We all go silent as the logic sinks in. If the Conclave assholes are immune to anything with an ‘intent to attack,’ then all our beasts are useless against them.
My gut coils with worry. “Is killing Janine even possible? If Dono can't shoot her, Max can’t tear her head off, and even dragon fire won’t work, do we need to rethink our whole idea?”
“No. Her death is still the best option in destroying the whole ascension program.” Alexis’s voice sounds strained. “But the optimal chance for success will need Theo to be in the center of the action. The wards and the dark energy are looking for a strike, a blow. They aren't looking for... an embrace.”
The guys are instantly on their feet. “Absolutely not,” Donovan yells.
Max growls at the same time. “No fucking way.”
Ludo also muscles forward. He puts a thick arm across my chest as though to bar me from even thinking about stepping into that kind of danger.
Donovan gets in Alexis’s face, yelling about me being safe is the top priority.
“All of you, stop.”
I don’t shout. I don't have to. I put every ounce of the authority I’ve gathered since Amirene first touched my soul into those words.
“Lex is right. I’ve had a feeling all along that only I can stop her. My magic isn't a weapon—it's me. If I go in with no 'intent' to harm, but instead tohealthe imbalance she’s created, the wards might not even blink.”
—Might? Not acceptable, Nymph—
“Tee-Tee,” Dononvan groans. “Baby.”
“No, don’t baby me. I’m a grown woman, and I'm the only one here who isn't a threat by the Conclave’s definition. Yes,you guys are super-powered, but to Janine’s armor, you're just bigger targets. It’s my essence that will take her down.”
Ludo lets out a low, mournful noise. Even Cosmo looks disapproving, his jaw set tight.
“Pulu,it will be dangerous,” Alexis says softly. “You have to truly believe you aren't attacking her.”
“I can do it. I have to.”
“Can everyone chill out and actually listen to her?” Willow yells into the fray. “Theo, explain the mechanics. How do you think you can pull this off without triggering her defenses?”
Everyone pauses.
The circle of men looks ready to start a small war just to keep me in this basement, but they’re finally listening.
“I’m going to connect with her. Send in my Lumina like secret agents, flood her system until the dark energy is displaced by the light.”
Donovan's face is horrified. "Theo, she’s evil. If you go in there, you might never get back out.”
“I think you’re wrong. When I'm with Wes, the sparkles are actively seeking the dark inside him, working to overturn the corrupted cells in his soul. I guess they’re like antibodies.”
Alexis is watching me carefully. “You need skin-to-skin contact when you’re with Wes, and even then, it’s slow going.”
“I know, but I’ll start building up a huge Lumina store inside me. By the night of the party, I'll be a reservoir. When I touch her, I won't just trickle it in—I’ll flood her, forcing out the dark.”
“To where?”
We all turn to look at Duncan.
“Energy can’t be destroyed,” he says. “Don’t want to be a downer, but it’s the first law of thermodynamics. It's a classic boss-fight problem in level three ofWitch War Elite Force.”
I turn to look at him. “So how do you combat it in the game?”
“This is not a game,” Cosmo snaps, though he looks at Duncan with a flicker of interest.
I shush him. “Go on, Dunc.”
