Page 23 of Too Dangerous To Die

She tenses at the mention of the Purna, but she does not argue.

Because she knows it’s true.

The Wastes are one of the few places eventheywon’t follow.

Nora wraps her arms around herself, her fingers twitching—a sign of restless magic.She hasn’t fully adjusted to what she is yet. What I have made her.

I watch as the silver glow flickers at her fingertips, erratic andhungry.

She still resists.

Still holdsherself back.

"You need to push further," I say, moving to stand behind her. "You have power now, but you don’t use it."

Her backstiffens.

"I don’t want to lose control."

Ismile.

"Control is a cage, little healer." Ilean in, letting my voice drop to something dark andtwisting, curling around the edges of her hesitation. "And you were not meant to be caged."

Sheshivers.

I feel the bond between ustighten, a pulse of somethingundeniablethreading between us.

She feels it too.

But shedenies it.

"Show me," I press, circling her now, forcing her tolook at me.

She lifts her gaze, and I see it.

That flicker ofconfusion.

Not just at the magic.At me.

Shehates me.

But she doesn’tfear me anymore.

And that is far more dangerous.

"What do you want me to do?" she asks, voice sharp, defiant.

Good.

I lift a hand, gesturing toward the jagged expanse before us.A valley of ruins, half-buried in the cracked earth.

"Destroy something."

Her lips part slightly, eyes widening. "What?"

"You heard me." I cross my arms, waiting. "Tear it apart. Burn it down.Show me what you are now."

Shehesitates.

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