Page 49 of The Fifth Heir

Fire came last.

Torren shifted his weight beside the circle.

The red rune awakened.

Heat rose through my boots and moved along my legs. It felt different from the flame in the Fifth Wing hearth. That had become clear and almost gentle when I approached. This heat pressed into me, searching for something that was not there.

My torc flashed.

The examiner leaned closer.

“Again,” Malcolm ordered.

The Fire rune brightened.

A narrow band of color appeared inside the crystal around my throat, then vanished.

Sebastian stepped forward. “The torc responded.”

“The torc is made of an unidentified material,” Malcolm said. “Its reaction does not establish elemental affinity.”

“Neither does ignoring it.”

Malcolm’s attention moved to him. “Return to your place.”

Sebastian did, though the expression on his face made it clear the order had not ended his interest.

“Fire resonance inconclusive,” the examiner announced.

Malcolm looked at the recording slate. “Repeat at greater strength.”

Torren moved before I could speak.

“The chamber has already registered no affinity.”

“We have registered an unidentified response.”

“She’s completed the test.”

“We are determining whether the fifth beam awakened dormant magic, Fire heir. Your discomfort does not alter the procedure.”

Heat stirred around Torren’s hands.

“It isn’t his discomfort,” I said.

Both of them looked at me.

I kept my hand away from my shoulder. “Repeat it.”

Torren’s jaw tightened.

I knew that expression now. He was deciding whether to argue with me or the man controlling the assessment.

“I need to know,” I said more quietly.

He did not step back, but he stopped objecting.

Malcolm signaled the examiner.