I stare unblinking at Dagny’s frame, scared to move, to breathe in case it shatters her focus and corrupts the vein of magic she’s managed to tap into. Her palms are outstretched toward the horde, her brow pinched and sweat beading across her upper lip as she forces her magic into the chittering, snapping beasts. Surprisingly, none of the creatures are moving—all of their focus is trained on Dagny, awaiting her orders.

“Go!” she chokes, her face turning purple as she concentrates on holding them all in place. “I can’t… much longer…”

Before the creatures can break free of her hold, the six of us lunge into action, flying across the distance with claws outstretched and canines sharpened—all of our focus on ending the lives of the creatures that dare endanger our mate.

With a bellow, I jump onto the arachnyx’s back, my arms held high and abdomen quivering as I prepare to deliver a killing blow. My fists come down on the back of its skull with all the force I can muster, cleaving its bulbous head in two and sending the great creature to the ice, utterly lifeless. I move on to the next while the other demons make short work of the rest of the horde, filling the clearing with a symphony of snarls and growls and the snapping of jaws.

As soon as the last arachnyx falls, the light fades from Dagny’s eyes, and she crumples, her knees giving out a second before her body slumps to the ground in a limp heap.

The six of us rush toward her, racing to be the first to touch her, to make sure she’s okay. I pull her into my lap as the others crowd around us, their eyes wide and searching as I run my palm over Dagny’s cheek, desperate to wake her.

“It’s okay, little one,” I whisper, pushing healing magic into her pale skin. “You did so, so well. I’m so proud of you.”

Her eyes flutter open, a soft groan falling from her chapped lips as she wakes. She looks up, and my breath gets caught in my throat at the sight of the beautiful ring of silver around her iris, pulsing with the fantastical magic thrumming through her system.

I can’t believe how powerful she is. To be able to control a horde of arachnyx with only a few weeks’ training is utterly remarkable. At that moment, I realize Malice was right—that this beautiful little light in my arms is the strongest creature in The Far Place. More powerful than Slaine and Abaddon combined, able to tilt the world on its axis if she willed it.

“You’re so beautiful,” I whisper, placing a delicate kiss to the center of her brow, my bond mark flaring to life on her hip. “Are you hurting anywhere?”