Page 57 of Within the Flames

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"I'm glad I can be of amusement," she muttered, not really talking to him.

SO FIRE WON'T PHASE YOU. WHAT WILL...

The flames disappeared in an instant, collapsing in on themselves and being replaced by a white tundra. Snow flicked against Macey's skin, the hard pellets hurting with the velocity at which the wind knocked them against her.

Something clicked in her head. She was being tested by the elements. All she needed to do was break through the illusion and the Mahoun would be hers to face.

In theory.

A huddled figure caught her eye and she stumbled towards it, knowing in her heart that it was Flint and he was in trouble. Ice and Wind couldn't be a good combination for the Fire Warden. She had to help relight his fire.

She stumbled and fell to her knees, the cold snow only increasing the sting. She needed to get to him though. Not even weather like this would stop her from helping her Warden.

Macey tried to stand but stumbled again.

No matter. She would crawl.

Forcing her hands into the cold snow, she dragged herself towards Flint, desperate to get to him and help him. If it was the last thing she did, she would manage. He was more important to her than life itself. They all were.

It took a painstakingly long time and her limbs tingled from the cold. It took everything she had to remember it was all in her head and she wasn't actually suffering from the damage she thought she was. She had to hand it to the Mahoun, this was devious. For anyone who hadn't already been victim to his mind games, it would drive them mad in a heartbeat.

"Flint?" she whispered as she reached him, her hands pressing against his rapidly cooling body. She reminded herself again that this wasn't real. That he wasn't real. But it was difficult to remember.

YOU REALLY ARE A FOOL.

She ignored the Voice, knowing what was coming next.

The snow vanished as quickly as it had arrived, taking Flint with it.

YOUR LOVE FOR THEM WILL BE YOUR UNDOING.

She didn't answer. She didn't need to. He was wrong on a lot of levels but she didn't want to tell him why. If he thought she was going to hand him the keys to destroying her, then he had another thing coming.

The space around Macey didn't change this time. It just stayed black, like she was standing in the middle of a void. With nothing around her, she didn't know which way to look.

The Voice's laugh changed, almost becoming a knowing chortle.

HAVE FUN.

She closed her eyes, but that didn't help. It was dark both inside and outside her mind.

Noises sounded around her. Noises that called long loving nights to her mind. Confused, Macey made the mistake of opening her eyes. The moment she did, she screwed them tightly shut once more, trying to block out what she'd seen.

It didn't work. Now she'd seen them, the images played behind her eyelids too. One of the disadvantages of all this happening in her head.

"Maceyyyyyyy, come and play?" Amber begged, pouting as she did.

"No thanks," she muttered, not wanting to even entertain the ideas of what she was seeing.

"But Flint's cock is lonely. Take him while I ride Jared."

"No thank you." Macey began to shake as jealousy rose within her. This was just like the lampads’ test. She'd managed that, she could manage this.

She opened her eyes again, fully facing the images before her. Everyone was there. Everyone was naked and they all had eyes for Amber. Apart from Izban, who stood in the corner glaring at Macey. He would always be the one who hated her the most.

"Who should I try first, Macey? The incubus? I've heard they're better in bed when they're already sated, so maybe not."

Macey shook her head.