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Oh, that was new, and not something I had thought of before.
A knot formed between my brows as I focused. The darkfire came to me easily. It floated above my open palm. The dragon’s magic was harder. Every time I thought I got a hold on it, the darkfire began slipping, and when I held the darkfire, the dragon’s magic got away.
I let the darkfire go, took a deep breath, rolled my shoulders, and tried again.
And again, the darkfire was easy, but the dragon’s magic was stubborn. It wanted exclusivity, as if it was the king of all magic. Perhaps it was, but if I didn’t dominate it, then it would dominate me.
I groaned and tried again.
And again.
And again.
“This damn magic,” I muttered, following with a string of curses.
“You know magic is emotional,” Thea reminded me. “If you can’t remain calm, it won’t obey or it’ll rebel.”
I walked around the room, shaking my shoulders and arms, breathing deeply and trying to calm down. Though I had hoped this would go easy, I knew the reality was much different. Dragon magic was a lot harder and more powerful than darkfire. Of course it would fight me.
But I could do this. I just needed the right mindset.
After blowing off some steam, I came back to the center of the room. I closed my eyes, imagining myself in my happy place: a ragged couch where I sat beside Shane, Minsi, and Tyren. All of us squished together and smiling at each other. I let that image calm me, take over my mind, fill my heart.
I let out a long breath.
Then, I opened my eyes and tried again.
This time, though, I started with the dragon’s magic. It took me a minute, but I conjured a small flame above my left palm. I held on to it for dear life as I split my focus, calling on a more familiar magic. The darkfire surged in my hand. It flickered, the dragon’s fire flickered higher, as if trying to show off to the darkfire, but I concentrated on both. I was divided in two and each half of me controlled one different power.
I could do this.
I really could.
I inhaled and exhaled, making the bolts bigger. The dragon magic sparked, but I gritted my teeth. It took everything in me to make it stable, to make it behave. Sweat beaded my forehead as I made the bolts bigger. I held on for a moment, breathing hard, but still in control—barely. No, I had to get used to this. These two powers had to get used to being brought out together. They shared one body, one mind. My mind, and I was in control here.
Channeling, I played with the two bolts. I made the darkfire blink—one second it was there, the next it wasn’t, and then it was again. Then I did it with the dragon’s magic. The fire didn’t disappear all the way, and when it came back, it was more unstable, pulling more of my energy.
I groaned and forced it into submission.
“Raika, that’s enough for now,” Thea said, her tone clipped.
I wanted to keep going. I wanted to do more, because I knew that once I let both magics go, it would take a lot more of me to bring them back. But I also knew Thea was right. I was getting exhausted and we had been at this for only an hour.
I exhaled and started dropping my hands, letting go of the magic. The bolts flickered, their flames touching. Instantly, my body heated up.
Red surrounded me.
I blacked out.
* * *
I sat up with a jerk, confused. What happened? One moment, I had been in the training room with the witches and now … I looked around.
Many faces stared back at me, their eyes grave—Thea, Almae, Lavinia, Elisa, Mila. Even Killian and Drake were here. And—
Directly to my right, holding my hand, was Shane.
I frowned, trying to connect the dots. Oh, shit. “I went up in fire again?”
