Queen of the Fae (Dragon's Gift The Dark Fae #3) - Linsey Hall Page 0,21

away even faster. They dissipated to reveal a beautiful red-haired woman. Her eyes were the same magnificent green as her dress.

“Brigid.” Of course she didn’t turn to look at me.

She stood on a tall plateau, the sun setting behind her. It burned like fire as it dropped low, casting the plateau in shadows. I searched for details, spotting strange carvings on the massive cliff upon which the plateau sat.

They looked like buildings, carved right into the stone, halfway up the cliff wall. They were ancient, a place I’d never seen. They looked like Petra, in Jordan. The famous site was a supernatural hot spot. But this was different.

Brigid stood on the plateau above, the sun illuminating her hair. Trees scattered around her, appearing to light on fire from the setting sun. The air smelled of smoke and fire.

I had no idea what this place was.

Panic lit in my chest. This could be so many places in the world. I ran forward, trying to find clues. I spotted ancient ruins. Greek or Roman, maybe. Others that were unfamiliar. They scattered about the landscape below the plateau, the strangest thing I’d ever seen.

But the most distinct thing about the place was the sun that lit it on fire.

It’s not enough.

I couldn't find her with just this.

If I couldn’t find her, Tarron would die.

Images flashed in my mind. A vision inside a vision.

Me, killing Tarron. Tears pouring down my face. Tarron, tortured. Determined.

Something yanked on my shoulders, pulling me back.

I gasped, my mind torn from the premonition. Choking, I opened my eyes. The first thing I saw was fire.

Panic flared.

Someone swept me up.

Tarron.

I was in Tarron’s arms.

Big and strong, he gripped me tight, carrying me away from the fire. My breath heaved.

I was hyperventilating.

I was absolutely losing my shit.

It was unacceptable.

Determined, I drew in a ragged breath, trying to slow my heart rate and calm my mind. Get my act together. “You can put me down.”

“Are you sure?” Concern echoed in Tarron’s voice.

“Yes.”

He set me down on the other side of the room, and I stumbled back, running my hands down the front of my body, trying to straighten my clothes.

“Mari?” Aeri’s voice sounded from the other side of the room.

I looked over, trying to compose myself. I loathed freaking out and losing my composure in public. It just wasn’t me.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

“Fine.” My voice almost sounded brisk. I’d take it. “I saw some things. Hopefully enough.”

“Like what?” Tarron’s voice drew my attention to him, and I met his gaze.

The memory of stabbing him flashed in my mind.

I twitched.

Damn it, I was going to get nightmares from this.

I shoved the thought away. I would stop it.

A little voice whispered that I should tell him about it, but I knew it wouldn’t matter. We had to stop the queen. Tarron wouldn’t step away because of risk to himself.

“I saw Brigid. She stood on a plateau that was lit with a flaming sun.” I described everything I’d seen, searching the eyes of the three people around me, hoping for a glint of recognition.

When I saw it in Arrowen’s eyes, I nearly sagged with relief. “You recognize something.”

“The flaming planes, topped with a plateau lit by the sun.” She nodded. “This is a place, near the Lycian rock-cut tombs. It’s famous among our kind, and located in the ancient Anatolia.”

“Turkey?”

“The very same. It doesn’t surprise me that the Guardians of the Eternal Flame would make that their home.”

“What about all the archaeological ruins I saw there? I don’t know much about history, but they appeared to be from different cultures. Different kinds of stone were used, different construction.”

“Very likely the goddesses’ impact. They’d want to be among the familiar. It’s more than possible that what you saw acts as a guard for them. Protecting them.”

“Humans can’t go there, can they?” Aeri asked. “Their archaeologists would freak out if there were true ruins in places there shouldn’t be. Cultures sitting next to each other that never interacted.”

“Precisely,” Arrowen said.

“So just supernaturals. Us included.” I looked at Tarron. “When can we leave?”

“Immediately. We should have some potions on hand for energy. In case we cannot sleep.”

I nodded. “Good.”

We’d have to be careful. One couldn’t take too many of those potions without terrible effects. And we’d need to save our magic. The potions wouldn’t necessarily restore that the way true rest would.

I looked at Aeri. “Can I speak to you privately?”

Tarron’s brows rose, but I said nothing to him.

Aeri nodded, and we left the room, finding a