Page 43 of Dragons Of Shadow and Sea

I cast out into the sea of untapped power flowing within me. In a moment of absolute desperation, I was able to use the magic of my connection with Rafe and Jianyu to open a portal and escape, but without their presence, I can't find the well of energy I need.

But what else can I do?

"Weak," Li growls, advancing, increasing the intensity of his attack. "Pathetic."

My blood boils.

This isn't the first time I've been called pathetic. In the Air Kingdom, when I was bullied by Prince Fury and the mean girl squad, I had no choice but to sit there and take it.

But now?

Now, I have choices, all right.

A new, hotter spark of violet energy sears up my arm.

I've never managed to perform an offensive spell. I've never even really tried. Could I, though?

The burning magic in my bracer whispers yes.

I'd have to lower my defenses, though. Could it be worth it? The risk gnaws at me, but before long, the power of my protection spell is nearing the point of crumbling. Li's eyes glint with malicious darkness. He knows I'm faltering.

My only chance is to surprise him. And if I'm going to do that, I'm going to have to do it now.

Floundering, utterly flying by instinct, I let the dark flame within me explode. My hands catch fire, burning with a shimmering, dark purple power that threatens to sear my palms, but they're already scarred. My protection bubble collapses, and I hurl a sphere of pure, black, magical fire straight at Li.

But there's no shock to his expression. With one hand, he raises a barrier of violet energy.

With the other, he extends his arm into the air. His fingertips splay out and then smash into a fist.

Dark power slams into me from behind. I look over my shoulder to find a wall of magical energy towering above me, and my insides twist.

He was toying with me. That entire time. Just waiting until my shield cracked or I lowered it. His little balls of shadow magic were a diversion. All the while, he was building this.

He drops his hand.

The wall of shadow closes over my head.

And the entire world goes black.

JIANYU

The tug on my mate-bond to Ember comes out of nowhere. It's piercing--cutting through my thoughts and slicing down my spine.

After a day and a half of being cooped up in this house that is basically a prison, Rafe and I were on our last nerves. So we decided to take our anger and our frustration out on each other in the most civilized way we had available to us.

Namely, Mario Kart.

Dropping my controller, I lurch to stand, my hand on my head. Rafe lets out a grunt. Both of our characters go careening off the Rainbow Road. I look to him, and our gazes connect.

"Ember," Rafe growls.

As one, we bolt to the door. It's as locked as it was the first twelve times we checked it. With a roar of frustration, Rafe kicks it, hard, but it doesn't budge. Ember's call is even more frantic now. She's in trouble, and she needs us. Instinct calls to me to fly west and rain down burning stone on anyone who would dare to hurt her.

As Rafe keeps bruising his toes on the door, I stand back. Summoning every bit of willpower I have, I call to my dragon. He roars and breathes fire into my chest. My lungs fill with smoke, and my bones threaten to crack, the flapping of wings echoing in my ears.

But the magic holding back my dragon and my powers is too strong. There's a dark tint to it that leaves an oily taste in my mouth.

Giving in to the same anger that possesses Rafe, I lift my hand and bring it smashing down through the air, trying to exercise my will on the bedrock miles beneath our feet.

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