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Jade’s magic erupted. I didn’t have to look where she aimed it. I already knew. I felt exactly what her power wanted as if it were my own.

Silas stiffened beneath me. I jumped to my feet, releasing my grip on him and turned my attention toward Jade.

This was everything I had been trying to avoid. They had seen Jade’s power with their own eyes.

Even worse.

One of the hooded figures now laid motionless on the ground. The smell of burnt flesh watered my eyes.

I stepped in front of Jade and her father, who was also staring at her in awe.

“Don’t touch her,” I demanded. “Let it go.”

Silas stood up and approached the remaining two hooded men. “You know we don’t have a choice, Malachi. The peacemaker comes with us.”

“Mal,” Jade whispered behind me. “You have to let me go.”

Did I just hear that right?

“Nobody’s going anywhere,” I demanded.

“We’ve been waiting on her. She’ll be safe with us until the trials,” Silas announced.

“No! She’s a human! The trials are not for her!”

“They are,” Esther’s voice interrupted. I turned to find her walking toward us, entirely unscathed.

“Esther,” Silas announced. “What a surprise.”

“How do you know my mother?” I asked him. He only smiled.

Anger stirred in my bones. Something wasn’t right. Something–

Jade screamed.

I twisted to look at her, and found one of the surviving hooded fingers with a sword piercing her chest.

No.

A sound of pure terror escaped me. I snapped her attacker's neck before catching Jade’s lifeless body.

“No!” I yelled. “You’re okay, Jade. You’re fine. Stay with me.”

“Mal?” she whispered. Her voice already sounded weak. Too weak.

I looked at the amount of blood pouring from her chest. It was too much, too much blood.

Her father fell to his knees beside us.

“Help her!” I yelled. “Someone help!”

Jade’s eyes flickered shut. I shook her shoulders, screaming her name. This wasn’t it. This wasn’t the end.

Jade would not die here.

“Malachi,” Esther whispered.

“No! This is their fault! He did this!” I said, pointing to Silas.