Shadows, Maps, and Other Ancient Magic by Meghan Ciana Doidge Page B

pantry. The satchel pretty much operated as a go-bag for treasure hunting now, rather than just a fashion accessory. I even had one of those hotel sewing kits in it, along with cash, a lead-lined case to protect my phone from the magic of the portals, and chocolate. But extra chocolate was always a smart idea and never went to waste.  
    As I jogged down the stairs to the basement and reached out for the magic of the portal, I reminded myself that there was no such thing as a perfect life, and it didn’t do me any good to stare after something I could never have.

CHAPTER SIX

    I pulled Kandy through the golden magic of the portal from the bakery basement. Warner had preceded us. The green-haired werewolf stumbled forward, though her footing should have been solid on the white marble floor. She grabbed my shoulder for extra support as she gasped, her eyes blazing green. Claws appeared at the ends of her fingers to dig into the flesh of my shoulder.
    “Ouch.”
    “Easy, wolf,” Warner said as he turned back to us. His tone was kinder than I expected.  
    “The magic,” Kandy muttered. Her voice was pained. I could feel her attempting to rein in her shapeshifter magic as it rippled down her arms and across her body.
    The portal closed behind us and Kandy half straightened, though she was still gripping my shoulder. My first visit to the dragon nexus had been overwhelming as well … and I’d had the magic of all nine guardians to contend with then. I still wondered how I survived that first onslaught. Now, of course, I’d built up a tolerance.
    Pulou strode into the circular room underneath the archway that led to the dragon residences. I instantly knew that his presence wasn’t a coincidence.
    “The far seer sends his greetings to Kandice Tate, enforcer of the West Coast North American Pack, friend and bodyguard to Jade Godfrey, the warrior’s daughter. I am Pulou, the treasure keeper of the guardians. One of the nine.”
    Kandy pushed away from me, as if to force herself to stand without assistance before Pulou. She nodded her head in a brief bow, but then kept her gaze downcast somewhere around Pulou’s chest.  
    “We are well met, treasure keeper,” the green-haired werewolf said.
    Pulou shifted his gaze from Kandy to me, and then to Warner. “Alchemist. Sentinel.”
    “Treasure keeper.” We all spoke in unison.
    “Are you ready for what lies ahead, Kandice Tate?”
    Kandy squared her shoulders and lifted her gaze to meet Pulou’s. “I prefer to be called Kandy, treasure keeper,” she said. “My mother was Kandice.”
    Pulou grinned at the green-haired werewolf. “We all have our ancestral burdens to bear.”
    Kandy nodded. “I’m always ready, guardian,” she said. “Just don’t tell me I’m going to die.”
    Pulou lost the smile.
    “I know who the far seer is,” the green-haired werewolf continued. Kandy was always quicker at putting things together than I was. Dread ached through my chest, momentarily taking my breath away.
    “It is indeed a great and terrible thing to be seen by the far seer,” Pulou said. “But it is not to you his gaze falls, werewolf.”
    Then he looked at me.
    “Are you going to tell me not to go?” I asked.
    “No. You will proceed as tasked,” Pulou answered. “I have a gift for your companion.” He reached into the pocket of his fur coat and pulled out two gold bracelets. “At the behest of the far seer.”
    The twin bracelets were carved with runes I had no ability to read. Actually, they were thick — over three inches wide — and more like cuffs than bracelets. They were edged with a raised lip that was speckled with tiny, densely clustered diamonds.
    With no hint of hesitation, Kandy held her arms out to Pulou as if she was about to be arrested.
    Something about the gesture struck me. “Wait …” I murmured.
    “Indeed,” Warner said. “Beware of dragons bearing gifts of gold and gem.” There was nothing accusatory in the sentinel’s tone. He