She burst open her Essence Channels, drawing the full force of her power to the surface like a storm. It blasted out with a powerful burst of light, throwing the mages back. Her magic cleaved through the enchanted bindings on her wrists. Rolling to her feet, coils of purple electricity spiraled around her as she faced them.
Thunder boomed overhead, and lightning flashed, lighting up the square.
Artem stepped back, his eyes widening. “We need reinforcements!”
More Enforcers flooded the square. She decided at that moment, none of them would leave Dwarf Shoe alive. For every sorceress they hunted and siphoned, she would end them all.
The mages began conjuring spells, but one jerked, blood spilling from his neck. His body dropped, and the remaining mages stumbled back, staring at Lucenna. But it wasn’t her.
A black shape cut between the Enforcers, blades flashing in the firelight. Cries and gurgles broke out as blood sprayed in the air and bodies rapidly dropped. The mages forgot about her as they directed their power on the unexpected opponent.
A flash of lightning caught the edge of his face, the bottom half covered in a black mask. Klyde. Lucenna’s breath caught as he leaped through the Enforcers, severing lives faster than they could realize what was happening.
They threw a barrage of spells at him, and she cried out. “Klyde!”
But every single spell clashed against an invisible force field around him. It wasn’t his shield or his coat. Attack magic couldn’t touch him.
The four-leaf clover,Lucenna realized.
His blades cut through half of the Enforcers before they realized he was no ordinary human. Leaping into the air, Klyde hooked his legs around a mage’s neck and brought him to the ground in one fluid motion. He twisted his knee, and she heard the crack of bone.
Gritting his teeth, Artem threw a powerful purple Essence last. He crossed his arms, protecting his face. The spell hit, but the clover took the brunt, sliding him across the wet ground. Artem backed away as more Elite Enforcers streamed from the shadows.
One ripped debris from the ground and hurled it at Klyde. Magic couldn’t touch him, but physical objects could. Lucenna snatchedhim out of the way with her Essence and yanked him to her side, placing him on the fountain.
He nodded his thanks. “Nearly got me there.”
“I told you to stay out of it,” Lucenna hissed as rain began to fall. “I don’t need you to protect me. Now stay off the ground.”
Lucenna strode toward the Enforcers. Her Essence made the air vibrate and crackle with ferocious energy. They readied their glowing staffs.
“Careful,” Artem said, standing further away from the battle. “She’s dangerous.”
But they didn’t listen. They never did.
Purple electricity crackled off her as she conjured whips of light. With a snap, they struck the wet ground. Screams rang through the square as the mages too slow to throw up shields were electrocuted to death. Her whips slashed through them, tearing through their bodies and their staffs. She would kill them all.
A force collided into her. It flung her back, and she rolled, crashing into the fountain.
“Lucenna!” Klyde rushed to her, taking her face.
Groaning, she sat up with her vision spinning.
Slow clapping snatched their focus to a dark figure walking into the square. The scattered burning debris revealed him in the firelight. Magnus.
Her uncle’s eyes shone vivid purple, his white hair stark in the night. A thick shield glowed around him and Artem. The only mage he had bothered to protect.
“Father, don’t underestimate her—” Artem cut off at his sharp look. He ducked his head.
“I see you have started tapping into the magic of other elements,” her uncle said coolly. “I am tasked with stopping you before you master all three.”
Lucenna got to her feet and wiped the blood from her nose. Power flowed to her glowing fingertips. “You can try.”
Magnus’s magic rippled through the air, making her faintly gasp from the potent force. It was heavy, powerful, and fully charged. Oh, that bastard. He sent a full company of Enforcers after her. Not because he thought they could take her down, but merely to drain her first. They had finally learned, after four years of hunting her, that it would take a lot more to bring her down.
Klyde moved in front of her.
Magnus’s brow creased, his glowing eyes flickering back and forth between them. “What’s this?”
