Page 10 of The Dragon Queen

Beadsofsweatbreakoutonmybrow.

Overandoveragain,IfighttoaccessthemagicthatmymatesandIsummonedsoeasily.Everytime,Irunintoaninvisiblewall,though.Thedeepbruisinginmywristthrobs,andfrustratedpricklesofdampnessriseinmyeyes.

Thebracerwasn'tthebeginningandtheendofmystory.Iwasmorethanthebearerofsomecool,magicalaccessory.

Desperationbeginningtosinkitsclawsintome,Ireachforthedarkdepthsofmymagicthatonceterrifiedme.

IoncehurledballsofpurpleShadowatmyenemies.Icreatedportalsthattorethroughthefabricofspace.Iprotectedmyself,myfriendsandmymateswithaferocitythathadmerippingShadowandAirDragonsoutofthesky.

Iextendmywilltowardtherecedingdarknessaroundme.TheedgesofShadowsflexandripple,andforamoment,tinglesraceupmyarm.

IwillaballofShadowmagicintomyopenpalm.

Butmyhandsareempty.

AllthedespairIheldatbaycrashesovermeatonce.Ilashout,kickingattherockwithmybarefeet.Icurlmyhandsintofists,andIscream.

Mydragon'sroarlightsthedarkness,andmycryechoesthroughthenight.Itbouncesbacktome,andallIhearismyfailure.I'mnothing,broken,defective--justlikeeverybodyalwaystoldmeIwas.

Givingin,Icrumpletotheground.Hottearspourdownmycheeksfreelynow.

"HowamIsupposedtodothis?"Iwhisper.

UnitetheDragonKingdoms.Savetheworld.DefeattheShadowKing.

Withoutmymagic,it'simpossible.

ButjustasI'mabouttosuccumbtotheutterhopelessnessofitall,abrightgoldenthreadlightsinmyheart.It'sfollowedbymore--vividblueandbrilliantsilverandcrimsonandwhite.

Ilookuptofindallfourofmymatesregardingmefromjustbeyondthegardengate.

Quiet,andwithabsoluteconfidence,Rafestepsforward. "Idon'tknow,"hesays,inanswertomywhisperedquestion.Firegleamsinhiseyes. "Butyoudoitwithus,standingbyyourside."

Chapter

Four

RAFE

I'veneverwantedsobadlytopunchsomethingintheteeth.

Tobefair--Iwanttopunchthingsintheteethprettyregularly.Butrightnow?Standingthereonthatcliff,watchingEmbergotopieces?Feelingherpain,herloss,herfuckinginsecurity?

Myhandsclenchintofistssotightmyknuckleshurt.

Butyoucan'tpunchmagic.Orfate.Orwhateverthehellforcestorethatdamnbraceroffherarm.

Inadequacypoursoffofmymateinwaves,andIhavenoideawhattotellher,exceptthatI'mwithher.Weallare.

Nomatterwhat.

"Sorry,"shemurmurs,swabbingatherface.

"Youhavenothingtoapologizefor."Thewordscomeouttoofierce,butIcan'thelpit.

Sheflinchesatmytone,andJianyushootsmeawitheringglare.Hegoestojoinherontherock,droppingtositbesideher.Asmuchastheguydrivesmenuts,I'mgratefultohiminthatmoment.Takingherbythehand,heshakeshishead. "Rafe'sright."

"Areyouokay?"Stormasks.

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