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Aidric balled his hands into fists. “What do you think the council would do with the information that Mira has the last dose of Synth?”

Oliver opened his mouth, but the answer stuck in his throat when the Feeders began to march. Like drums, their footsteps rumbled the earth under her. They didn’t want to kill her. Just bring her back to their master. But they would kill her friends.

The Wielders formed a circle around the Casters, who discussed how to break through the perimeter spell. Aidric walked with purpose toward the army of Feeders and stretched out his right hand. The others followed suit. Dark spells zapped through the air, killing Feeders, but more came.

All of the Wielders unleashed powerful spells, but it was Aidric who wielded Dark Magic with reckless abandon, as if he had no limits.

The skin around her scar was raw, pulsing with steady beats. A gust of wind rushed from the darkness of the temple hallway, and the pain in her arm increased.

You know this is all futile, Rakkley said into her mind. Comply and I shall let them live.

After what Aidric did, you expect me to believe you would let him go unharmed?

It would bring me no joy to kill a talented Wielder like Aidric. Quite the contrary. I believe his obsession with you is blinding him. Perhaps once you are eliminated he will be able to think more clearly and remember his place.

Like waves crashing against rocks, Feeders crawled over dead bodies. The Wielders cast more spells, and even from where she stood, she could see the dark veins slowly appearing under Aidric’s skin.

I’ve grown rather fond of you over the years, Rakkley continued. You’ve been the host to my weapon. Without you, Synth wouldn’t exist. Take it as my sign of gratitude.

Why wasn’t Rakkley already extracting Synth from her? She called Aidric’s name, and he instantly turned to her. “Does Rakkley have to be close to me for the extraction process?”

He flinched. “Yes. He told me it takes his entire focus so he needs to be near you and undisturbed. But I won’t let that happen.”

Mira’s fingers dug into her stinging arm. The Feeders were only a few feet away now. She could see their fangs and long tongues.

There was no exit strategy for them, and it was all her fault.

No matter what she did, Rakkley would come for her. Even if she made it out, she was never going to escape him.

This had always been the inevitable outcome.

“We can’t run away,” Mira said. “We have to face him. I have to face him.”

Harrington stretched out his hand and fanned his fingers wide. Another row of Feeders died. “What are you suggesting?”

Aidric looked so tense, she wondered if he had used his signifier to temper his emotions. He knew what she was about to suggest.

“I drain Rakkley of his magic.”

Evren’s head spun around to face her. “You want to do what?”

The Casters had gone entirely quiet.

“When he tried to extract Synth, it was like a pull in me. This time, I could try to extract his magic from him. Highmage Obryn and Rylan’s research into magic extraction told us it works both ways.”

“This has never been done before,” Rylan cautioned. “But I think it’s possible. In fact, according to Badoy’s theory, magic extraction works both ways. Thanks to the interlocking spell, which he needs to retrieve Synth, you will be connected to his powers. Which means you can drain him of his magic. On the other hand, he won’t be able to take away your magic since you separated your powers from Synth with your potion.”

Mira nodded. “It would kill Rakkley, and without him, Synth in me would disappear and the Hellyian demon would leave.”

Aidric shook his head and was about to protest.

“I can’t hide forever,” she said, taking his hand. “I’ve been hiding my whole life.”

His eyes, pools of dark mercury, softened and she could tell he understood that there was no end to this. Rakkley would always come for her, and each time he found her, he would be closer to regaining Synth.

“What do you need me to do?” Aidric asked with the steadfast resolve of a soldier.

“I’ll hand myself over, and when he starts the extraction process, I will try to instead extract his powers from him. If things go wrong, interrupt him.”