Page 144 of The Fifth Heir

“Torren?” the healer asked.

“No loss of power.”

“Control?”

“Unaffected.”

The runemaster recorded both answers.

“Again at second strength,” Malcolm ordered.

The red line brightened.

Torren’s jaw tightened, but he complied.

Heat climbed to my knees. The torc remained red for several seconds before returning to clear.

No fire appeared in my hands. No scale spread across my skin.

“Pain?” the healer asked.

“No.”

She looked at Torren.

He watched my face before answering. “She’s telling the truth.”

His certainty steadied me more than the healer’s crystal. Torren could feel the smallest change in his Fire, but he had watched me instead.

The Fire connection withdrew.

Shadow came next.

Sebastian did not ask whether I was ready. He looked at me until I nodded.

Violet darkness moved through the floor channel.

When it reached my rune, the Hall lights dimmed. Shadow gathered around my feet, then thinned until it became transparent.

The torc flashed violet.

Sebastian’s attention sharpened.

“What?” Malcolm asked.

“My Shadow changed density.”

“Did you lose control?”

“No.”

“Did the fifth heir draw power?”

“No. The same amount remains inside the containment ring.”

“Can you retrieve it?”

Sebastian lifted one hand.