Her instincts screamed to slam shut the connection between herself and Lizzy. Time slowed as she braced herself against the floor with her free hand. The magic surged through, forging a sudden bridge between her and the other witches.
Lizzy’s bright and bubbly facade cracked as if cleaved along a fault line. Sadness seeped through, laced with longing for Nathan.
Ambition radiated from Nathan, cold and pure like a Damascene sword. He had gambled on Raya’s natural ability and her own hunger for power—and if she didn’t destroy them all in the process, he would win the bet.
Raya’s breath froze as she tried to balance the onslaught of the magic and the intrusive thoughts. Could they see into her mind, too?
She had to breathe.
She had to stay in control.
If she died, Phoenix would kill her.
She remembered the look on his face just before he left her at the Eiffel Tower.
Raya dragged a breath into her lungs. She would not fail. Not now. Not after everything she’d been through. Unbidden, the memory of the pyre of her belongings flashed to mind.
There was no going back. By her will alone, she would build a new life out of the shrieking chaos.
She drew upon the waterfall of power, drawing it through and away from Lizzy, holding it above them all.
His hands extended, Nathan split the burgeoning energy into four strands, directing one to each of the three witches and one into the distance.
The magic cascaded into her wand. She feared it would catch fire in her hair but didn’t dare move. She used her enhanced power to push back on the wild magic like twisting a cap on a bubbling bottle of soda.
Raya withdrew her hand from Lizzy.
Lizzy clenched her hands into fists.
The witches gasped as one.
It was over.
Raya collapsed next to Lizzy, their exerted breathing ringing loudly in the stone room.
Nathan slid down the wall into an exhausted crouch, resting his head on his knees.
Raya tilted her head toward Nathan. “You could have told me this place was a powder keg.”
He looked up. “Would it have stopped you?”
She knew the answer, and he did too.
Lizzy hauled herself up from the floor and stretched. “I could use a long nap and a steak. Maybe two steaks!” She reached her hand down to help Raya up.
Raya took it and swayed unsteadily to her feet.
Lizzy threw her arms around Raya. “We did it!”
Raya didn’t have the energy to escape, so she stood there and let Lizzy squeeze her until the air in her lungs felt scarce.
Lizzy let go and gave Raya a teasing push. “And who was that handsome fellow?”
Nathan stood up. “I didn’t see anyone handsome.”
Lizzy giggled. “Quiet, you. Come on, Raya—dish!”
“Who?” Raya turned away and rummaged in her pack to stall for time.
