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There was no room to avoid the tidal wave of power. In a fan as wide as a horse, flame-formed blades, each one as thick as my arm, shot from her outflung hand and straight for me.

I was defenseless.

I braced, twisting, to take the attack on my back, spread my limbs wide to make myself as large a target as I could, to absorb those weapons, praying they would stop on me, and not extend beyond to hit Grace.

Keep her safe!

I opened my mouth to scream my defiance, eyes locked on Grace, still scrambling to her feet in slow motion, body braced for the anticipated searing pain.

Please! Keep her safe!

The dragons roared, and flame exploded overhead.

Had Kham left the dragon battle to fight for me?

My lungs emptied on that roar, Grace rolled to her feet, and in the same movement, drew one hand out of her robe where I’d hidden a blade, strapped to the inside of her forearm.

Her face twisted into a grimace as she screamed and sent that blade spinning straight for Burk’s chest.

Thank God for giving me enough time to see her clear her own path as chaos descended around us.

Only after blinking twice did I realize there was no pain. No blade in my back. No sword of power sending me up in flames.

Stunned, I watched Grace sweep to her feet, screaming at me to move! And then I turned to find Mother standing, mouth open, eyes wide, staring at me with confusion and fear.

And as the dragons clashed overhead, as the people screamed and began to run, my mother thrust a hand forward again.

Another wave of swords. Another fan of death. I didn’t turn away, but braced again, snarling, praying for Grace to run… only to watch those spears fly, and those flaming blades ripple to nothing the moment they reached me.

I roared in anticipation of pain—then cut off. Stunned.

Her power didn’t touch me.

Mother shrieked like a furious dragon as I touched my painless chest, and took a dumbfounded step forward.

Mother cursed and threw another fan of flame blades.

Then a wicked scythe of blacklight.

Followed by a churning, poisonous cloud.

And each one rolled through the air with what I knew to be deadly strength—only to dissolve as it reached me.

‘Kham? What’s—?’

‘Their power is fueled by fear. Their weapons only reach where the light does not penetrate. Perfect love drives out fear. When you love without selfish ambition, her weapons are powerless against you. When you do not cling to your fear, she poses no threat to you.’

I staggered, then drew up sharply. ‘I can hear you!’

‘Your shackles were powered by your fear. Once you gave it away—they couldn’t hold you.’

A beaming, ecstatic smile split my face. ‘Grace?’

‘I can hear you!’

Pouring love and delight through the bond, I locked eyes with my stunned mother, and I laughed.

“Definitely not helpless,” I cackled.