Page 34 of Immortal Origins (Chronicles of the Immortal Trials #1)

A mbrose packed under the dim light of a single firelight, taking anything that could be essential once she was out of sight and could make her escape.

It didn’t matter who was joining them. She’d spent her life learning how to slip by unseen.

There would never be a better time to put those skills to use, so she had to be prepared.

She slipped into the fighting clothes Akadian had given her when she faced Rowland and tried not to think about the last time she wore them. Everything in her bag was packed for as much mobility as possible. A quiet escape was more ideal than the alternative but she had to consider every option.

She still didn’t have a sword of her own.

The one she was given during practice was taken away from her when they were done and she was never permitted to keep it.

She longed for the safety she felt when she had it on her hip and told herself she’d have to find one at the first given opportunity.

Between her training with Lily—on top of what she’d learned with Adym—she was rather pleased with how her skills had progressed.

Where Adym had been too formal, Lily gave her the confidence to think outside of her comfort zone.

Her heart tugged in her chest when she thought about her brother so she pushed it from her mind.

By the time she finished, the pack carried weeks’ worth of supplies. Satisfied, she left her room to join a waiting Akadian.

“Finally,” he huffed when she emerged.

“Oh yeah, like you had to wait so long.” She rolled her eyes. “First light isn’t for another hour.”

“Half an hour,” he corrected, unfolding his arms from where he leaned against the wall.

He looked different today. His usual black leather pants and arachne silk shirt had been traded for the same dragon leathers he wore the night of the festival.

The casual prince was gone and a fire mage stood in his place.

His hair hung around the sides of his face the way it always did, swinging just above his shoulders and his eyes contained an unusual flare in them.

“What’s wrong?” She set her pack down on one of the arm chairs.

He threw a stack of clothes at her that were almost identical to the ones he wore.

The deep black-red leather was tough but when she tugged it, it stretched easily in her hands.

Strong and mobile . When she opened them, she discovered pants and a matching long-sleeve with a high collar that went up her neck.

Paired with them was a golden chest plate that bore an emblem branded in the shape of a head of a dragon that had an emerald eye. It was stunning .

“Put those in your bag.”

She ran her hand over the chest plate, unsure of what to think. Coincidence…?

“What are these for?” she asked as she folded them again.

“Those are made from an armored dragon, the toughest dragon skin currently in the empire. You’re going to need them where we’re going.

Magnus had the chest plate made, said it was a gift for your first real training.

He urged me to tell you not to lose it.” He grabbed his own pack and slung it over his shoulder. “Pack it up and let’s go.”

Ambrose did as he instructed and stuffed them into her pack, “Why do I need them?”

“We’re going into dragon territory. They won’t completely save you, you’ll only be fire-proof where the leather covers but it’s better than nothing. Just hope if we see one, it’s not hungry,” he said as he marched her out of his garden.

“You think we might actually see a dragon?” She never considered that. She knew the Fae Forest was close to the home of the dragons but never thought of what she’d do if she actually came across one.

“What did you think we’d find there?” he laughed over his shoulder.

“Well.” She shook her head. “I guess I didn’t really think about it.”

“You didn’t think about what could be in the most dangerous forest on the mainland?”

Her cheeks flushed. “Well, no, I didn’t.

In case you didn’t know, servants don’t really get to know much about what goes on outside of their appointments.

I’ve spent my entire life in the palace and the only time I get new information about anything outside the Capital is when other servants visit, which is pretty rare. ”

“Sorry, I didn’t think about that.” He glanced back at her and something tugged in her chest at his lack of a retort.

He was unusually serious instead of brooding.

“In any case, we’ll probably be fine. The dragons stick pretty close to their territory in the mountains, so I doubt we’ll actually see one.

It’s just a precaution. I’d be much more worried about what else is in those woods. ”

Ambrose did her best to match his stride but Akadian was almost a head taller than her and she had to keep a jogging pace just to keep up with his brisk walk.

They passed through the corridors, early rays of the morning sun peeking out in the distance.

The sky turned from hues of royal blue to a lighter blue, while a pink and yellow halo lay on the horizon.

“Like what?” she huffed between breaths.

“Besides the usual unicorn or shadow panther?” he asked.

“Those aren’t bad enough?” She plaited her hair back as they walked so it wouldn’t hang in her face.

“That’s not even close to the worst of it,” he muttered, brow furrowed.

“Tell me.” What could possibly be more terrifying than a dragon ?

They approached the entrance courtyard and the silhouettes of five figures stood waiting for them.

Akadian slowed his pace and lowered his tone.

“There are things in those woods. Horrible, ancient creatures the gods created long ago. Things that can trick you and play with your mind. Ones that twist your darkest fears and use them to drive you mad. Hunters that can disorient you and tear you apart before you can do anything to stop it.” He paused and pulled her to the side of the hallway.

“There are even things that can steal your soul. They feed on your mana force, claiming it for their own so it can never pass on to the afterlife. It’s theirs forever and the more they eat, the longer they live and the stronger they become. Some of them are very old.”

“Is that all?” she joked nervously.

“Not even close. Alkijin. Nasty creatures and a pack hunter that’s made of and wields shadows.

They can’t exist where light does so don’t leave the campsite at night and whatever you do, don’t walk away from the fire.

” He tilted his chin down and stared at her with a softness that made her wish he was even closer.

The concern on his face almost gave her pause.

Almost. He grabbed her hand like he was afraid of it but gave her fingers a light squeeze.

Electricity hummed in her stomach as she memorized the way his fingers felt holding hers, even as gently as he did.

Like the ghost of a touch that wasn’t fully there, before he pulled his hand away and she was left with only the memory.

Her feelings had become so mixed when faced with the prince.

Some moments, he seemed so distant and lost in his own thoughts, but he’d softened to her over the weeks in a way that made her heart skip a beat.

A softness he seemed to save just for her.

She didn’t understand how someone could be so hot and cold all at once.

It confused…and excited her. “Just don’t leave my side or the group, okay?

You’ll be safe as long as we stick together.

I promise, I won’t let anything happen to you. ”

Her heart picked up as she looked at him.

She bit her bottom lip to keep it from trembling as his words soaked in and found a home in the back of her mind.

Anticipation buzzed through her veins and as she avoided looking at him, she told herself the fire she felt was from fear…

Nothing else. Which wasn’t entirely a lie.

What other kinds of monsters existed? That she was blind to living in the palace?

What horrors did the gods create for no other reason than they could?

It didn’t surprise her, but it did remind her the world she lived in was more dangerous than she could’ve ever imagined.

Even through its cruelty, she’d lived a sheltered life inside the palace.

She had to get her hands on a sword as soon as she could. She doubted she’d make it very far without one.

She gave him a reassuring nod as she met his eye. “Okay.”

They turned their attention towards the five beings waiting for them and made their way to greet them.

From the distance and early morning light, she could just make out their faces the closer they got.

She only recognized two of them. Danthan from her Magick lessons and an elven fae with a short stocky build, a red beard that matched wild hair that formed a ring around his head and a shining bald spot on top.

He had a battle axe slung over his shoulder almost the size of him.

She didn’t know his name but he’d been one of the fire mages who had performed the last night of the Harvest Festival.

One was a woman years older than Ambrose, but she couldn’t have been more than thirty.

Her tanned skin was dry and rough, her face marked with a scar above her right eyebrow that would’ve taken her eye had it been an inch lower, and dark, short-cropped hair that she pushed back and out of her face.

She didn’t smile as they approached and from the early wrinkle lines displaying on her face it didn’t appear as though she ever had.