And if I’m the one deciding, how do I do so in a way that isn’t pure selfishness—or should I be more selfish? Is that more human?
Right now, I don’t have the answers.
But maybe I finally have the space to ask the right questions, and to find the answers for myself.
And that is worth fighting for.
“You realize, I hope,” Zan finally murmurs, “that you didn’t just use your power to destroy, back at the cottage? You didn’t kill anyone. And you protected Teren and Nomi.”
I lift my head up to blink at him in startlement.
“Ah. Hadn’t gotten that far yet.”
I punch him in the shoulder, but only lightly. “I have been a little busy having a meltdown, whichyouencouraged!”
Zan presses a kiss to my forehead, and Ifreeze.
“So I did,” he says softly, his gaze searching mine.
Whatever he sees there—probably my blank shock—makes him start to step back, and I quickly wrap my arms around his torso andyankhim back to me.
He lets out a huff of air—amusement or from the impact of being slammed back against me, I’m not sure.
But I’m not willing to lose him. That’s one bridge Ican’tburn.
But maybe... maybe I can burn others.
Some bridges need to be burned.
Ididuse my wrath destructively—breaking the priests’ unity, breaking their power.
But it was targeted.
With the ice, too, I used my magic to break it, but only so I could use it to create something new.
What else can I use wrath to do?
Just because I was taught it could only be one thing doesn’t mean that’s true.
Teren isn’t the only sage around here with a lot to learn, I think wryly.
Maneuvering so I’m only holding one of Zan’s hands, so he doesn’t think I’m letting go of him, I take a breath and drop back under the icy water for a minute.
Clarity.
Washing away the past.
Starting new.
Whatever they think they know about the Sage of Wrath—whatever anyone thinks, whateverIthink—I’m going to show us all something new.
I’m a sage.
I’m also a person.
I will have ice creamandmagic, and anyone who gets in the way of that is going to regret it.
I surface to find Zan has joined me down below, only our heads above the water.
