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“It took half a day to get to Portugal by boat. Where Marduk himself used a portal to join us in our shipping container.” Caoimhe squeezed her eyes tight, and shook. “I talked Tenzin into walking through his portal. I trusted the wrong person.”
Caoimhe clenched her little fist. “The first thing Marduk did was separate us.”
“It’s not your fault,” Tenzin said, slipping into the seat next to his mate. He brushed fresh tears off her face. “I love you, and we will get through this.”
Tyson, walking on Tenzin’s heels, sat next to Rehan at the far end of the table. He clenched his fist, not making eye contact with me.
His first reaction when he figured out I’d given up my firstborn was to blame me, and it hurt… a lot. But I also got it. Marduk dangled the carrot, and I swallowed it. Of all my mates, Tyson wanted kids the most. He couldn’t help how he felt any more than I could. It didn’t make what he did right, but it meant there was a bridge over the chasm dividing us, if he could bring himself to take the first step.
The wine-tasting group clinked glasses again, and the chattering picked up. A few women noticed the dragon shifters, all in human forms, dressed in cargo shorts and various t-shirts from the gift shop which stretched over their muscled builds.
I put my arm around Lux and Ogden, suddenly glad I didn’t have magic so I couldn’t unnaturally stretch my arms to reach all four. That would be weird. Og gave me a grin, and I stuck my tongue out at him.
“Caoimhe came to the island like any other human woman thanks to Marduk,” Og explained to Tyson. “She escaped by boat, under your dad’s nose, with the help of Doctor Raba using the code word: Brad. Does that mean anything to you?”
“Brad?” Tyson studied his wine glass as if his fire magic could turn it into scotch. “Nope. Sounds like a douche bag though.”
I sighed. “It really does.”
“What’s your story, Jay?” Caoimhe asked.
I gave a brief summary, leaving out my emotional baggage and focusing on getting my memories and magic back so I could hopefully fix the Ley Line. The stupid thing that started this mess.
“When you get your magic back, are you more powerful than Marduk?” Caoimhe asked with a hint of desperation.
I studied her, expecting this question. “Maybe. Our magic is very different. I was not born powerful. I fought, stole, and worked for every drop flowing through my veins. Marduk was a powerful mage before he dove into the world of deals and built his empire. He’s over three thousand years old and has an army at his fingertips. Any fight between us would be a world-shattering showdown. There’s a reason we’ve left each other alone.” I patted her shoulder. “Neither of us is stronger than a binding promise.” Tears sprang to her eyes. “But when my powers are back, I will help you, whatever that looks like. You have my word. My promise.”
The air sizzled with magic, and thunder clapped in the distance despite the clear blue sky. The wine tasters at our back let out awkward laughs, all checking their weather apps and swatting at their shirts as if bugs had suddenly brushed their skin.
Caoimhe lifted her chin. “I’m sorry I doubted you. What can I do to help you get your powers back?”
I grinned. “Our goal hasn’t changed. I’m missing memories. The footage from London didn’t show me anything new. We need to figure out who my ex is, who the guy in the videos is, and where the pieces of Gorm’s casket ended up. And, why I did any of this, ideally.”
“What museum did you hit here?” Tyson scratched the stubble on his chin.
“Superintendent Kelly said it was a private collector, but that’s all the info he had.” I turned to Lux. “Did Cikku have a place for us to hole up?”
Lux blinked. “Here. You were sent here by his god. He would give you his winery if you asked for it.”
“We aren’t staying here.” Caoimhe hit the table with her fist.
I reached forward and covered her hand with mine. “I think you should.”
Her eyes widened.
“Marduk’s powerful, and the world is about to get very, very messy,” I explained. “Good or evil, you essentially have a demi-god desperate to keep you alive, at least for another eight months. Use his goodwill. Befriend Cikku. He’s older than me. Babylon fell over twenty-five hundred years ago. Phantoms don’t have mortal bodies. They are ghosts, so focused on one love in life that they forget to die and spend eternity doing it. Maybe you will learn something about Marduk that helps you.”
“How does that help you get your magic back?” Caoimhe asked.
I leaned back. “That doesn’t, but I have another way you can help me.”
Caoimhe blinked her wide eyes at me. She looked so sweet and innocent. It was perfect.
“What’s the best way to get information?” I asked.
Caoimhe blinked again. “Google it?”
I wrinkled my nose. “Right, internet generation.” I suddenly felt ancient. “I was leaning toward talking to people.” I looked at everyone. “We’re going to split up.”
