shifting. The Ring couldn’t force him to turn Tyrannous as long as the chains encircled him.
It was the one thing that went how I hoped. The only thing I could think to do to protect Archer while I did this thing. Or tried to.
“You give it willingly?” Krall asked. He wore a kind of priest’s robe now. Hooded, purple, tied with a gold rope. The other fae were similarly dressed, though each wore a different color. I didn't know what it meant. I fantasized about strangling each of them.
“Yes,” I said, trying to stay present.
“It won’t feel good at first,” he said. “Then, it will be heaven. Your body will try to resist. Do you know what to do?”
“I...I’m not sure,” I said.
“Give in to the pain. Welcome it. Let your fire come, but don’t try to control it. I imagine it’s not unlike the first time you declared to the Source.”
I tried to hide my expression. What he said was repulsive. Sacrilege. Krall was no mage. He had no idea what the Source really was. To tell a witch like me how to interact with it was a desecration.
“Welcome the pain,” he said. “Bring me into it.”
He put his hands on my shoulders and forced me to my hands and knees. Archer howled. His chains rattled. Even bound, he was strong enough to bend the trees.
Krall reached for me and pulled my hair back. He ran a finger along the base of my neck. With Archer so close, I ached for him. This was his spot. For Krall to touch me there…
He dug his nails into my flesh, scoring me. It meant nothing. He had no power to mark me like Archer could. He was doing it to anger Archer.
“Stop,” I said. “There’s no need for that. Let’s just get on with this.”
He laughed. “So eager. You know, I have half a mind to let the wolf have you first. It might be something to harvest you while you bear his mark.”
“It’s a distraction,” I said. “You want my magic pure. Like you said. This is going to hurt. His magic is different. I can’t be sure bringing him into it wouldn’t kill him, or turn his mind into something you can’t use.”
Krall raised a brow. “You might be right. There’ll be time enough to bring him in later. I want him to claim you only after he’s turned for me. Now that will be something to see.”
“Do it!” I shouted. I felt the wind grow stronger. “Please. I’m ready.”
“Phaedra, stop. Don’t let him touch you!” Archer yelled. “I’ll kill you. You hurt her, you get nothing from me.”
Krall ignored him. He held my hair back, forcing my head cruelly upward.
“Watch the stars, my dear,” he said. “You’ll find yourself in them.”
They swirled. Shapes and patterns shifted. My mouth dropped open. It was so beautiful. I wanted to lose myself in the stars. And I knew that’s what Krall counted on.
I closed my eyes. My fire swirled inside of me, hotter than I’d ever felt. I took a breath. It was there. Just like the first time. The Source. The thing that fed my magic, made it possible, made it whole. Inside of it was the power of every witch ever made. A hub. We were spokes on the wheel. We orbited. Fire. Water. Wind. Earth. Each of us finding our place when the time came and nature saw fit to allow it.
I opened my mind and heart. I let the power in.
Flames sparked through my fingertips. I felt Krall’s presence. His light wound around my fire like a serpent. He pulled at me. Tried to change the direction of the flow. A succubus.
“That’s it,” he whispered. “My word. You’re magnificent. Bring it to me. Let me guide you.”
I saw him in the light. His robes flapped around him. His eyes turned to white orbs. He marveled at the intensity of my flame. He would steal it. Use it. Subvert it. With me as a guide, he could take what he wanted.
He reached out. I opened my eyes. As the wind picked up again, I inhaled it.
“Now!” I shouted.
They were there. Distant, but moving fast. One of the trees to the left of me burst into flame. The rain fell in sheets. The earth turned quickly to mud.
Wind. Water. Earth. Fire. And one more thing.
Dragonfire.
I waited. Poised. Krall didn’t see. He was blinded by the strength of my connection to the Source. He reached out. Moren came closer. The