Claude bolted inside the house, and I anxiously waited. Building walls was something that would likely take me years to master, but this was surprisingly easy. And strangely, the power didn’t release into thin air. Instead, it entered my body as if coming home, and a current of energy rippled through me.
The door flung open, and Claude came bounding out. “She said it shocked her. She got a small rush, like juicing off someone. Then she denied she’d ever juiced anyone. Fibber.”
I howled with victory. When those in the house realized I wasn’t going to destroy the building, they came out to watch.
I took a deep breath, realizing that my work had only just begun. I couldn’t get too cocky—one mistake could fuck it all up. The traitors downstairs would go first to give me enough practice since the people out front were the ones I was most worried about.
I looked at Claude. “Make sure you repeat the instructions for each person. Don’t assume everyone down there is paying attention. Be sure they understand the consequences. I’m not taking the heat if they don’t follow orders.”
It was a slow and grueling process, and I almost took too much of the wrong energy from a diamond tiara. But we finished taking care of the prisoners inside. There might have been a way to do everything at once, but there was no way I was taking a risk that big. Niko and Claude were the runners, going back and forth to the front of the property, delivering the jewelry along with instructions. Some pieces took longer and required more effort, but maybe it had to do with the varying energy levels. With each transaction, my core light surged. More than that, wielding this enormous power was addictive.
I wanted it.
I needed it.
And it sure as hell didn’t seem fair that I had to give it up. I took my time, careful not to damage anyone’s light. The more of Sparrow’s energy I reabsorbed, the more difficult it became with each item. I had to recalibrate, and my hands were trembling from the energy high. As I neared the end, something occurred to me that hadn’t before.
Sparrow was an Infuser.
I detected a distinct fingerprint in his light that was the opposite feeling of a Stealer. It made sense. If an Infuser could seal light to another Mage, why not also objects? It would explain how he was accumulating power over the years. His original gift was a Unique and a Stealer, but somewhere along the line, he’d stolen the gifts from an Infuser and had another seal it to his light. He might have even done it by accident since not every Mage reveals what their gifts are. That explained why he kept that part shrouded in mystery. As the realization struck me, so did temptation. I already knew how to steal light, so infusing light would be the same process—only in reverse.
Eventually, the only items left belonged to Keystone. I watched firsthand as they each put on their jewelry. An electrical snap made them wince as their original energy returned to their body and attacked Sparrow’s light like the parasite that it was.
After Gem put on her quartz necklace, she reached below a layer of tulle and switched off the lights on her dress. This time the lights went out. “I’m alive!” she exclaimed, twirling gleefully.
Since Wyatt was busy guarding the gym door, Claude took him his belt buckle.
“That’s the last of them,” Blue said, rounding the corner with Niko beside her. “No more cars. They’re all gone.”
I handed over her hair comb.
The moment she placed it in her hair and flinched from the static, she ripped off her cape. “Thank the fates,” she said, rubbing her neck. “That thing was so uncomfortable and heavy. I’m going to have to rethink my wardrobe.”
Gem sauntered up to me, a necklace swinging from her fingers.
My necklace.
“It’s the last one,” she said excitedly. “It’s your turn!”
The bonfires polluted the pristine night sky, the air heavy with the scent of ashes. Houdini sprang to my thoughts in that moment. All the jewelry was accounted for—nothing extra. Had he stolen his object from Sparrow? Had he broken the curse? Or did he really want to stay just as he was? I liked the idea of not dying—of true immortality. It tempted me like a siren’s song. Then I thought about what I’d be sacrificing—being able to talk to and hug my father. That was all it took for me to make up my mind.
I jumped when my energy snapped free from the ruby and zipped through my palm like a lightning bolt. When I put the necklace on this time, it stayed.
Tiny sparks of golden light swirled around me.
“What’s happening?” Gem recoiled and gripped Viktor’s arm. “Is she doing that on purpose?”
Power swelled around me as I thought how easy it would be to seal Sparrow’s core light to mine. It would simplify capturing criminals. To think—I could fence them inside a wall of light. Or create an energy weapon that would work against any Breed, including Vampires. I wouldn’t be dependent on Vampire blood for strength.
Fragments of light continued circling me like a cyclone, turning faster and faster. The humming sound amplified, and a warm feeling tickled my insides.
Gem shrieked when Christian reached for me and the light attacked his hand. He snapped his arm back, his dark eyes widening before he shadow walked out of sight.
Viktor came into view, his face illuminated by the spinning lights. “Raven, can you stop this?”
Stop it? I didn’t want to stop it. I was bathed in power. If Sparrow had been able to send the living to another realm, could I bring back the dead? Could I bring back my mother?
Christian returned and thrust Sparrow toward the shell of light that imprisoned me. “What’s happening to her?”
