I bite back a brazen response and stare at her. She straightens, smoothing out the skirt of her dress. “Right, so let’s get started. Try to imagine your fire appearing in the palm of your hand. Reach inside yourself and find that energy.”
I frown in focus. “There’s nothing inside of me.”
Eefa scoffs from her spot near the wall. “You’re right about that.”
I glare at her.
Briony waves her hand with a heavy sigh. “Ignore her. Try to focus.”
My arms are fastened to the chair still, but my palms are face up. I try my hardest to focus on the center of my palm. Reaching inside myself, I search for any semblance of power, for that heat. It’s there, glowing brightly inside of me, but when I try to grab a hold of it, it dances mockingly out of my reach. Sweat beads on my forehead and slowly trickles down my face. My hand remains cool, free of flames, ordinary. I release a breath, and the tension dissipates along with that energy.
If disappointment had an embodiment, it would be Briony. Her narrow shoulders slump, her focus still on my hand. “Again.”
“I gave you one minute. You owe me another question.”
Briony sighs and, behind her, Eefa cackles. “You areterribleat this, Priestess,” Eefa says. “Tag me in.”
“Not yet.” Briony gnaws on her lower lip.
“I can go get Iywan…”
Annoyance, and something that looks surprisingly like sympathy, plays over Briony’s long face. She heaves another sigh and turns from me, walking toward the wall.
A brilliant smile stretches across Eefa’s lips. “At long last!” She steps toward me, aggressive excitement radiating off her. “You have three seconds to summon your powers. And I won’t ask nicely again.”
“That was nicely?”
She slaps me across my face, and itstings. I’m certain she’s slapped right over where Iywan last struck. “Summon them willingly or I’ll force it out of you.”
I huff out a sigh and I reach inside myself for that ball of energy. I call it forth to my fingers, but nothing happens.
Another blow from Eefa. “Again!”
Once more I try, and once more I fail. Eefa’s fist flies at me and, with a sickeningcrunch, pain flares in my nose. I growl in frustration, tugging against my bonds, desperate to quell the pain. “Stop it,” I grind out, my voice nasal. “I can’t do it. I’mtrying.” Hot blood flows unstaunched, dripping off my chin. My whole face is on fire.
Eefa lifts her hand again and Briony calmly says, “Enough.”
Eefa steps back with an annoyed grunt. But then she bends so that her face is level with mine and says, “Your face isn’t so beautiful anymore.”
I’m lost for words, but I hope my expression comes across as unbothered.
“I think it’s time to take things up a notch,” Eefa says to Briony.
Briony sighs and approaches me. “I don’t want to do this, but you’re not giving me much of a choice.”
I wince as she reaches for me, but when her hand connects with my cheek, the pain is quick and sharp before cool relief flows into my face. Warm drowsiness counteracts the cooling sensation, and everything fades away.
Drip, drip, drip.
My mind is slightly groggy as I come to. As much as I want to open my eyes, they’re reluctant to do so.
“Maybe the Zenith is wrong about her. Maybe she’s not the one.” Eefa’s voice.
My pulse quickens, my palms going clammy. My arse and back ache, and my arms are starting to chafe from the bindings anchored to the chair.
“She is the one,” Briony says.
“She can’t even summon a little bit of fire.”
