I stroke his hair and the bubble of light around us intensifies. Glancing at my outstretched palm, I realise that my energy isn’t black like it was before when I was drawing on my hate and rage. Understanding washes over me like morning sunshine. I’ve locked my emotions away for so long, afraid to get close to anyone in case I get hurt, afraid to admit my feelings even to myself. It’s only now when it’s too late that I realise.

I care about him so much. I want to be more than just his friend. I want to be with him.

Holding my locket, I think about my mum and how good it felt to be held in her arms, to know she loves me and never wanted to give me up. And then I think about my sisters who never stopped searching for me and who shared my pain as their own and helped me to birth my wings. A tidal wave of love builds inside me and I have no choice; I have to release it. Gently placing Tom’s head on the floor, I turn over my hands, letting the energy flood out from me. Still the magic pulls at me, hungry for release.

I get to my feet and throw open my arms. My hair blows back from my face as a stream of golden light rushes towards the platform. It crashes into Merlin and he glares at me, his eyes burning with rage. I draw upon all the love I have in me: for my mum, for my sisters, for Tom, for Katie. Light floods from every pore of my being, sending wave after wave into the room.

The witches on the ground raise their heads and my spirits lift to see them revive. Morgan, Thiten and Glitonea help them to their feet and we spread out along the platform, standing around Merlin in a circle. Together, we each hurl a stream of magic towards him. Our energy meets in the centre, hitting his body and exploding into brilliant white light. A deafening explosion shakes the ground and I tremble as the power of nine surges through me.

Merlin raises his sceptre above his head, and his rage slams into my body like a fist. A few of my sisters cry out, but somehow we hold firm. I set my jaw, my head pounding, as blood streams from my nose. My arms ache and tremble with fatigue. Just when I think I can’t go on, I feel my sisters’ energy rush into me, our magic stronger for being shared. Acting as one, we each keep our right arm extended towards the platform and turn the other outwards, towards the woman next to us. Our love for one another flows between us, growing stronger as it surges around the circle – a primal, unstoppable force.