Chapter 31

“Come on,” said Akton and took off across the fields at a run. Talfryn followed, almost expecting to be shot at, for one of the flying shifters to wheel around and dive out of the sky at them, but nothing happened until they neared the four people guarding this exit from the village. Three turned, and Talfryn glanced at Akton to make sure he was engaged before he let loose with his fire.

When he toyed with it, in his palm or in a hearth, it was almost a pet. But when Talfryn let it kill, it was terrifying. And after fighting with it at the pub, he had a little better idea of what he was doing. He stopped as though to let the woman with a sword come toward him, hands at his sides. Talfryn could feel the flame kindling around him, hungry magic sparking and swirling around the back of his hands, up his forearms. The woman noticed and drew up short, a confused expression on her face, and then Talfryn raised his arm and released the fire.