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The soldiers whirled around at her threat. The one in the middle grinned before saying, “Look who came to retrieve her beast.”
Thessa stood tall, letting her shadows dance around her.
“Killing us would go against theNew Regime, now wouldn’t it,” mocked the soldier.
She took a step toward Soren. “This is far fromjustbehavior.”
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” The soldiers tightened their grips on Soren’s fire-cuffs as he writhed in agony. “We’ll end this now.”
Thessa snarled, sending eight wisps of her magic to float in the space between them: one for each soldier.
“Retract your shadows and this will be over soon. It’s onlyjustafter what you did to our Supreme.”
Knowing her magic stole a particularly useful element, she quieted. Her shadows were not a gentle blanket of death, rather a bundle of rage. Flicking her fingers, she willed them down the soldiers’ throats.
As they clawed at their necks, Thessa held her focus—she’d die before letting her magic escape their lungs. When they all collapsed, the fire around Soren’s scales faded, but only once the final soldier shuddered had she lunged for him.
Collapsing to his side, she sobbed. How long had theyhunted him?Tortured him?His body was burnt, limp and without a hiss.
Leora burst through a bush. “Quinnley’s going to help. She has supplies.”
Thessa was shaking. “I don’t think he’s breathing.”
Quinnley skidded over, pressing her palms atop Soren’s scalded flesh. “His heart is still beating, I can feel it.” A moment later, bright green magic escaped her fingertips, trickling over Soren like water. The lush color was as rich as the magic she’d witnessed in the capital.
“Quinnley,” Leora gasped; her eyes displayed the same level of shock as Thessa’s. “When you said you had supplies, I was thinking you meant potions and salves.”
“I wasn’t sure how to—” Quinnley stopped talking, shaking her head instead.
“Tell us you held the power of Earth Rendering?” Thessa chimed in, recognizing exactly who Quinnley was.
“How does it work?” Leora asked.
Her magic began forming intricate strings, weaving around Soren’s body like a tapestry. It was patching and sealing each crevice anew. “We can grow anything from flora to fauna. Scales and body tissue aren’t much different than algae and fungi. As long as the heart pumps and their blood moves, we can grow the rest.”
“Why is someone with your gift living under a tree root?” Leora pressed her.
“It’s not just a gift,” Thessa muttered. “She’s the heir.”
Quinnley sighed before mumbling, “I never asked to be … that’s why I ran away. Living in the Central Divinity was awful—with all that fire. I like it much better here, in the woods. I have a purpose here. You won’t tell my mother you found me, right?” Her vibrant, green eyes pleaded up to them both.
“Of course not, Quinn,” Leora said, “thanks for trusting us.”
A deep breath surged through Soren just as his skin began to shine, slick with slime.
Thessa sighed in relief. “Quinnley, keep working. Leora, let her focus.”
Leora nodded and stood, backing up into Emiel’s embrace. Thessa hadn’t noticed it before, but Emiel was terrified. Worry laced his freckled face.
“He’s going to be okay,” she heard Leora whisper to him.
Thessa refocused on Soren, staring directly into his black eyes.
I know you’re in there. I need you to shift. Find the strength and do it.
The bond was silent.
Please. Please, do it for me.