“I’m not letting you leave here alive, witch,” he snarls, and I nearly laugh aloud at the hubris a little potion has given him. I can’t halt him or will him out of existence with the magic protecting him, but I can still do quite a bit of damage, especially with traces of the thayar concentrate still coursing through my veins. But I won’t lose myself to rage this time like I did last night when Thorne was injured. Despite centuries of training and practicing control, everything I’d learned left my consciousness when I’d scented his blood tinged with iron in the clearing. The mating bond had blinded me, and I vow to keep my cool today and make smart decisions about my magic.

I conjure a sword of light in one hand and a dagger in the other, then advance toward Krantz, keeping my awareness on that cellar door. For good measure, I will a barrier of light, water, and wind to form just before the doors for an added layer of protection.

“How would killing me help your cause, Krantz?” I yell over the sounds of Thorne battling others around me. “I thought the Sons and Daughters wanted the mist barrier removed. I have to be alive to do that.”

“What we tell the masses and what we really want are two different things. Surely you know that better than anyone,” he says as he lunges toward me with his own sword. I deflect the blow, parrying with my own sword that he blocks with a strong current of air.

We circle one another.

“What is it you actually want, Krantz? Me dead, got it. But after that? You’ll still be stuck in Thayaria with a barrier of mist around it and no way in or out.” I take control of several of the weapons that circle him and shoot them down toward his body. He diverts all but one with his magic, but one is all I need to slice a deep gash across his upper left thigh. He doesn’t even react.

“Power,” he growls, then charges forward. I wait until the last millisecond before stepping out of the way, slicing through his back as I pivot. He snarls, whipping around quickly. Both his thigh and back have already healed thanks to the supercharged fae abilities combined with the thayar flower and whatever was in that vial. “If you’re gone, with no heir to replace you, I’ll take over Thayaria with the help of some friends. Of course, I’ll make it look like a democratic election, make the people think we’re following in the footsteps of Reshnar.”