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A Wielder threw a dark spell at Aidric, but it bounced off him. Aidric didn’t hesitate and lifted his hand. Black spears cut through the Wielder’s neck, killing him instantly.

Wielders threw spells, Feeders jumped at her friends, and everything around her descended into chaos.

Aidric grabbed her by her arm and pulled her back, severing the connection between her and Rakkley. Amelia, Harrington, and Evren encircled them, fighting off Rakkley’s Feeders and Wielders.

A barrage of spells zapped through the air, and it was hard to keep track of where they were coming from. Wooden pews splintered. Windows exploded.

Oliver’s redirection spell was like a kaleidoscope. Not only did it shoot the dark spell back, it also seemed to multiply it, throwing it off in different directions and cutting through several Wielders with ease.

Rylan threw acid vials in the air and exploded them over a group of Feeders, who screamed in response. But more kept coming.

Aidric stared at her in the chaos. “You can do this.”

She wasn’t so sure anymore. All of their lives depended on Mira, and she was increasingly worried she was going to fail.

A knot formed in her throat, and it became harder to speak. “I haven’t said it yet because I was waiting for a better moment, but I—”

Before she could tell him that she loved him, with all her heart, with every fiber of her being, he grabbed her wrist, pulling her closer. “Don’t you dare say your fucking goodbyes now.”

“I’m not,” she managed to get out between heaving breaths, even though that was a lie. She wanted to make sure he knew, just in case. She wanted him to know.

With a twist of his right hand, Dark Magic erupted, killing another row of Feeders, but ever more charged after them. Each time he spent his powers, Mira felt an internal clock ticking. Aidric’s time was running out. He couldn’t defeat them all.

“You’re going to live, you hear me?” he insisted, but she was acutely aware of the fact that he didn’t include himself in that statement.

Spells shot through the air, and screams echoed through the temple.

He cupped her face in his hands. “I know you, Mira Winters. If anyone can do the impossible, it’s you.”

And then he kissed her, making his words sing through her blood. Flash through her magic. It felt like a promise—this wasn’t the end.

He let go of her and rushed back to join the other Wielders, casting another powerful spell.

There was only one way to end this. She walked closer to Rakkley again, and Oliver, Ella, and Rylan followed, putting up shields around her. Wielders attacked her friends, but their spells bounced off their skin. Rylan’s potion was working.

When she was close enough to Rakkley, she felt the pull of his power, but this time she instantly began pulling it back. His powers unspooled into her. They unfurled so easily, like this was always meant to be. But then the flow stopped. She tried to pull the string of his magic, but it slipped between her fingers and spooled back to him. Her mind tried to hold on to it, but it was impossible. It was too slippery.

The magic rope was in her hands again. With a concentrated yank, she pulled it back and then it was easy again. She inhaled deeply as Rakkley’s Dark Magic filled her veins. No longer was it controlling her. Synth had lived in her for so long, the answer had never been to remove it, but to absorb every last drop of it.

Rakkley stumbled, and the power in her surged. She opened her hands and leaned in to the feel of it. It danced on her skin. Sung in her body.

“Spheres, what is happening?” Oliver asked, staring at Mira. She was suddenly taller than everybody else. No, not taller. She was floating.

Rakkley’s hands flew up to his face. The metal of his mask crunched together like it was made of paper.

The power in Mira rose higher and higher. More than she had felt with the Relic of Death or the amulet. It was her power all along. Hers.

Wielders and Feeders surrounded Rakkley. The speed of spells from her friends had slowed. They were spending too much of their powers.

With the next inhale, Mira lifted her hands and the moonlight disappeared. Dark clouds pushed in through the windows, seeping through the doors and cracks in the building.

Rakkley was on his knees, but the last bit of power wasn’t leaving him no matter how hard Mira pulled.

She could feel Rakkley’s heart beating in her fingertips. Could feel his bones. His organs. She was in control yet not enough to deplete all of his magic. Perhaps weakening him further would do the trick?

Mira felt for the bones around his shoulder. With a flick of her wrist, his arm shattered like it was made of sugar. Rakkley screamed and Mira grinned. With another twist of her wrist, his other arm broke. Seconds later they were healed again. She could torture him until his last bit of magic left him.

Squeezing her hand, his heart tightened. She could crush it.