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The guard had ripped his ward from the carriage and wrapped it around himself.

My chest tightened until I could almost taste each heartbeat.

But Demos was already launching himself through the door he’d opened. I nocked another arrow, aiming at the guard, who gave me a smug grin as it hit his shield once more.

Demos wasn’t out yet.

I needed to keep distracting him.

My next arrow went wide, and the guard’s grin grew.

Good. Just keep looking at me, you idiot.

Keep looking at me and not at Demos, who wasjumping free, a box in his arms. Pure, unfiltered joy swept through me at the sight.

Demos disappeared, and I continued to fire on the guard, distracting him from the fact that Demos now had the amulet.

But Firion kicked the guard he was fighting into one of the carriage wheels. And the guard slammed into the wood. He let out a curse, calling out someone’s name, and the shielder shifted the ward from himself to what he was supposed to be guarding.

But it was too late.

Demos was already rolling free from beneath the carriage. And when he threw the precious artifact, Gwynara’s hand was already in the air, waiting to catch it.

The moment she slipped the amulet over her head, Regner’s remaining guards went up in flames.

MADINIA

Rythos’s brother ordered us to be chained in his dungeon. I sneered at him, my palms heating, even as my heart tripped in my chest. I could take out a few of the guards. Perhaps even Brevan himself, depending on his power. But they would kill us directly after.

Still, perhaps that was a better end than one that involved fading away in his dungeon until war found this island and Regner’s soldiers arrived to kill whoever was left.

“Madinia,” Rythos said.

I looked at him. The expression on his face urged me to cooperate. “Use your power,” I said.

“He’s out.” Brevan’s expression was terrible as he watched the flames burn in my hands. “If not yet, then he will be soon. I suggest you think very, very carefully.”

My flames burned higher. “Perhaps you are the one who should think carefully.”

One of the guards took a step forward, his eyes intent. Rythos caught my wrist. “Please, Madinia.”

Fury burned through me, hotter than the flames in my hands. “You’re seriously going to let him lock us away?”

Rythos’s jaw tightened. “I’m going to trust that my brother will eventually begin to think logically.”

The brother in question gave him a cool smile.

I gave him my most poisonous smile in return. “Something tells me he wasn’t born with that ability.”

Brevan’s smile disappeared.

“Walk,” he said. “Or my guards will make you.”

I gave Rythos one more look. He just stared me down.

I didn’t trust easily. And ignoring every single instinct roaring at me to flee this island…

It could be the biggest mistake of my life.