Free Blood and Snow 7: Seal of Gabriel by Rashelle Workman Page B

in the name of evolution.
    “Perhaps,” Abernathy said thoughtfully.
    I fisted my hands, the muscles under my brown fur straining from the pressure. Would he refuse me?
     

     
    “What’s the matter with her? It looks like she has a disease—that odd shade of her skin. And she hasn’t moved in weeks.”
    “I wish I knew. Snow Angel, come back, honey. Daddy’s here.”
    “Let’s fly to Italy for Christmas, it’ll do you some good to relax.”
    “You can do what you want, but I’m her father. I’m not going anywhere, in case she wakes up.”
    “You heard the doctors, there’s nothing wrong with her.”
    “Then get the hell out, Viv. Go! Do what you want. I won’t leave my daughter alone again.”
    “How dare you talk to me like that!”
    “No, how dare you! For the past ten years I’ve chosen you over her. Never again.” …
     
     

Chapter 2
     
    Abernathy exhaled, sending smoke through his nostrils, and I took another step back. “If you wish to save Earth’s magic, there is much you must do. While I do not agree that the horse is less of a creature than the unicorn, I do think there is merit to what you request. Saving magic will benefit all creatures.”
    I felt my shoulders relax. My wings vibrated in response. It didn’t matter if he agreed with my beliefs or not, only that he told me what I needed to do to protect the world’s magic from dying out completely. “You’ll help, then?”
    “Yes, Silindra, Queen of the Vampires. I’ll give you what you desire, but remember all choices come with a price.”
    “Thank you,” I breathed, feeling a little giggly, and wondering where the emotion came from. Usually I was exceptional under pressure.
    Abernathy tossed his head back. “Hhhmmmmm. Aaarrgggghhhh. Hhhmmmmm. Aaarrgggghhhh.” The noise trembled deep within the dragon’s body. He pranced from one foot to the other, as though dancing. Then he rose up on his hind legs, and let out a roar, breathing fire. Flames licked the high ceiling of the cavern. Bats died instantly, falling like black rain all around us. I fell backward, pinching my wings against the floor and the rocky wall. And waited.
    After several minutes he stopped, turning his ferocious face my direction. An angry pain burned in his eyes. He opened his mouth, and I had a momentary flash of fear that he would send his fiery breath my way.
    Instead, something small rolled off his tongue, landing in the dusty floor beneath him. “Take that,” he said, returning to his sitting position, looking as though he’d done nothing bizarre.
    I hesitated. “What is it?” A hairball, I thought. Nasty.
    “Go on, it won’t bite.”
    Yeah, but it might be oozing saliva, and other disgusting dragon… stuff, I thought, standing above it.
    Abernathy chuckled, his eyes twinkling merriment. “Go on,” he prodded.
    Cautious, I picked it up. It was warm, and thankfully slobber free. It looked like a topaz gem, shaped like a teardrop. A grey-black substance swirled within. Holding it between my thumb and first finger I peered at it more closely.
    “What is it?” I asked, hearing the wonderment in my voice.
    “That, dear Silindra, is a piece of my soul.”
    I gasped, and almost dropped it. “Why?” To give away a piece of one’s soul was a travesty.
    “In order to save magic you must combine my soul with six other magical elements,” Abernathy answered.
    A vibration began within my body, and I knew he spoke the truth. “And they are?” I asked, pressing the gem into the palm of one hand.
    “The horn of a unicorn, the strength of a troll, the heart of a fairy, the essence of a vampire, and the blood of a Hunter, but not any Hunter. When the time comes, you’ll understand what I mean.”
    I nodded.
    A shriek came from the nethermost part of my mind. I sucked in a breath, surprised. I hadn’t made the noise. But who had? Shaking my head, I tried to rid myself of the clutter. After a thousand years of living I thought I’d experienced