They were not always pretty. She had her ripped and tattered places, the rocky spots where it was only safe for her to tread, but by being honest with herself, those things had lost some of the power they once had, giving her more of the control she needed.

And she was glad for it today, because she was not sure she could have touched this soul, brought it so close to her own, before now. It twisted and writhed under her care, either trying to break free or latch onto her like a leech. It was a delicate balance to keep it close, but not so close that it could permeate her own thoughts and desires.

She felt the moment that Kiran entered the fog, because the storm surged with fury at its inability to affect him. As if it knew she was somehow to blame, it turned all its attention on her instead, pummeling at the barrier of her mind. It swarmed her, clenching around her, gouging at any perceived weak spots, trying to force itself into the space that was only her.

Her jaw dropped in a gasp, but she struggled to lift her chest enough to actually draw in air. She had tried to choose a spirit that was corrupted, but not necessarily the most dangerous option. It appeared she had underestimated the soul’s determination to cause harm. But as long as its attention was focused on her, that should make Kiran’s task easier. A soul divided would be easier for him to defeat.

She concentrated on all the things she had gained of late—she had her confidence back, her mother was safe, she and Kiran had repaired their relationship, she knew more of her magic than she would have thought possible a few months ago. Skies, she had magic. That alone was more than she could have dreamed a few years ago. She was not just Princess Aurora. Nor was she the hunter Roar, who had lied to her friends. She was someone completely different who had taken all of those experiences and come out the other side whole and better, and she would keep doing that, no matter what this world threw at her.

The storm’s assault suddenly halted, and she felt a smoldering scream of rage tear through her mind. Aurora was finally able to draw in a much-needed breath, and she knew the real fight had begun—Kiran had gone for the storm’s heart.