, an exact match to the green T-shirt she wore.
Nix stuck her tongue out in a gagging gesture. I returned my sword to the ether, then bent and scooped up some water, trying to get the worst of the blood off my face. Nix followed suit.
Once we were less gross, I said, “The spear was a good idea.”
Nix bowed low, grinning. “You did exactly as I’d hoped.”
I high-fived her, then looked up at the vultures circling overhead. “I bet they’re disappointed.”
“I’m cool with that.”