“Nice one, Lyss,” Kael says in a whisper, nudging my shoulder with approval. “I was struggling out there.”

I don’t need his praise. It was Arryn’s idea—I just did what I was told.

I look across to find her checking over Keeda. She motions for Cami to move closer so she can heal Keeda’s ankle, but the limited space makes it impossible for Cami to shuffle further in. Keeda will have to wait until we have more room, since Cami needs to be able to touch her for her ability to work.

“How are we getting out of this?” I ask as more light hits the dome. I wince with each impact. It’s as if I can feel my energy sapping with every Spoken command that absorbs into the shield—like they’re being absorbed into me. “Do you want me to—”

Before I can finish, the lights turn back on in a blaze of glory.

Pandora, whose hand was reaching for her scarf, lets out a cry and shields her eyes. My brow furrows, and I repeat my earlier command, “OFF!”

This time, our surroundings only darken for a moment before burning brightly again, and when I try a third time, nothing happens at all. It’s like I’m back in Vanik’s lab, my words wholly ineffective. Panic clutches at my heart, but I’m comforted by the protective shield still over our heads, until I look up to see that it’s—

Gone.

The shield is gone.

My blood turns to ice, but I force myself to stay calm, to focus and summon it back. When I do, it just fizzles straight out again.

“Why can’t I—”

Pandora cuts me off by saying, “Hide!”

I don’t understand, since we are hiding, but then light emanates from where she’s touching her lime-green scarf, and suddenly, the six of us become invisible.

“Jet’s cloaking ability,” comes her disembodied whisper. “I figured it might come in handy. Just stay close—and keep quiet.”

I raise my hand in front of my face and feel an eerie sensation when I can’t see it. Looking down, no part of me is visible, nor are the five others who I know are beside me. If not for their anxious, heavy breathing, I’d think I was alone.

I try again to summon the protective dome around us, hoping that maybe I just need to concentrate harder. But still, nothing happens. Why is Pandora’s ability working, when mine …

Realization hits me, forcing the air from my lungs. There’s only one reason I can think of as to why I can’t Speak right now, since I’m not battling exhaustion or torture. Only one reason—only one person who might be stopping my power in its tracks.

I scramble over the invisible Kael, ignoring his muted grunt when I accidentally knee him in the thigh, until I can look around the side of the ice cream stand, needing to see the proof for myself.

I’m not the only one to have figured it out. After another grunt from Kael, I hear Cami’s whispered, “Sorry,” and then feel her press up against me, the two of us sucking in harsh breaths at what we’re now seeing.