Her magic hits the ark and absorbs her power. With everyone else concentrating on keeping the shield in place, I stare at the ark, watching as it pulls in more of Bronte’s magic . . . It takes about half a minute before it starts to glow with silver light.

“Keep going!” I shout. “Something is happening.”

I exchange a look with Nadir, who watches me, and then I look back at Bronte.

The ark is vibrating now, jumping around where it lies.

Don’t stop, I say to myself, my lips moving with soundless words.

“Is it working?” Bronte shouts.

“I think so!” I shout back.

She continues filtering in her power as the ark glows brighter and brighter. A flicker appears above it, like an apparition emerging from its depths. Though the image is faint, it becomes obvious that it’s Zerra. Fear floods the back of my throat as she stands with her arms out, glaring at Bronte. She bares her teeth, her mouth twisting into a snarl.

“Don’t stop!” I scream. Something tells me that if Bronte lets go, we’re all fucked.

Zerra’s back arches, her mouth opening like she’s screaming. Her head tips up, and then, in a flash of light, the ark explodes. I duck instinctively, but the barrier holds. After a few seconds, everyone releases their magic just as the sky fills with clouds and flashes of silver lightning streak across the horizon.

I listen closely and wonder if I hear a scream.

“Did you all see that?” I breathe. “She was there. Do you think she can get to us?”

Everyone shares a wary look across the plaza. No one was expecting that.

“Next one,” Nadir barks. “Let’s get this over with quickly. Cyan! You’re up.”

We repeat the process, and once again, the ark absorbs his magic until it must reach some kind of threshold and starts to glow blue. I hold my breath, hoping Cyan has enough power to see this task through. Again, Zerra appears in that barely there form, snarling and screaming without sound.

She spins around as if trying to see us. Can she tell who’s killing her? Her fingers curl into claws as she sneers and then begins clutching herself, curving in on the pain. I swallow against the dryness in my throat. While I know this is necessary, watching her suffer makes my chest hurt. She was once a young queen forced into this role, and then someone she trusted turned on her.

Again, the ark explodes before the sky turns dark, more flashes of silver-white lightning forking across in jagged streaks. When she’s gone again, I expel a short breath of relief. Cyan did it. And it seems like she can’t reach us in this form.