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I keep pulling it to the fore and am shocked when there is even more than before. My veins burn with it. It rushes through me. The hair all over my body stands on end as I break out in gooseflesh. I’m powerful.

Good!

We need it. All of it.

I’m sure we won’t be able to kill the conjurer, but if we could just incapacitate him for a short while, we might be able to get away.

I’m hoping it will work.

I drop the sword as a fae comes at me and lift my hand, sending a bolt his way. It misses. I try again using both hands, and a lightning bolt blows him into pieces. His chest explodes, blood spattering, pieces of smoldering flesh flying. I stagger back from the force of my power. Kakara’s cat! The fae is obliterated.

My mouth falls open. It worked.

It’s not exactly what I had in mind, but it worked. I can kill more of them.

Three more guards rush me, and I strike, using my magic. I don’t have huge amounts of control and no finesse to speak of, but thankfully, it isn’t needed right now. Fae come at me, and they fall to the ground, lifeless, smoke curling from their brokenbodies. The fae behind them exchange looks and turn tail and run.

I look down at my hands. I’m powerful. Clumsy but strong.

I turn my attention to the conjurer. His eyes widen in surprise as I focus my magic on him, a blast of energy hurtling toward him. He raises his hands, a grin forming on his face as he turns my own magic back on me.

McColl steps in front of me, whispering a spell. She manages to erect a shield, but it isn’t strong enough. We are both thrown back by the sheer force of the bolt.

The conjurer laughs. “Give up. You don’t stand a chance against me.” He folds his arms.

The remaining fae guards circle us. There are still too many of them. I spot several of the wounded among them and curse our superior healing ability.

“What now?” McColl whispers as we jump to our feet. Her hands are glowing. Her brow is beaded with sweat. I’m sure that she is fortifying a shield spell.

“We can’t keep this up for much longer.” She glances at the conjurer, who looks bemused. He takes a step back, letting his arms relax at his sides. Content to let the guards have at us again.

“Stand down,” Ondine begs. He is cradling one of his arms; blood drips between his fingers, spattering on the ground at his feet. He limps toward us, stopping. “Please.”

I shake my head.

“We need the fae alive,” he tells the conjurer. “By order of the queen.”

“And the witch?” The conjurer narrows his eyes on McColl.

“The witch is mine,” one of the bigger fae guards sneers. He’s a brute of a male. I can guess who he is. “I’m willing to give anything to have her.”

“Anything?” the conjurer says, cocking his head. “Interesting. I will give it some thought.”

I press the handle of a dagger into her hand. “Take this. They want me…not you. Let’s split up.”

She shakes her head. “It’s too danger—”

“Most of them will come after me, including the conjurer. You will be able to handle the few who follow you.”

She shakes her head, her eyes on the big guard.

“Him, too,” I say. “While you still have the energy to fight. Remember to take his heart or his head…make sure you kill him this time.” At this rate, it won’t be long before we are exhausted. We can’t go on like this.

“You can’t escape him,” she whispers.

“I’ll find a way.” It isn’t a great plan, but at least McColl will be out of harm’s way. The way I see it, we’ll have a fighting chance. “If you get away…and I am captured, go back to your people. Tell them that they need to fight againsther. That—” I start to say, but I’m interrupted by a screech from above.

In the next breath, a great dragon swoops down from out of the haze. Fire rains down, burning everything below.