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It had been over an hour since I’d drained that magic at the wall. It hardly felt like enough recovery time. Did I dare risk pulling evenmorestrange energy into my body—the effects of which might not become truly apparent until later?

Aleksander stepped to my side, distracting me from my inner debate. “If you’re going to run away, I suggest you do it now,” he said, studying the orbs of light he’d just summoned to his fingertips. “So at least you’ll be out of my way.”

Indignant heat rushed through my body. “I’m not going anywhere, as much as I love the idea of leaving you here to die alone.”

He chuckled darkly, muttering something I didn’t catch—I was too busy running my fingers more purposefully along my bracelets.

Sometimes they guided me. I was used to their subtle shiverings and shiftings…but I was surprised when the black-rose bracelet was the one that began to move, its beads chattering like teeth in a blisteringly cold wind.

Then I remembered the more advanced side of projecting magic that Orin had explained to me, however many years ago now: How it was possible to send one’s essence intothingsrather than into thin air—to become a possessing spirit and not merely a drifting one. I’d never managed anything close to it in the world above. But this realm was different, seemingly moreconducive to my powers. I’d already witnessed a stronger ability to divine memories from objects, so maybe…

“Stay close to me, please,” I whispered, quietly enough that only Phantom’s ears could pick up the words. “I’m going to try something new.”

(Why do I feel as though this is going to end poorly?)

“It’s not like things can get much worse.”

(You’ve said that in the past. And you were wrong.)

“Do something,” Aleksander snapped, “ormove aside.”

Gritting my teeth, I firmly motioned Phantom closer. He let out another soft whine but obeyed. With his comforting weight pressing against my legs, I quickly rearranged my bracelets, shifting them so the black-rose bracelet was alone on my left wrist, allowing me to better focus on it—and the ability it channeled.

I lifted my arm and imagined a piece of myself lifting with it, separating from my body. A ghostly shade of me began to take form, glowing around my edges like a second skin preparing to shed. In the next instant, black markings spiraled over my lifted arm with sudden, powerful intensity, making my breath catch.

A good sign, I reminded myself, trying to stay calm.

The marks had always heralded stronger magic in the past, for better or worse.

A deep, settling breath, and those markings lifted from my physical arm, twisting up into the projection of it, welding the ghostly extension of me into something that felt more solid. More heavy.

Fearing it wouldn’t last long, I quickly directed that fortified projection forward, aiming it at the spinning cyclone of shadows advancing toward Aleksander and me.

As my projection struck the approaching threat, I felt it in my physical body: A pressure against my hand, as though I wasactuallytouching it. As though I could have grabbed hold of the swirling darkness and wrestled it into submission.

Not knowing what else to do, I tried precisely that.

I squeezed my hand into a fist as though to grab hold, and then I gave a sharp jerk of my wrist.

And a section of the winding cyclone of magic actuallymoved.

I’d managed it.

I’d possessed energy that wasn’t mine.

I tried again, and this time I managed to begin peeling the churning mass apart. It didn’t last long—but I unwound enough of it to glimpse what was at the heart.

What I saw nearly made me cry out in shock.

“There’s apersonin there.”

“…What?”

“A woman.” I stumbled several steps toward the spinning shadows, indifferent to the way they twisted with even angrier, louder, more threatening motions. “There’s someone…someone is…”

Aleksander grabbed my arm, trying to hold me back. For a moment, I nearly let him. And why wouldn’t I? Why would Iwillinglyentomb myself in that dark cloud after witnessing what it had done to Elias?

Why? Because someone was in the center of those shadows, weaving this dark magic that looked like my own.Controllingit.