C aduan was right. Life existed everywhere, and I spoke to that magic— Wielded it—like it was a language I was born with. The earth shivered
beneath my every step. Vines and leaves flourished around me even without my command. Light collected at my fingertips, a purer form of life, of power, that clung to the edge of my blade.
The Arans’ monsters had surrounded us, ripping through Fey soldiers and their own alike. Most were in horrible condition, their bodies actively falling apart at the seams. Every one of these beasts had once been a Fey.
The humans had turned our own people against us.
I tore through the humans, one after another after another. Before long, they didn’t even try to fight me, instead scrambling away in frenzied— unsuccessful—attempts to escape. I loved their fear. It made me strong.
Was I a monster to them? Good. They had created me.
I found Caduan fighting with Meajqa in the heart of the battle. They were overwhelmed, hordes of soldiers closing in. I relished in Caduan’s expression when he saw me—unfettered awe, like the sight of me made him forget that everything else existed.
That look alone told me I had made the right decision.
I whispered to my magic, and bodies fell. I was so drunk on my own power that I didn’t count them, didn’t watch them die.
I stepped over their corpses to Meajqa and Caduan. Meajqa was wide- eyed and speechless. Caduan barely breathed. He reached out to touch my cheek. “You are—”
A terrible crash rang out. The ground shook. We stumbled, but while Meajqa and Caduan righted themselves quickly, I remained doubled over,
my fingers pressed to my forehead.
I could not breathe. Suddenly I was in three places at once—here and somewhere infinitely deeper, connected to two other souls who had once shared mine. An overpowering force swelled there, like a wave preparing to break. Fear cut through my euphoria.
I found myself leaning against Caduan, gripping him so hard my fingernails dug into his shoulders. “Retreat,” I gasped.
His brow furrowed. “Caduan—they have it. Run.”
His face changed immediately. He whirled to the soldiers, lifted his hand to shoot a flare of magic into the air, and screamed the command. Across the battlefield, Luia followed his lead, and soon Ela’Dar’s army fell back in full retreat.
The wave rose, rose. The power of it took my breath away. My heartbeat, my one constant, raced faster and faster.
I turned back, pushing against the tide of soldiers. Caduan grabbed my arm. “Where are you going?”
“I will join you soon.”
“No, Aefe. You need to come with—”
“I need to help you!” I didn’t have time to explain. We were still surrounded by Aran soldiers, Aran soldiers who had no idea what was coming. And the wave that would wipe us out in seconds could be powerful enough to destroy my people if they did not get more time.
Caduan’s jaw set. He released my shoulder. “Come back to me soon,” he said, quietly.
I was almost grateful that I had no time to think about all the shades in his voice.
I pulled away from him and ran deeper into Niraja. Aran soldiers surrounded me while the Fey had fallen back.
The wave crested. Magic swelled in the air, thick enough to taste. I seized upon it. No time to think. Only to act.
I opened my hands. A burst of light enveloped me. The ground shook. Vines and trees shivered and roared. When it faded, bodies piled the ruins. I barely saw them. My ears rang, vision blurring.
The wave broke.
I looked up to see a wall of magic rolling over the ruins, a shimmering sheet of translucent light, nearly invisible, and yet so beautiful I couldn’t
look away.
The work of a Lejara. It had to be. This kind of power could be nothing else.
How far had Caduan made it? Were they out of the city?
I braced myself and pushed back against that magic with everything I had. I had the ability to reach just as deep. I had a tether that reached just as far. I rooted myself in that weakening connection and pushed back with everything I had, slowing it, stifling it.
I was a single rock standing against rushing rapids—the force merely parted and flowed around me. Pain erupted beneath my skin. I only realized I was screaming when my throat began to hurt.
One second. Two. Three. Seven.
Ten.
Fifteen.
Thirty.
Were they out yet? Were they free?
I had no choice. When I reached sixty seconds, the wave had begun to calm. I released my hold upon it. For a moment I wavered, my knees feeble. I looked down at the rocks, which danced in my doubling vision.
I needed to run. I needed to go after my people. But I couldn’t make myself move. My muscles did not cooperate. I fell—
—Only to be caught by a strong grip. I thought Caduan’s face was a dream. “That was incredible,” he murmured.
“You left.” My words slurred. “You are gone.” “No. I sent them away and came back for you.”
I struggled to focus my vision. Blue-black streaked his cheek, mottled with violet. I frowned and tried to touch the wounds, but my hand flopped uselessly instead.
“Let’s take you home,” Caduan said.
Home. Yes. It is nice to have a home.
That was my last thought as I let him carry me away.
