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‘Koa, how do I show him?’

But before my dragon could reply, his mother turned on me. “The only one dying here is you!”

Voski lashed out so fast his limbs blurred.

I flinched, screaming, “No! Don’t let her—”

Lady Ashford went flying, shoved physically off her feet as I leaped for Voski, to pull him back, pleading with babbled words and through the bond for him not to be dragged back into this war for his heart.

But he didn’t respond to me. He growled as he tackled her, flattening her to the ground.

I thought he would strangle her, and I dove for his arm again, but then drew up short, reaching for Koa, begging her to bring Kham closer. ‘He can’t do this! He’s already haunted by his father’s death. If he kills her, he’ll never be free—’

‘Kham says listen to his heart. He does not seek revenge.’

I blinked and placed a hand to my chest where our bond glowed, and made myself focus on the emotions churning through him.

Voski had flattened her to the ground, straddled her, and leaned over her. But his hands weren’t on her neck, but her wrists. He held her in that manacled grip, his knuckles white. And as she struggled, he leaned right into her face, muttering words I had to concentrate to hear.

“…won’t win. I won’t allow it. I can’t. You should never have gotten this far.”

I winced and put a hand to his shoulder. ‘Don’t kill her, Voski, let me—’

“She is a better woman than you even dreamed,” he hushed. “She loves me.”

“I loved you!” she shrieked. “I made you!”

But Voski shook his head. “No, Mother… you destroyed me. And she put the pieces you shattered back together.”

I froze, trembling, blinking, uncertain what was happening, because in the silence that followed those words, the bond pulled taut… then something snapped to life between us. And, as if that cord had become a pipeline, Voski began to feed me power. Not emotion. Not his anger, or grief, or even his love. Power.

Something dark and heavy. It turned my stomach. Made me grimace and shake my head as my breath whooshed out of me, and I dropped to my knees at their sides.

‘What are you doing?’

‘I’m ending this the only way I can be certain the darkness will die: in the light. Your light, Grace. You were right. They’re all dead inside. But I’ve been given the mark, which means I’m responsible—’

‘No! You can’t think—’

‘—and I know of no one whose light shines brighter than yours. Take it, Grace. Do with it as you will. I know your heart. I know your love. I’m giving you everything. All of it. Do whatever you want with it. Whatever the Creator tells you. But don’t give it back to me.’

Stunned, gaping, I knelt at his side as he and his mother entered a battle of wills—and worked to defeat her without her knowledge.

Did he understand what he was doing? Did he understand what I would do?

I didn’t think so. But his trust made my heart sing.

‘I’m not afraid anymore, Grace. I know we have more than they’ll ever possess. I don’t need to hold on to this. I trust you more than I trust myself. I love you. Those instincts God gave me are clear: You’ll know what to do. And as long as you hold it, I won’t be afraid. It’s the only way to fight.’

‘But…’

My body jolted, and I inhaled sharply. Voski continued, wrestling to keep his mother pinned, while flooding me with that dark energy.

‘Koa?’ I asked faintly, as the torrent of power and strength feeding into me through the bond began to coil and pulse. ‘What do I do? I don’t want this—no one should have it. I want him to be free. I want all of them free! How do I free them?’

‘He shows the way,’ she urged me. ‘True love gives. True love does not protect itself, but others.’

I swallowed hard, and tried not to fight that tidal wave he shoveled through the bond link. ‘I love you,’ I sent to Voski.