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A flurry of thoughts derailed my efforts, even though I couldn’t afford the distraction.

There was no cure, in that case… But mana returned to nature when the mage wasn’t around to control it anymore.

So if I killed him, that would end his influence for everyone affected, shouldn’t it?

It wasn’t a decision to be made lightly.

Murder never was. Then again, what was one man’s life compared to Luthri’s life and the lives of the villagers?

What other options were there? He was too far gone to convince. We held no power other than the potential to surprise them and deal a blow there was no coming back from.

And with Rugaveld and Savreen occupied, it was now or never.

I started the process again. Mana came when I asked, merging with the anger and fear boiling inside me and reaching a point of no return.

When the quantity hit dizzying heights, I held onto the image I had in mind and let loose, pushing controlled doses of magic to every corner of my body and demanding its obedience.

The effect was electrifying and near-instantaneous.

My neck extended to make room for a line of sharp frills.

My mouth, open in a silent scream of victory, morphed into a narrow snout filled with sharp teeth.

Skin became a tough hide coated in shiny crimson scales.

Claws sprouted from my hands, now paws the size of a man’s chest. My tail, prehensile and pure muscle, curled around me as I got my bearings, sweeping a turtle guy off his feet and nearly bringing down the wall by my shoulder.

For a split second, nobody moved, taking in the dragon/sea monster beast I’d become. I might not have had the skill to craft wings, but the rest was effective without.

My eyes narrowed on the threat. No time to waste.

I lumbered forward, intent on getting Rugaveld away from Luthri.

The mayor had enough time to shove his daughter out of the way and raise his dagger before I plowed into him, knocking the blade from his hands and taking him straight through the paneling at his back.

Someone shrieked as a shower of debris hid him from view.

I blinked dust and sunlight from my eyes, struggling not to cough.

I could show no weakness right now. A slim figure stumbled to his feet in front of me; rage turned it red.

I advanced, my scaled and clawed feet sliding on the polished stone.

My first thought was to bite, but leading with my teeth was unwise—killing him that way would mean having to taste him.

My jaw clicked shut, and I swung my neck instead, slamming Rugaveld against the floor with the force of a truck. He was fast for an old man, though, back on his feet before I’d prepared another blow. Fear twisted his features, his confidence shaken.

I have him right where I want him.

But rather than stand and face me, he darted for the shelter of the manor.

So, that’s how we’re playing this? Loosing a rattling growl, my tail came around to block his path, sweeping rubble along the way.

Despite a limp, Rugaveld vaulted over the extra appendage.

I pursued him, ducking under the ceiling and into the hallway.

My shoulder upset a cabinet of curios and sent a painting careening to the floor.

It barely registered, no more than dull thumps in the background.

The phrase “to be drunk with power” made sense now.

Once I got my unwieldy bulk moving, there was no stopping me.

My vision had a blurry golden overcast, and my lungs heaved to provide the larger body with enough oxygen, but the blood pumping through my veins was hot and mana -fueled.

My purpose was clear—the man in front of me would die.

“Mar!”

My ear twitched at the sound of my name, but it faded into white noise.

Behind me, the hall filled with mist, obscuring details from view.

My attention remained in front. I gained on Rugaveld, even as he rounded corners, overturned furniture, and slammed doors in an attempt to shake me off.

It wasn’t enough. Like a juggernaut, I plowed through every obstacle he presented.

This person threatened someone who was mine. I would make him pay.

We burst through the doors to his beautiful conservatory.

Birdsong cut out at our intrusion, and a cluster of colorful star-shaped flowers that had been soaking up the sun in a planter nearby snapped shut.

Rugaveld drew up short, turning this way and that.

He could keep running, but he couldn’t hide, and judging by the despair on his face, we both knew it.

I stalked forward. All fight left him, and he dropped to his knees, wincing as bone cracked against the marble floor. I almost felt sorry for him. Almost.

How many had this man enslaved? How many lives had he interfered with when it wasn’t his place, Lady Narille’s included? If anyone deserved to die, it was this monster.

“Please,” he whispered, a plea for his life carried on a breeze of breath.

I hesitated. Of course I did. As determined as I’d been to chase him down, there was no coming back from this. It would be a permanent stain on my soul. But what other option did I have to put a stop to this? How else could I set the others free? How could I save Luthri?

No. This was the only way.

The shape of my mouth and throat made words difficult, and a deep rumbling bellowed from my cavernous chest in place of the intended statement. I tweaked my form and tried again. “You know I can’t let you go. We show you mercy, and this never ends.”

Rugaveld bowed his head. “I wanted to make things better,” he tried, voice small.

I had nothing to say to that. Pity didn’t serve me here, so I stopped listening. He could explain himself to whatever god or goddess received him in death.

Putting everything I had into it, I dealt the killing blow.

My feet dragged as I retraced my steps to where I’d left Luthri, praying he was all right.

As I went, it became harder and harder to hold onto my form.

A bone-deep fatigue took root. Scales sloughed from my arms and back, melting into the air as my hold on the excess mana loosened.

Each footstep lightened until a normal human foot landed, bare and unburdened.

Damn it. I must have lost my boots somewhere in the change.

The peculiar mist had dissipated enough to make out twists and turns in the hall, but no details.

Instinct drove me forward, but every stride was a guessing game.

When the hall at last opened to fresh air and light, relief turned my legs to noodles.

I barely summoned the strength to step over an unconscious turtle person in my path rather than kicking him aside .

A head of short blond hair popped out from the wreckage. Upon noticing me, an unrestrained grin broke out on Vyrain’s face. “Mar! Thank the Goddess you’re okay.”

“That was a hell of a signal,” Hohem exclaimed. Noticing my disheveled appearance and unsteady gait, he rushed to help, but I brushed off his hands. I had eyes for one thing only.

Stomping past the twins, I closed in on Luthri.

The Peri man crouched by what remained of the outer wall, Rugaveld’s dagger in hand, tending to where the rope had bitten into his wrists.

At my approach, the creases of concern marking his face smoothed.

He reached for me with both hands as his wings jerked above his shoulders in a happy dance.

Gripping his forearms for support, I sank to the floor between his knees and let my head drop.

“Gods of old, Mar, that was incredible. But where did you disappear to?” Luthri’s eyes scanned me from head to toe, taking in the various cuts, skewed clothing, and bare feet.

No doubt I was covered in dust, same as everyone else, but I would live. Fatigue was my primary enemy now. Nevertheless, I couldn’t relax until I was sure it was over.

“I had to take care of Rugaveld. How do you feel?” I studied his face for signs of Rugaveld’s spell.

He appeared alert, but the color had washed from his skin, turning him an alarming shade of taupe.

A side effect of the sweets? If killing Rugaveld didn’t solve the problem for some reason, we might need to tie Lu up again until we could figure out an alternative cure.

Behind my back, my hand felt around for a stray piece of rope.

Luthri shook his head. “I’ll be fine,” he said. “I just need to find a bathroom soon.”

His stomach concurred with an ominous gurgle. If possible, he paled even further, and his fingers dug into my arms.

I absolutely would not laugh. Some of the tightness in my chest eased, though.

“All right,” I conceded, dragging my protesting limbs back into action. “Let’s do that, and then let’s find Narille and go home.”