Lyra's breath came in ragged gasps, the last traces of her power flickering out of her fingertips. She could hardly believe what she had just done. Damon lay crumpled against a tree, momentarily stunned by the force of her attack. But the shock was short-lived, and he was already starting to stir, his eyes blazing with renewed fury.
Kael's gaze snapped to Lyra, his expression torn between awe and concern. "Lyra," he breathed, "you need to run. Now."
But Lyra shook her head, still trembling from the surge of power that had coursed through her. "I'm not leaving you behind," she whispered, her voice steady despite the fear racing through her veins. She had felt something stir deep within her when she released that magic, a sense of strength she had never known before. She couldn't walk away from that now—not when so much was at stake.
