A shield.
Sebastian inhaled sharply behind her and, despite herself, she glanced back. He looked stunned, staring at her like she’d done something completely impossible.
“Kara,” Henry said, shock flashing across his face as his hand lowered. “Do you even hear yourself? He’s a traitor. Amurderer. Do you know what will happen to you?”
“I told you, it’s not what you think–” she began.
“You’re betraying everything. Your House. Your father.Me–”
“Please just listen, let me explain,” she begged.
Henry’s gaze darkened. “I should have known.” His eyes lingered on Sebastian, venomous, then back to Kara. “I saw the way you looked at him during the trials.”
Her cheeks flushed. “No, Henry, you don’t understand–”
But Henry looked furious. “You’ve been lying to me, Kara. One look at his face and I know I’m right.”
Sebastian’s magic flared hotter behind her, and he actually laughed, low and merciless. “Sounds like you’re jealous, Caldris.”
Kara’s head whipped towards him. “Sebastian, shut up!”
You absolute bastard.
“Henry, please–” she started, but it was too late. The decision was written in his face. He wasn’t listening anymore.
“If you won’t put him under, I’ll do it myself.” Henry’s voice dropped, cold as iron. “He’ll wish it had been you.”
Don’t you dare use–
“Get out of the way, Kara,” Henry ordered. He was shaking with rage.
She didn’t move.
“Kara. Last chance.”
Still, she stood firm.
White-hot light flared brighter in Henry’s palm as he lifted it high, the tendrils curling violently around him. They pulsed once – then launched at them.
“No!” Kara cried.
She felt Sebastian shift, reaching to pull her back – but Henry’s magic struck too fast, slamming into her forehead with terrifying force. Agony lanced through her skull, the pain clawing like ice picks behind her eyes. Her vision exploded in brilliant light, then–
It was gone. There was nothing but darkness. Complete and total darkness.
I can’t see.
A scream ripped from her as her legs crumpled, hands flying to her face as she fell to the ground. He’d used it. The magic he had warned her about.
He’d blinded her.
Her breathing turned ragged, shallow, panicked. “I can’t – I can’tsee.”
Everything was noise and heat and pain. Then, through the ringing in her ears, Sebastian. An extremely angry Sebastian.
“What the fuck did you do to her?” he bellowed.
Something cracked and the ground trembled. She heard Henry stagger back. Felt the shift of pressure in the air as magic surged around her – red-hot and furious. The pain in her head pulsed violently, burning, and carved, if possible, even deeper. Another scream tore out of her.
