Feeling like she was playing a game of life-or-death tag, she pounded down some stairs with Bai close behind and raced down an unknown corridor. Good God, this place was huge and she had no idea where she was running. At any moment she could be trapping herself in a corner. Doorways on either side of her led to parts unknown. Every single one was a question mark and a potential pathway to death.

Sarafina came to a set of double doors that appeared to open into a large room. She rolled the dice, hoping there was an exit on the other side or at least a good place to hide.

She careened into the room and skidded to a stop, closing the door behind her. In the half light shining through the windows, it appeared she’d entered some kind of ballroom. Of course, owing to her recent trend of bad luck, it was completely naked of furniture.

And there was no exit.

Behind her, a roar shook the floor beneath her feet.

Sarafina did the only thing she could do; she turned and made a stand. Raising as much power as she could, she waited, balancing on the balls of her feet for the daaeman to come through the doors. She screamed when he jumped in behind her instead.

She moved from pure instinct, bringing her elbow back hard into his solar plexus. He grunted in pain, releasing her, and she scrambled away from him. As she went, she ripped power from the center of her chest and held it loosely, ready to wield.

“What the hell do you want from me?” she snarled.

“I want nothing from you, Sarafina. I simply want you. You will be mine soon. It’s been arranged.”

The double doors crashed open and Theo walked in, the scent of earth magick filling the air. “You can’t have her, daaeman. She’s already mine.”

Bai’s lips peeled back from his pointed teeth. “Do you think you’re a match for me, aeamon? I will come for her when this is over, and you won’t be able to stop me.”

“Screw you both,” Sarafina yelled. She wasn’t about to be claimed as anyone’s property.

She unleashed the huge amount of magick she’d pulled from her seat at Bai. White-hot fire exploded around him in a magnificent flash that nearly blinded her. The hard and fast use of her power drove her to her knees, gasping. She gripped her chest, every breath an agony.

Theo let loose with a string of swear words. The air filled with the scent of freshly turned earth, vanquishing the hot scent of fire. What had been searing hot now went cool and dark as the deepest part of the Earth.

Sarafina forced her head up and saw that Bai had disappeared. Where he’d stood was now a scorched circle and a pile of dirt.