Page 221 of The Fifth Heir

“The outer channels feed the convergence shaft,” she said. “All four of your passages connect beneath me.”

“We established that,” Rafe said. “I’m hoping the map includes the part where we don’t kill one another.”

“The reinforcement runes are reversed. They’re forcing your power inward before diverting it to the opposing gates.”

“Can you turn them?”

“I can’t reach them.”

Another wave of frost struck my passage. This time Leander had not summoned it. The torc pulled the power straight from him, sending it through the chamber without his consent.

I forced enough heat through my body to keep the ice from closing around my chest.

Red light struck Rafe again.

Lightning answered.

The elements accelerated with every exchange.

Sebastian’s voice carried through the chamber. “It’s building a cycle.”

“Can you break it?” Leander asked.

“Not from here. The central seal controls the direction.”

They all looked at Talia.

Clear light moved beneath her skin, following the same branching paths I had seen the night before. The transparent scale on her wrist shone brighter than the runes around her.

She pressed both hands against the platform.

The elemental streams changed direction.

My fire turned inches before it reached Rafe’s gate. It crossed with Leander’s frost, struck the outer wall, and dispersed.

Rafe’s lightning bent next. Sebastian’s shadow followed.

For a few breaths, no power reached any of us.

Then Talia’s shoulders began to shake.

Blood ran from her nose.

“Stop,” I said.

“I can hold it.”

“No, you can’t.”

“If I let go, it starts again.”

The altered Stone runes flared.

All four redirected streams snapped back toward her.

Talia screamed.

Clear light burst outward, throwing her flat against the platform.