Page 86 of The Dragon Queen

Forus.

EMBER

MyentirebeingtingleswiththemosttantalizingsparksofmagicasMalikandIapproachthebottomofthestairs.It'slikeI'mwakingup--likethepowersIwieldedwhenIboretheShadowBracerarefinallyreturning.

It'sdifferent,though.Insteadoftherushofshadowenergy,thedeeppurplehazethatcrackledthroughmybones,themagicbuzzingwithinmenowisStone,Air,Water.

They'reunbalanced.

Waitingtobemadecomplete.

IglanceovermyshoulderatRafe,who'stakenuptherearinourprocession.He'stheonlyoneyettofaceatestofhisabilities.Ourgazesmeet,andhiseyesarefulloffire.

He'sready;fromthemomentImethim,he'sbeenready.

ThecarvingattheentrancewarnedusthattheCrownhadbeenconsumedbyflame,andhe'llfreeit.

We'regettingclosetoitnow.

Therock,whichhadbeendeadandsilentearlierinourjourney,shiverswiththeproximityofdeep,dark,oldpower.Trepidationfluttersinmyabdomen,butmyfingerstwitch,anticipationthrummingthroughme.

Atlast,wereachthelakebedfloor.Setintotheblackrockisadoor--barelyvisiblebutthere.Theseamarounditsedgesglowsfaintly,andIhearthatvoiceinthebackofmymindagain.It'swordlessnow,butit’sintentisclear.

Comecloser.

Alarmbellsshouldbegoingoffinmyhead,butI'veneverbeensocertainbefore.StillholdingontoMalik,Iextendmyotherhand,fittingittothehiddenfingerholdscarvedintothestone.They'rejusttherightsize--liketheyweremeantforme.Ipull,buttherockresists.

Rafeshouldershiswayforward,puttingahandonmyarm. "Ember--"

ButItugagain,andthistime,thesealbreaks,andagustofmagicpushesatmyback.Itrytostandmyground,butwe'replungedforward.

Intoaroomengulfedinflame.

Chapter

Twenty-Six

EMBER

Ireel,theintensityoftheheatoverwhelming.Instinctively,Itakeastepback,butIrunintothesolidwallofmusclethatisRafe'schest.

Behindus,thedoorslamswithanominousgroan.

Iturn,scrabblingpastRafeinhopesoffindinganotherhandholdonthisside,butevenasIdo,mysensesarefloodedwiththerushofwater.ThebrilliantlightofMalik'stattoosflickersbeforegoingout,theinksubsumingbackintohisumberskin.Hishandonminegoeshard,andheyanksmeback.

"Wecan't."Heshakeshishead,andIfeelthroughourbondwhatIalreadyknew.

Thelakehascollapsedbackinonitself.Evenifwecouldreopenthisdoor,there'snogoingback.

There'sonlyforward.

Hereleasesmyhand,andachillsweepsupmyspinedespitetheoverwhelmingheat.Thedeepmagicalconnectionbetweenusrecedeslikethetide,leavingtinglesofmagicinmyblood,butthey'renotenough.

It'stimetofacethefire.Literally.

Sweatbeadingfromeveryporeonmybody,Iturntofindwe'reinasmallroom,hewnfromthesameblackrockastherestofthisgods-forsakenplace.Whileitseemedatfirstthattheentirechamberwasablaze,inreality,it'sonlythecenteroftheroomthat'sactivelyonfire.

Notexactlyahugeconsolation.

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