Page 112 of The Dragon Queen

Ilookbackintothecauldronandseemyselfwithhisface,mymateswitheringaway,ourchildlostorforgotten--andno--

Itcan'tbe.

"Youhavetoendit,"Rhiannonisscreamingfromsomewherecloseby.

"Shecan't,"Rooktellsher. "It'salreadyinmotion."

"Ember--"

IwhipmyheadaroundandcatchthefaintestglimpseofAmythroughtheswirlingblackfog.Hermagicfloatstowardmeincottoncandypinkwaves.

"Don't,"shebegs.

Andthenmymatesarethere,fightingagainstthetide.Therushingwindblindsmealmostascompletelyasthetempestofstolenmagic,butIcanfeelthem.Jianyugraspsmyhand,andRafetakesmebytheother.Streamsofsilverandcrimsonenergycoursethroughme--notstolen,butfreelygiven,exactlyasthey'vealwaysbeen.

Stormwrapsmeupinhisarmsfrombehind,andMaliktakesmyfaceinhishands.Myentireworldisicebluewindandflowing,ceruleanwaters.

Anditstrikesme.

Iamcomplete.ExactlyhowIam.

TheirloveisallIneed.

Iyankbackwardfromthealtar,desperatetofallintomymates'armsandputanendtoallofthis.ButI'mfrozeninplace.Thespellisinmotion,moreandmorestolenmagicstreamingintome.Violenttremorsshakemeasimpossibledepthsofpowerpourthroughthealtarandintomyblood.Forallourtraining--forallthegoodmydestinymightdome--I'mutterlyunprepared.

Itryinvaintoflexmyhands,envisioningtheinterruptionofthemagic,butitdoesnogood.EvenifIweremoreexperienced,evenifIknewexactlyhowtocounterErembour'sritual,there'saninexorabilitytotheentirething.

Theawfultruthsettlesovermyshoulders.

Rookwasright.Ican'tstopit.

Good.

Theintrusivevoiceinsidemerevelsinmyfrustration,andthere'spartofmethatwantstogivein.Theheadystreamofmagichasmesweptupinitsembrace.Ithasalover'shands;itsecstaticthrallisnearlyinescapable.

Anguishtearsatmychest.

BecausethiswaswhatIwasworriedabout.EverytimeIshiedawayfrommyso-calleddestiny.EverytimeIfearedmytrueShadowDragonnature.

Iwasafraidofthis.

Whatiftherewasapiecewithinmethatcouldbeseducedtodarkpower?WhatifIcouldn'tstopmyselffromhurtingthepeopleIloved?WhatifmyaffinityforShadowDragonmagicmeantthattherewasapartofmethatwasjustplain...evil?

Isthatthelifethatfateandthegodshavechosenforme?

Ashudderingresistancestartsupdeepatthebaseofmyspine.Chokingonasob,Iclosemyeyes.

Theblacktideofstolenmagicpouringintomeisstrong.

Butthebrilliantconnectionstomymatesarestronger.Theygroundme.TheymakemewhoIam--theyremindmethatI'mmyownkindofShadowDragon.

AndI'mtheonewhochoosesmydestiny.

Chapter

Thirty-Two

EMBER

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