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Dark Magic sang through her veins like a rush of endorphins.

Rylan leaned against the wall. “Thanks for saving my life back there.”

She had, hadn’t she? It had happened so fast and instinctively, she couldn’t even recall the spell she used. Which signifier had she activated?

She peeked through the window where Feeders began to scurry. Their strange cries echoed along the buildings like warning shots. As if something was chasing them.

“Defenders?” Rylan ventured a guess.

The answer came seconds later, when a figure emerged through the thick haze. Even with his face still obscured from view, she recognized his movements instantly. With sharp poise, Dawson glided through the fog. The shadows of his Dark Magic sliced through the demons. Just like in training, he wielded his powers effortlessly and with precision. He killed one Feeder after another.

When he walked closer, Mira sank into the shadows.

“Why do you not want Dawson to know you’re here?” Rylan asked.

Right outside, Dawson stood in a puddle of black blood next to a pile of dead demons.

“I…” she whispered as if he might hear her. “He would worry.”

Rylan turned to face her. “Something tells me for good reason.”

Dawson disappeared down the street, leaving a trail of Feeder bodies in his wake.

Mira and Rylan stayed in hiding until the alarms finally stopped several minutes later and an announcement let them know the magic gates had reopened.

Taking their coins out of their pockets, they traveled back to the eastern gate. The one they had come through originally was too badly damaged.

They traveled through four different spheres before they were finally back at Ivercrest.

Wherever Rakkley was, he was readying for war, and she knew who would be on the front line. Corvin’s most powerful weapon. He would use Dawson until he had nothing left to give.

Until it killed him.

Mission by mission.

Dawson would have to pay the price for her connection to Rakkley.

He would die from the amount of Dark Magic. Unless she destroyed the amulet.

She said goodbye to Rylan and coin traveled to her room at Ivercrest. Shrugging out of her coat, she ran to her desk, where Tanaka’s scroll was waiting for her. She unfurled it and read the spell.

The amulet had to be destroyed. She had to free Dawson from the enthrallment.

Now she could do it.

Mira sent a simple scroll to Corvin that would get his attention.

I know how to find Rakkley.

—Mira Winters

39

It was late when she returned to the estate. She found Dawson by the cabinet of direweed potion, tossing back one after another. Even from a distance, she could sense the coldness of the Dark Magic around him.

Did her Dark Magic seem cold to others as well? Whenever she used it, it didn’t feel cold or foreign. It felt like blood pumping through her. It felt like life.

“How are you?” she asked, watching the muscles in his back strain even through his jacket.