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"Here he comes," the mind mage said, his damn voice still soothing and calm. "It's time to open up …"

The monster in the cage wasn't physically moving, but panic filled me as icy tendrils of its corrupted korra reached out for me in the Korra Realm.

Closer. Closer —

Sickening waves of corruption poured over me as the tendrils began to unravel and wrap themselves around me, the taint of its corruption pouring over me until I felt as though I was drowning.

Pain split my skull as the man pushed harder, his magic a relentless onslaught against my weakened defenses.

The monster's korra quickened — thrumming with excitement as its master burrowed deeper and deeper.

Someone let out a pained cry.Was that me?

"STOP!" Liam's frantic scream pierced through the pain. "You're hurting her!"

Liam?! No. No. NO.I couldn't succumb to this. I couldn't let that monster take another person!

Could I bolster his magic like I had with Jaiel when he was losing control?If so, it might be enough for him to do something — anything — to save himself.

I had to try.

Desperate, I reached into the Korra Realm to a familiar thin, golden bond. It pulsed weakly, but I knew who it connected me to.

Expanding that bond would have consequences, but if it saved him, I had to try. Closing my eyes to focus, Ipushed my korra through our thin bond, channeling all the energy I could muster.

Liam grunted, and the sound of metal groaning filled the room.

"What in the hells?! He's bending the chair!" the mage called out, squeezing my hands tighter. "Hold him down!"

Fuck! It was actually working?!But I'd expected him to call animals from the ship or something. Not —

No. It didn't matter.Somethingwas working. I just needed to give him more!

Reaching deeper inside myself, I used everything I had, sending it through the expanding golden bond, now thrumming and glowing with power.

"Gods!" Liam grunted. "I feel —"

"Shut … up … and help … me," I snapped, opening my eyes to watch as his green eyes glowed a bright gold, and his muscles bulged.

What in the hells!?How was a dragon rider using body magic?!

With a red face and a fierce yell, he ripped free of the arm restraints.

Holden and the other guard tackled him back, fighting to hold him in the chair.

"What — the — fuck?" Holden ground out.

It was working. I was drenched in sweat and my breath came out in gasps.But it was fucking working!

Beads of sweat dotted the mind mage's brow as he looked down at me, face scrunched in concentration.

"What are you doing?" he gasped. "Where are you getting this strength from?"

His magic pushed harder at me, and those sickly tendrils of the monster danced hungrily in response.

Pain stabbed through my mind again, and I was suddenly aware of how much strength I'd used in helping Liam … and just how little I had left.

No! I needed more time!