Saxony didn’t know how much fight she had left in her. That bullet hadn’t just taken her best friend, but it had taken her sister from her too, because there was no redemption for Zekia now, and there was no way Saxony could ever look at her sister the same way again.

Saxony couldn’t save her.

“Forgive me,” Karam said.

And then she ran for Ashwood.

She swung her fists wildly, but it was of little use. All the training Karam had clawed from the world wasn’t enough.

Karam kicked out.

Ashwood caught her leg and pushed her to the ground.

She flipped herself back up in an instant and swung again, but Ashwood snatched her arm, like her speed was no match for him.

Karam’s knees buckled under his strength.

“You have no power here,” he growled, low and impatient.

Saxony’s teeth ground together.

First he took her sister, then he killed Asees, and then Tavia.

She wouldn’t let him take Karam.

She wouldn’t let him take anyone else.

“I’ll show you power,” Saxony snarled. “Karam, move!”

Karam swiped out her legs, catching Ashwood at the ankle.

He seethed and dropped her arm, giving the warrior a moment to dive out of the way.

As soon as Karam was clear, Saxony thrust her hands toward the Kingpin.

The arrows of fire darted from each of her fingertips, the force of expelling them nearly throwing Saxony off balance. She was summoning all the magic she had inside of her and it engulfed the air so much that the heat from the ground started to burn even her.

A wave of fire, almost tidal, flew toward Ashwood.

But the Kingpin threw up his hand and the fire collided against a new invisible wall, sizzling.

“I’ll show you what real magic can do,” he said.

Ashwood pushed forward and Saxony’s fire turned to ice, melting into a body of water that spilled over the sides of the bridge.

He clicked his fingers, and whether it was necessary or for dramatic effect Saxony didn’t know, but she felt the air grow uneasy and then disappear completely.

She couldn’t breathe.

Many Gods, she couldn’t breathe.

Saxony clutched at her throat as Ashwood pulled the very air from her lungs.

Zekia took a step toward her, but with one deadly, daring look from Ashwood, she stopped in place.

“Stay where you are,” he said. “I’ll kill her myself.”

Saxony wondered if after he’d finished with her, Ashwood would leave anyone behind to mourn her, or if he would decimate the world. There was a moment where all the hope she had gathered over the weeks disappeared and all she could do was focus on her breath and ponder which one would be the last.

And then she noticed it.