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Rhyzkahl’s free hand tightened into a fist "There is no other way," he said through clenched teeth As I watched, I felt hi on that icy look I kneell

Mzatal’s eyes were deep wells of pain as he shifted his grip on his blade I felt their blades, knew their blades Like the first ignition of the columns, the Three should have resonated in harmony But the rakkuhr spiked thedisharernails on a chalkboard

Eilahn left the lords and ainst her, deeply grateful for her support I tipped ot the chance to say goodbye to so many people "Please find a way to let my aunt and the others know," I said to Eilahn Let them have closure at least The wind screah the noise and discordance, and I knew she’d heard and would do as I asked

She slid her ar ht time?>>

A cold touch wound around ed looks that said everything fro hate this to Do it now

The cold touch deepened, and soh the maelstrom of power

<<Yes, now hush and sit down I think I have her>>

Mzatal shifted his grip again "Zharkat," he murmured, then moved in for the strike Rhyzkahl moved barely a fraction of an instant behind him, yet before either blade could touchlike comprehension came over Rhyzkahl’s face With demonic lord speed he knocked Mzatal’s strike wide to cut deeply intointo ," he hissed to Mzatal

And then the breaking world dropped away

Chapter 42

I knelt on ss curled protectively around edly for breath Tre as frohsensations I heard Eilahnin depain of backlash raked through my body, and a harsh cry escaped me, but before it could burn deeper, the resonant potency of Vsuhl engulfedit

Not stone, I slowly realized ason stone, but concrete

A hissing sound like drops of water on a hot griddle drew ht forearm for several heartbeats before I remembered that Mzatal’s blade had bitten there rather than ish rivulets down ainst h Vsuhl I felt its whisper still Voices and movement around me retreated to fuzzy distance With each hiss of blood the pain intouch, knew so of its sentience after e shared while the world broke apart But the world no longer crumbled, and a familiar, ubiquitous and wonderful stench identified s as I lifted raely dull and crude after all I’d witnessed in the delow, and even as I noted it, the luminescence faded to mere chalk on concrete A few paces aas another, sram much like--no, exactly like the one I used This is aze went to the sunize her at first Exhaustion and strain ht Not that she had any to lose in the first place But as my eyes met hers, the exhaustion dropped away to be replaced with a fierce joy and triumph that was one hundred percent Tessa

"Welcohtly in e the re portal strands

"I’m home," I croaked, stunned I shook led to stand, only able to do so with Eilahn’s help "I’h "You saved me Wow Best aunt ever"

"Kara!"