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Tears stung her eyes.

“I do like the poetic justice of it all,” Corvin continued. “I believe you and Dawson are somewhat of an item? I spotted you two at the council ball. Mercer’s former top soldier kills his lover in cold blood. He will face execution, and your name will be forgotten.”

For some reason, she hadn’t expected him to stoop so low. Even after knowing everything he had done, she still hadn’t imagined the Primemage to be so devoid of morals.

He walked closer, and now she saw the amulet hanging over his shirt. It wasn’t glowing red, so she hoped it hadn’t been activated yet.

She connected with her Dark Magic. Fueled by panic and anger, it was easier than she thought. It was a pull and then she was in charge of her magic.

She jumped up, but the Primemage was faster. He cast a shackling spell, and she fell to the ground.

“You really should have taken the poison,” he said, turning to look out the windows again. “But I will tell your boyfriend to make your end quick. I don’t intend for him to torture you. He is rather efficient in using deadly spells.”

It had been easier than she thought—to pretend to be shackled. Rylan’s shield potion had worked. She had taken it before leaving Dawson’s estate. The Primemage’s spell had bounced off her without him knowing. She connected with her Dark Magic and lifted her right hand. This time, she barely had to ask her spirit signifier for help. Vengeance roared through her. Dark shadows pooled in her palm, and she did not know what suffering they would inflict, but she had no time to tame her powers. She let them go. Shadows shot through the air like arrows.

A loud crack reverberated through the room. Corvin fell to the ground screaming. Both of his knees had been broken.

“You think you’re better than a Wielder?” she asked, standing above him. “Then why are you using Mercer’s amulet? I think its magic poisoned you long ago.”

His eyes went wide in horror.

“Tell me how to free the amulet from your crusty old hands.”

He bit his lips together, whimpering in pain, while resisting the truth elixir that had finally kicked in.

She leaned in closer. “I am giving you a chance to be a hero, Primemage, but we can do it the other way instead. How do I free the amulet from you?”

Corvin fought against it, but the spell tumbled from his lips. She repeated the words, and lights danced between Mercer’s amulet and Corvin’s hand. Then the locking spell was broken. Mira slipped the chain from around his neck and took it.

She was now the amulet’s master.

Its power surged through her.

Dark Magic was everywhere.

The strands of it in her mind were now so clear.

Corvin lifted his hand to cast a shield or other white spell. Without hesitation, she cast another spell, snapping his wrists.

“Please,” Corvin begged. “The amulet…made me…do it.”

The jewel rested against her heart, like it was always meant to be there.

She watched the pathetic creature wriggle and beg. He had tortured and killed, but he didn’t even have the decency to do it himself. He had Aidric do it for him.

Corvin wasn’t suffering enough, she concluded. He had inflicted far more pain than that.

Somewhere in her mind, she heard a whisper: More. Give me more.

And magic answered.

It rushed through her in waves.

She opened her hand, the Shadowflame ablaze, and the Primemage screamed. Pain. She knew where it was as if she had a map of his nervous system. With another spell, she silenced him and increased the pain level. This power over him was effortless.

The amulet felt like a heartbeat outside her chest.

“I want you to think of the legacy you’re leaving behind,” she said in a voice she barely recognized as her own. “The world will know what you did. You will be labeled a traitor. An embarrassment.”