Chapter 20 · She Stole the Fire

The fire ripped out of Nora's chest and slammed into Milo.

His back arched against the stone. Black cables snapped tight around his wrists, and the sound he made wasn't even a scream. It was smaller. Worse.

"Milo!" Nora threw herself toward him.

The Council guards caught her before she got three steps. One hooked an arm around her throat. Another drove a shock baton into her ribs. Heat burst across her skin, wild and blind, but there was no ring to pull it back. No cool metal. No voice telling her to breathe.

Across the chamber, Selene Ward held Nora's fire in both hands.

It twisted between her fingers like a living ribbon, orange at the center and black along the edges. Selene's smile shook. Not with fear. With triumph.

"Look at him," she said. "He can take it."

Caden moved before Nora could answer.

He had one hand wrapped around the ring. Blood still streaked his face where Nora had smeared it there. The other hand closed around a Council guard's throat and threw the man into the machine. Metal shrieked. Sparks blew across the floor.

"Get away from them, Selene."

"You don't give orders anymore.