Rage simmers behind my broken ribs. I want to burn him to ash.
Mayah raises her hands, poised to attack. Skies, there are too many wielders here for her to fight on her own. I strain against the metal shackles, but I can barely grip the metal.
Tormiktsks. “Accomplished wielder, you may be, but you’d be a fool to challenge us all.”
Mayah’s shoulders curl in on themselves for a heartbeat before straightening, as though she braced herself with sheer determination.
Her father freezes, hesitation flickering in his icy gaze.
“Mayah, no—” he warns.
But he’s too late.
She’s already bolted onto the platform, face a hard mask of resolve as she summons thin ribbons of water into the keyholes of my iron collar and shackles.
Click. Click. Click.
The iron falls to the ground, and so do I.
Chapter Fifty-Three
Mypowersurgesbackinto me, but Skies, it’sweak. I’m battered inside and out and half-starved. My vision swims, shoulders screaming as my palms brace against the wooden floor of the platform. Violent coughs wrack my body, a mess of congealed blood and bile spewing from my lips.
The sky rumbles, but it’s not me.
Boots thud as warriors surround the platform.
My power flows through my veins, a whisper of its full force.
Mayah stands a foot in front of me, summoning waves of water. I keep my eyes on her, gathering my power, urging my empty reserves to fucking fillfaster.
The wood groans as I grab one of the posts and use it to brace my weight. Each breath is labored as I struggle to my feet.
The warriors draw closer, panicked voices growing more urgent.
My power swirls. Still not enough.
“Get the king to safety!” the general’s voice cuts through the chaos.
Shit. Tormik is going to escape.
My breath is shallow. Knees shaking like a skiesdamned newborn deer.
Mayah holds her own, though. Ice shatters in the air, shards falling to the earth like glittering raindrops.
“Zev,” Mayah calls, her voice thin.
I don’t answer, hands braced on my knees.
“Shit!” she says. Panic bleeds into her voice as she sends another wave careening toward the warriors.
My power thrums louder. Stronger. Almost.
“Zev!” she calls again, louder this time.
“I’ve been strung up for a week.” My voice is ragged. “Give me a fucking minute.”
The rhythmic splash of water and scraping of ice rings through the air as Mayah blocks their attacks, buying us time. She’s a fucking force. My vision clears with each blink, even as nausea swirls in my gut.
