Page 65 of Fading Sun

“Amber, another light burst!” Damien calls out.

I don’t know if my light can get past Damien’s wind, but it’s worth a try. So, summoning my magic again, I direct a concentrated beam of it at what I hope is the Yeti’s face.

It’s hard to see where I’m aiming, thanks to all the snow swirling around, but it doesn’t stop me from trying.

The Yeti howls, but doesn’t fall.

Morgan hurls a fireball at monster’s feet, turning the snow beneath it to slush.

The Yeti falters.

“Keep it up!” Damien shouts. “We’re wearing it down!”

Suddenly, Blaze dashes toward the Yeti… but to the side of it, like he’s trying to escape into the forest. He pushes against Damien’s wind, toward one of the trees, where his dagger is buried in the trunk.

So, Damien pulls back—just long enough for the Yeti to swipe Blaze aside and send him flying onto the hard, packed snow.

Then, the Yeti does the last thing I expected.

It reaches for the dagger.

No.

If the Yeti gets Blaze’s enspelled weapon, all might be lost.

Damien—apparently having the same thought—blasts another gust of wind at the Yeti. But the Yeti is ready this time, using its breath to stop Damien’s wind, giving itself another opportunity to reach for the dagger.

Summoning all my strength, I channel my magic and push it outward, superheating the area around the Yeti.

Morgan joins in with her fire.

Blaze jumps back up to his feet, hurling fire of his own.

The Yeti roars, doing its best to freeze out our heat. But we’re focused now, working together. We can do this. We didn’t get through the portal just to be frozen to death by a monster waiting on the other side.

I widen my stance, using every muscle in my body to pour more magic into my attack.

The air around the Yeti ripples with heat, distorting the trees and melting more of the snow beneath its feet.

It roars—louder than before—its icy magic countering our heat.

I push harder.

So does the Yeti. It’s like its drawing magic from the snow, bringing it into itself and using it against us.

“Amber, give it all you’ve got and keep pushing,” Damien calls out to me.

“Planning on it,” I say, gritting my teeth and doing just that.

“Morgan!” Damien says to her, a vortex of air swirling around him. “When I say go, throw as much fire at it as you’ve got. Blaze—when the time’s right, go get that dagger.”

“How will I know when the time’s right?” he asks, hurling another fireball at the Yeti.

“Trust me.” Damien’s eyes glint with the predatory gaze I’ve gotten to know well lately. “You’ll know.”

I keep my magic flowing,

Morgan raises her hands, summoning a wave of fire. The flames swirl around her, growing hotter and brighter, like a thousand snakes ready to strike.

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