Without warning, he blasts fire through his bonds and leaps toward me, breaking free, the branches tearing through his wings in a spray of fiery blood. Fast as a lightning strike, he extends dark claws and slashes through the shadow vines binding me to the dragon, drags me off its back and onto the Shadow tree’s pinnacle, wrests my wand from my hand and impales the corrupted beast through the neck with it. The dragon growls and Yvan punches it clear off the tree trunk’s apex.

Shock rips through me as Yvan throws one arm up and blasts his shielding fire-orb back to life around us, then pulls me against him and brings his lips to mine.

I gasp against his hot mouth, sparks striking to a burn, fast and bright, as Yvan’s power floods into me and flexes hard against Vogel’s. Yvan’s body shudders against mine as Vogel blasts his horde’s full might against Yvan’s shield, rage spitting through Vogel’s power as he growls a vicious cry of alarm through my mind and is burned back.

My own will snaps back into being, Yvan’s mouth pure heat on mine. Wyvernfire roars though me, blazing against Vogel’s hold, my blood turning to wildfire as Yvan kisses me so intensely, I feel as if my very bones will meld into his fierce embrace.

Seeming emboldened, Yvan tightens his hold and sends his fire into me with renewed vigor. My own power surges as my heart takes on a frenzied beat, scalding heat racing through my wrists’ Sealing lines.

A vision of Lukas lights in my mind, overlayed across the scene before me, his muscular form bound against dark stone, his Sealing lines lit up gold. Lukas’s eyes fly open and shock sears through me.

They’re no longer gray, but green.

Golden Wyvernfire lights the edges of Lukas’s irises as our Sealing bond burns hot against my wrists and the Shadow net pinning him to the wall sparks gold. I can sense Yvan’s slash of surprise and his sudden awareness of Lukas as he draws back, arm quivering as he holds his shield in place.

A molten look passes between us. One look that conveys everything better than any words ever could—our complete and utter surrender to the greater good, the three of us aligning in one unified force.