Page 184 of Of Masks and Fury

“There.” Isi’s hand shot out, pointing toward a canyon barely visible through the haze of corruption. “Do you see that shimmer?”

Faint, like heat waves rising from stone, but unmistakably magical.

“Wards,” I said, already guiding Lakast in that direction, the others following.

As we drew closer, the shimmer resolved into complex patterns of gold and silver light. As we drew closer, the shimmer Isi had spotted resolved into patterns even I could partially perceive, made up of gold and silver light.

Isi’s breath caught. “I believe they’re keyed to bloodlines. I can see it in the structure.”

“Can you break them?”

“I think so.” But uncertainty clouded her voice. “I think…three layers?” This woman who could see things I couldn’t perceive was a marvel. “I’m worried this will fight back if I go at it wrong.”

“Then don’t go at it wrong.” I meant it to be encouraging.

Her glare suggested otherwise. “Helpful, thanks.”

I watched her work, mesmerized by her total focus, by the competence in every gesture.

Her fingers moved through patterns only she could see, unraveling magic with the same deadly precision she brought to combat. There was something deeply arousing about watching her work—the furrow of concentration between her brows, the way her lips moved soundlessly as she counted threads of power invisible to everyone else. This was her domain. Her expertise.

Watching her manipulate forces that would kill anyone else who tried and seeing her command magic like a conductor leading an orchestra stirred the same primal satisfaction I felt while watching her fight. She was power incarnate, and she was mine.

“You’re staring,” she said without looking at me, amusement coming through her voice.

“You’re magnificent.”

Her smile held satisfaction. She knew exactly what she did to me.

The first ward shimmered and fell away like a curtain being drawn back.

The second proved harder. Twice, Isi reached for it and pulled back, reassessing. The third time, she grasped the threads of magic and twisted.

Power exploded outward.

The feedback hit us, even knocking the dragons backward. Blood began flowing from Isi’s nose, her body going rigid behind me.

“Minx,” I hissed, grabbing her arm to hold her steady. Fury burned through me, at the ward, and at myself for letting her try. At whoever had created protections that could hurt her.

“I’m alright.” But her voice shook. She wiped blood from her upper lip with the back of her hand. “I need to try again.”

“No. We’ll find another way.”

“There is no other way.” Determination solidified across her features. “This is what I’m supposed to do. One of the few things Icando.”

“If it hurts you again, I’ll kill it. Someone.”

“Then so be it.”

She turned back to the ward, and while I kept Lakast close enough for her to work yet far enough back not to be hurt, she reached for it cautiously. I watched her fingers dance through patterns I couldn’t see, unraveling magic thread by thread.

The second ward fell.

CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

TREW

The third ward hung like a final test between us and whatever lay beyond it.