She dropped me to the ground. I landed hard on my side, and I was pretty sure the fall broke my wrist. Yet again. I wouldn't even bother healing it this time. By now, it felt like a waste of magic since my bones were clearly determined to remain in pieces. While gritting my teeth, I moved my arm to my chest and rolled so that with my other hand I could pull the darkest clouds directly over our heads. The growl of thunder echoed throughout Valerius's fields and the first drops of rain began falling. This would be a mighty storm.

Atroxia's tail encircled me and slithered in tighter and tighter. I stood to avoid being crushed, and when I did, for the first time, I saw Livia.

She hadn't gone far from the bushes where she had hidden before. Instead, she was deeper within them and in a cavity of earth where little but her eyes were visible. I suspected that the only reason I saw her was because she had wanted that. And when she held up her arm and I saw the Malice in her grip, I understood her message. She intended to give up the Malice to save my life.

I couldn't allow that. Livia had to understand why.

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