Page 507 of Axis of Fire

She did.

A sphere of crackling lightning began to form between her hands.

A shell.

One that could contain my fire.

I poured my magic into it, compressing the flames tighter and tighter until they were squeezed into a single blazing core.

It had been devouring our powers one by one.

But if the lightning trapped my fire inside its body...

it wouldn't have time to spit it back out.

Together, we hurled the sphere straight into the demon's gaping maw.

It roared in fury, struggling against the shadow bindings that held its arms.

The creature's entire body convulsed as it swallowed our attack.

For one endless second...

the world stood still.

So did my heart.

Then—

with a deafening crack—

the shadow bindings snapped apart, setting it free.

Then something inside me shattered.

The demon's wide, fang-filled mouth curled into a smile.

A triumphant roar burst from its throat.

I couldn't move.

Couldn't believe I'd made a mistake at the one moment that mattered most.

My lips trembled.

I clenched my fists, fighting to keep myself together.

Fighting to stay strong.

But damn it...

I was the weakness.

"Ria..." Pria said softly, resting a hand on my shoulder, as if she could not only see my pain but feel it herself.

I shook her hand off.

"You should have saved Seris instead."