Page 492 of Axis of Fire

But it felt as though it had shut me out completely.

As though it had abandoned me.

I took a deep breath and clenched my fists until they ached.

Panicking wouldn't help.

Neither would tearing myself apart.

Loretta's shadow shield blocked another wave of flames, and Pria spoke sharply.

"Let's stop dwelling on that and figure out how to combine our abilities."

"Your magic won't be of any use today," Kaeron reminded her.

He looked even grimmer than usual.

Without realizing it, he'd naturally stepped into the role of leader.

The discussion continued, but I drifted into my own thoughts.

I was still the weakest link.

Just like always.

My eyes never left the demon.

I studied every movement it made, trying to notice something—anything—we had missed.

If I couldn't help with magic, then I had to be useful some other way.

The demon's legs seemed rooted to the ground.

Its upper body moved freely.

Its arms attacked relentlessly.

But its feet never shifted.

What if...

My eyes snapped to Kaeron, who was silently listening to Pria as she animatedly gestured through another plan.

"I could be wrong..." I said, raising my voice just enough to keep them from talking over me. "But it hasn't moved once."

I pointed toward the demon.

"What if its legs are the only part it can't protect?"

"What if we try knocking them out from under it? Maybe with shadow magic... and density?"

Silence.

I tried not to let it get to me, but...

Damn it.

"Let's try it," Kaeron said at last.