I stand frozen in place, staring blankly at the barren landscape as memories storm to the forefront of my mind. It’s been nearly a week since I bonded with Kaebl—a week of grueling days and blissful, pleasure-filled nights—and I’d be lying if I said I’d experienced happiness like I have these past few days with all my mates. But even with all that joy, the reality of my failure has been niggling in the back of my mind, reminding me what will happen if I don’t figure out how to harness my magic fully—and soon.

“If you can fear, you can also be brave.”

My shoulders slump as a heavy sigh blows past my lips, heating the air and causing a cloud of vapor to swirl around my face. It’s so thick that it covers my line of sight for a split moment, concealing the outline of the demon lowering to the ice a few hundred feet away, his teeth bared and claws outstretched with murderous intent.

As soon as the fog dissipates, I stumble back with a choked scream, my eyes widening on the terrifying, milky-eyed creature sprinting across the ice, its steps eerily silent as it closes the distance on its prey. Panic fills my lungs, making each second stretch to minutes as I search the horizon, willing one of my mates to materialize and save me.

But it’s too late.

The demon lunges, its jaw extended and lips pulled back to reveal the jagged yellow teeth preparing to sink into my throat. It sails through the air in a blur of motion, too fast and vicious and powerful for me to dodge. Only… I no longer need to run.

My blood boils, heating the ice beneath my feet and filling my head with a thunderous roar as the wild magic of The Far Place flows into my veins, coating my vision in a glowing silver film as I draw more and more of that strange power from the earth—taking far more than I should, far more than is necessary.

As soon as the demon makes contact, it’s like two atoms colliding. One minute, the soldier is preparing to sink its claws into my chest, and the next, it’s being blown across the land, forced back by an incredible burst of energy exploding from my open palms. My magic shudders through the air and vibrates the ice beneath my feet, threatening to cleave the ground and tear the skies apart.

Brilliant silver light explodes from my open mouth, silencing my scream and causing my ears to fill with a thunderous roar as the onslaught of energy tears at the seams holding my mind together. Just before it destroys me, I force the barricade back into place, fighting with everything I have against the violent surge.