“Pretty sure,” Wan said weakly.
“We need you to be positive,” my dad said, pushing his way out of the crowd and coming to stand amid the knights. He cracked his neck from side to side, popping his knuckles, the heavy muscles in his arms bunching.
“So maybe think very carefully before you act,” my mother said, sliding out to stand next to my father, eyes glinting as she took a defensive stance, bouncing lightly on the balls of her feet.
“So,” I said, all eyes coming back to me. “You picked a pretty bad day to fuck with Verania. Kevin! Make me billow!”
Kevin sucked in a great breath and blew a stream of air at me, causing my robes to billow around me in the breeze.
“Do I look badass?” I asked Ryan.
“Dashing and immaculate even,” he said, bumping my shoulder.
“Awesome,” I breathed. “Now I just need a catchphrase.”
“Oh, here we go,” Gary muttered.
“Got it!” I said. I glared at the group of Dark wizards standing before us. “It’s time to turn off their lights and leave them in the dark. Permanently.”
Everyone groaned. Literally everyone.
“That wasn’t very good at all!” someone in the audience cried.
“Keep working on it,” Dad said.
“Or don’t,” Mom said. “That works too.”
“Good job on that one,” Randall said to Morgan. “You must be so proud.”
“Hey,” Morgan said. “I had nothing to do with that. I’m just as embarrassed as you are.”
“It’s like we’ve taught him nothing,” Gary said to Tiggy.
“He slow,” Tiggy said. “It okay.”
“He tries so hard,” the King said, winking at me.
“Obviously not hard enough,” Justin said, flourishing his swords again. Like a douchebag.
“I thought it was good,” Ryan said. “Sort of.”
“Thanks, boo,” I said, beaming at him. “I’m glad you get it. Unlike the rest of these idiots who wouldn’t know awesome even if it punched them in the dicks.”
“I should hope not,” Mom said. “Seeing as how I don’t have one.”
“Last chance,” I told the Darks.
“Bring it,” Wan said and I felt the heavy weight of magic permeate through the room.
I smiled at him. “I was hoping you were going to say that.”
The people of Verania roared.
THE BATTLE lasted two minutes and thirty-six seconds.
No one died, not even Lady Tina DeSilva. Much to my chagrin.
The Darks never stood a chance.