Page 224 of The Fifth Heir

“Because you fought the direction they chose.”

She shook her head. “You don’t know what will happen.”

“No. I know what happens if we keep doing this.”

Another surge of frost entered my passage. I let it strike.

Cold closed around my legs and spread to my waist. My dragon demanded fire. I refused him.

Across the chamber, Rafe stopped resisting the shadows wrapping around his arms. Leander lowered his hands from his torc. Sebastian allowed the lightning in his passage to pass through him without answering it.

The cycle weakened.

The Trial pulled harder.

“We have to choose together,” Leander said. “If one of us holds back, the remaining powers will be unbalanced.”

Rafe’s expression tightened. “And if she can’t direct them?”

“We all die,” Sebastian said.

“Always a pleasure discussing strategy with you.”

“Talia directed us through the first Trial,” I said. “She saved us in the demonstration. She saw the trap before any of us did.”

“She also told you no,” Rafe said.

The reminder struck exactly where he intended.

Wanting to save her did not give me the right to make her choice.

I moved as close to the gate as the frost allowed. “Talia.”

She met my eyes.

“I won’t send you anything you don’t accept.”

The red runes dimmed.

“But I trust you with my power. I trust you with my dragon. I trust you with my life.”

The fire torc loosened by a fraction.

Talia looked toward Rafe.

Lightning crawled over his skin, but his usual smile was gone. “You took me into the sky before you had wings. If you’re going to do something impossible, I’d like to be there.”

Her gaze moved to Sebastian.

His shadow had spread across the entire passage. Only his face remained visible.

“There is a pattern beneath the altered runes,” he said. “I can feel it now. They were designed to carry all four elements into the central prism.”

“Designed to crown a fifth heir?” she asked.

“I don’t know.”

The truth hurt her. He gave it anyway.