a ringing silence in the forest. The only soun

backward. She lay in the mud, her ears blee

and looked at where her hus

rty feet wide. The dirt had been su

drop of blood remained. He had bee

obsidian ring-the one he wore to channel

ing crater. Her brain ref

ed, a broken laugh tearing from her

assive blood loss caught up to her. Her eyes rolle

long, silent breath. She severed

l felt hollowed out, scraping against her ribs. If she kept this power active

it down. She sealed the power behind mental walls, shrink

rrified him. He was curled into a tight,

r into Kamala's bloodstream to keep her hear

stopped. Sunlight pie

f mercenaries, drawn by the unnatural lightning

eeder here," a rou

ed over to Kamala's unconscious body. He reached down to

f her skin, revealing a delica

quality. That metal was worth more

. "She's highborn. If she lives,

stretcher. Someone forced a bitter, chal

nsed no killing intent from the m

in the road. The jolting woke Ka

mmediately flying to he

from the front of the cart. "You're

ck into a deep, healing coma. Emerson let the darkness pul