She did feel weaker. The only spot that I got a decided flare of power was right near her chest.

“The stone has not weakened,” I said. “What’s the plan to extract it from her?”

Everyone here looked a hell of a lot better than when they’d been all but sprawled on the ground, but they also didn’t appear to be back at full power. Would we have enough energy to finish the second part of this plan?

“I say we allow Dannie to break free because it’s costing her extra energy to do so,” Angel said, her warrior mind engaged. “When that happens, we must pin her down so that one of us can cut the stone free.”

“I vote we move the final part of this battle off the outliers,” I said before anyone else could speak up. “The locals and creatures don’t need to become collateral damage in this war.”

Of course, if we failed, no one would be safe, but that was something for future Mera to worry about. As far as I was concerned, we had a more-than-decent shot at beating her now.

Weaker Dannie; stronger me; recipe for success. Right?

“I agree on both fronts,” Shadow said. “And with that in mind, link hands. I will get us back to Trinity, and to the castle.”

The moment we joined up—Shadow keeping one hand on Dannie—he zapped us through to the side of the building near the chasm. The others broke apart as soon as we landed, Reece and Angel most noticeably, moving to opposite sides of the large open area.

Inky and Midnight flew up above us, still choosing to stay close together.

“You all recharge,” I said, “because we’ll need all the power we can get to hold Dannie, even in her weaker form.”

“Where do you think you’re going while we recharge?” Shadow asked, sounding casual, but no one was fooled.

“I’m going to search for my creatures,” I said. “The ones from the prison realm are reasonably safe in that outlier island, and if any more of their kind are trapped here, I want to send them through as well. Preferably before an angry bitch of the Nexus breaks free.”

“The outliers are advanced in their treatment of the creatures,” Angel confirmed. “I think that’s a great plan.”

It really did feel like that was the safest place to leave them.

“You will not go without me,” Shadow said shortly, his tone brooking no argument.

Midnight wrapped around me as I smiled at my stubborn mate. “I know you’re exhausted, Shadow. You can recharge; I’m just going to have a sneaky look around. I’ll be fine.”