queen would give us time to try to take her out. If she couldn't chuck that deadly golden light at us, we had a shot. Carefully, I tested the ropes that bound my wrists, trying to break free. My muscles strained and my skin burned as I struggled, but the ropes held tight.
I caught another snippet of her words, but they faded off, as if she were walking away. “And now that I have both sisters together…”
Together? What did she want with the two of us?
I drew in a deep breath and tried to focus on my magic, using my skill to reach into another’s mind.
Wake up! I shrieked into Tarron’s head.
He twitched, then went perfectly still. Processing his environment, no doubt. He didn’t move a muscle as his gaze flicked over to me.
My bindings, I said inside his mind. Burn them off.
He frowned, his gaze flicking to my wrists. He couldn't speak back to me, but I knew what he was thinking.
If we don’t get out of here, I’m in for worse than burned wrists, I said silently.
He scowled, then nodded.
Give me a moment to wake the others. Burn their bindings as well. Maybe I should feel bad about signing them up for that little bit of torture, but I knew Cass, Aeri, and Declan well enough to know they’d be up for it.
Using my magic, I appeared in their minds and woke them. Both stayed still in their chairs, waking like the pros they were. Only their eyes moved slightly, flicking toward me and Tarron, taking in our surroundings.
Fire coming at your bindings, I said inside their heads.
Each blinked in acknowledgment.
Hurry, I said to Tarron.
The conversation in the other room could end any moment. I could just barely make out the sound of their voices.
Heat started to blaze at my wrists, and I winced, trying to breathe deeply through the pain. I strained against the bindings, wanting to break them as soon as possible. Finally, they snapped, and I was free.
As if she’d sensed it, the false queen appeared in the door. She hissed, her eyes flaring wide.
On either side of me, Tarron, Cass, Declan, and Aeri leapt to their feet.
The false queen strode into the room, raising her hands high. Behind her, six Unseelie rushed in and fanned out to attack.
Tarron raised a hand and shot a massive blast of flame at the group.
The false queen raised her hand and flicked her wrist. The huge fireball redirected its course and slammed against the wall.
The Unseelie guards raced toward us, weapons raised.
Cass, Declan, and Aeri charged, going for the guards. Aeri swung her mace, and Cass hurled her obsidian daggers, taking out two guards in quick succession. Declan wielded a sword with such fierce precision that it took only one blow for each Unseelie he encountered.
I reached into my pocket, going for the Aranthian Crystal.
I just have to hit her with it.
But the queen was too fast. Tarron’s magic surged again, but she beat him to it, throwing a massive blast of golden light at us. This time, I braced myself, ready to reflect it back at her.
The magic slammed into me, throwing me back against the wall. It didn't reflect off of me at the false queen—somehow, she had become immune to my gift. Pain spiked as I smashed into the stone, my mind going blank. I barely held on to consciousness, just enough to realize that Tarron had been hit too. He was slumped against the wall, hardly moving.
“Tarron!” I screamed as I tried to stagger upright. Next to me, the Aranthian Crystal glowed bright. I’d dropped it. Quickly, I snatched it up.
Cass, Declan, and Aeri had missed the direct hit and were still fighting the guards, but the false queen would go for them soon.
Tarron’s eyes opened and he jerked. I tried to drag myself upright, hating that I hadn’t been able to send her magic right back at her.
“See, daughter?” The false queen cackled as she dragged her gaze from the fight and narrowed it on me. “I’m so much stronger than I was.”
Tarron stayed down against the wall, but I could just barely feel his magic rising. He didn’t want to draw her attention before he could hit her with something.
Distract her.
My mind raced. “Why are you doing this?”
She looked at me like I was crazy, her brow furrowed. “Why?”
“Yeah, you speak English, right? Why?” I thought of the Aranthian Crystal still clutched in my hand. I didn’t want to raise my hand