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Something slammed into Thicket’s side. She cried out, stumbling to catch her balance. Her feet tripped over the sand and she fell face first. Tiny grains crunched between her teeth and she spat them out, turning onto her back in time to see a badger charging for her, made entirely of sand.

The wave… The change in her fire… It had all been a distraction.

Thicket barely had time to roll away as the badger launched for her again, its claws of hardened sand just missing her cheek.

“Get up,” Marcellus ordered. “Stop letting him overwhelm you with attacks.”

She was trying, but she could barely find purchase in the sand. Her boots sunk as she stumbled onto her feet, using her hands to crawl forward a few paces before she could fully righten. She had just enough time to throw her arms in front of her as the badger landed yet another attack. Its claws dug into her skin—or would have, had the sand forming them not disintegrated. Elian, even in the midst of the fight, was doing his best to not hurt her.

That, Thicket thought, was the epitome of control. How had his father—how had anyone—believed he wasn’t worthy?

Thicket shuffled backwards awkwardly, fighting to maintain her balance. The badger rushed her once more.

“Vynt!” She sent a gust of wind at the badger. It blew apart, forcing Elian to shield from the onslaught of sand. Using the moment of chaos, Thicket wracked her mind for a plan. She couldn’t keep playing defense. This was what Marcellus had been worried about. Elian’s magic might run out, giving her an opportunity. But with the significant difference in their skill levels, the chances he could incapacitate her was just as likely.

“Zel.”

Sand rushed for her, tearing at her from underground like a mole.

“Vynt!” Thicket propelled herself up at the last second. The ground came up right where her feet had been. If she had been a moment too late, he would have had her.

Thicket glanced down from her position in the air, willing the wind to hold her weight. She could just spot Elian across the beach. He still had not moved from his spot, while she had torn across half the sand. The only sign that he was affected by their battle was the furrow of his brows and the slight trickle of sweat sliding down his forehead.

He was giving his all and not holding back. She had to do the same.

“Vynt yt fya!”

Swirling wind picked up the sand around Elian’s feet. It circled around and around like a tornado, caging him in. Fire followed shortly behind, slithering through the cyclone. Elian shielded his face as sand and wind and fire whipped all around him.

Just a bit longer...

The sand wrapping around Elian turned molten.

Now!

With a swipe of her hands, Thicket let the cyclone fall away. Elian stared in shock at what was left behind. A cage of glass.

Thicket grinned, panting. She had done it.

“Fya.” An explosion of yellow and purple erupted from within the glass structure. Thicket’s muscles tensed. A loud clink echoed across the beach. The next moment, the glass exploded.

Thicket propelled herself away, narrowly evading the shards as they tore through the air at all angles. A few pieces lodged themselves in her hair, but none had pierced her skin.

Elian hadn’t been so lucky. Blood trickled from his face, neck, and arms. He staggered, but didn’t give up. “Zel.” Chunks of sand rose around him, spinning together until they merged, sharpening into sharp points. They flung at Thicket.

“Fya.”

A wall of fire surged in front of her, devouring the spikes before they could touch her. Through the flames, something tackled her. Elian’s badger, conjured from the limestone cliffs and much tougher than the sand. It slammed into her. She lost her focus. The air supporting her vanished and she plummeted. She landed hard, the wind knocked from her lungs. Suddenly, she was grateful to Marcellus for suggesting the beach. If the sand hadn’t helped cushion her fall, it would have hurt a lot more.

Groaning, she sat up. Across the beach, Elian staggered, feeling the effects of his large spells. He was going to run out of magic soon, but he still wasn’t stopping. Why wasn’t he stopping?

It wasn’t a matter of winning anymore. She had to end this before he hurt himself further.

The badger lunged. Thicket caught it around its muzzle and said, “Fya.” The limestone crumbled, dropping into the sand where the flaming pieces hissed.

She rose onto her feet. She wasn’t advanced enough yet for subtle spells. The combination she tried earlier hadn’t held him for long. She needed something that was guaranteed to overpower him.

So she would take a page out of his book and finish the fight how he had started it.