A manic laugh left Kiva, which quickly turned into a sob before she could capture the sound and thrust it deep down within her to keep more from coming. If she ever saw Mirryn again, she would throw aside all her enmity and shower the princess with gratitude. If not for her elemental magic, Kiva would be writhing on the stone floor right now, rather than crouching and watching the fire as it raged around her.

Seconds turned to minutes as Kiva stayed low to the ground. She didn’t dare move, lest she risk disturbing the magic in the amulet. Had she been braver, she might have risen and walked around the room, like some fire goddess dancing in the flames. But all she did was remain pressed against the door, willing back her tears as she waited, waited, waited for the ten minutes to come to an end.

One minute.

Two minutes.

Three minutes.

Kiva counted down in her head, seeking any distraction from the growing heat, from the smoke that was beginning to smother her, no matter how low she crouched to seek fresher air.

Four minutes.

Five minutes.

Sweat dripped off her, soaking her clothes, mixing with her tears that finally began to fall as shock took hold. It didn’t matter that she was still alive, the amulet keeping her safe from the flames. Her terror was too strong, too powerful to remain buried within her. No one could see her tears in here—the heat was almost enough to evaporate them before they could trickle off her chin.

Six minutes.

Something was wrong. Kiva knew it as she started coughing, as the heat that had been slowly rising turned from uncomfortable to nearly unbearable. Looking down, she could see the amulet still pulsing with light, but it was flickering, as if running out of power.

No, Kiva willed it, holding it tightly, careful not to speak aloud and risk breathing in extra smoke. Just a little longer.

Seven minutes.

Kiva’s sleeve caught on fire.

She yelped and jumped up, flames billowing into her face, and inhaled a lungful of smoke that sent her into a coughing fit. She threw herself on the ground, rolling around on the stone to stifle the fire that was now latching on to the rest of her clothes, but it was no use.

No, no, no! Kiva screamed mentally, her throat burning as she struggled to breathe, sucking in nothing but hot air and fumes.

Eight minutes.

Kiva’s tunic was incinerating, her pants burning to ash, the amulet now straining to protect just her skin. The scent of karonut tickled her nostrils amid the all-consuming smoke, Mot’s waxy mixture finally having to fight alongside the princess’s magic.