I didn't understand what was happening. The arrows flew straight through my shield, and I failed to teleport to the Sacred School.

  A terrible sensation ripped through my body, completely different than anything I'd ever experienced. Not just pain from the arrows. My stare fell to the arrows sticking out from my right shoulder, my side, and my left thigh.

  The feathers of the arrows curled in, turning black, and then dissolved. I watched as the dark color slowly ate up the wood, petrifying everything it touched.

  It felt like the darkness ate me up as well. I looked down at my hands, expecting to see them turn hard like stone.

  Elsie reached for me, but I shouted. "Don't! It's poisoned somehow."

  I noticed then that she clutched her necklace. The stone glowed. Good. Nash would come for us.

  These arrows were sucking the power out of me. I needed to get rid of them. I gripped one arrow and tried with all my strength to break it, but I couldn't. It was hard as stone and my power dwindled so rapidly.

  My power dissipated far more quickly than my blood spilled out. I couldn't take the time to figure out what was happening or why. I only needed to know that I was losing my power and soon maybe my life. And that Elsie needed me to get us to safety.

  I used my power to hold the arrows steady in my body and swiftly spun my sword, so it sliced cleanly through the arrows. I grunted in pain at the pressure on my wounds, but that pain couldn't compare to the agony of using my power to shove them free of my body. Blood gushed from the wounds.

  With what remained of my power, I focused on the holes in my body and burned them closed from the inside out. Though I tried to hold in my scream, it escaped, and I curled in on myself, crying out at the fire eating away at me.

  Weakness threatened to drag me to the ground. I shivered in the cold. Elsie watched me with horror written across her young face, her hand covering her mouth.

  "We're exposed here…" I nodded toward the door leading inside. "They may find us soon. We'll separate."

  Elsie shook her head. "I'm not leaving you. You're hurt." She grabbed both of her swords now. "You can't fight like that."

  I spoke with a low growl. "Yes, I can. You'll hide where I tell you to hide." Pain clutched me and I nearly doubled over.

  "I can't hide away from you," she said. "Daddy won't be able to find you. Your powers aren't working right."

  No arguing with that. I'd tried to reach out to Nash with my neural connection, to anyone, and it was like I'd lost the ability entirely.

  "Wait." Elsie ran from me then to the outside cabinets that housed our training gear. She loved to practice here with us when we wanted to be alone as family. Her hands shook as she withdrew her bow and quiver of arrows. I didn't stop her. Once she hid, it would be wise for her to be prepared to defend herself.

  I walked forward and ground my teeth so hard I thought I might shatter my jaw. Every step ripped at my wounds, gravity hanging from them like weights. Blood still oozed out from my burned skin and the parts of the injuries that were not properly cauterized.

  Elsie slowly opened the door and peeked into the hallway before I could stop her. The pain and injuries distracted me. I struggled through every step until I reached her side.

  "You only do what I say," I whispered.

  She started to walk beside me, but I pulled her behind me with a grunt and drew my sword with my uninjured arm. My other hung limp at my side. It hurt too badly to move it.

  My heart raced, though I needed to calm it and not worsen my blood loss. My mind reeled with questions. Who attacked us? Malach or our guests? How did they manage to steal my power?

  What about Nash and Finn? What if they tried to hurt my baby?

  What was I thinking bringing a helpless life into this brutal world?

  Elsie's voice whispered in my ear. "Let me help you, Ma. You're shaking."

  I looked down and noticed the tremble for the first time. She started to slide under my arm to help hold me up when I heard a sound and stopped. Elsie did as well, listening with me.

  I opened the door beside me and nudged her inside. She stumbled in, swords locked in her grip, the anger in her eyes telling me she didn't want to hide and yet knew better than to fight with me at a time like this.

  Warriors burst into the hallway.

  Arrows flew again and I summoned enough energy to erect a shield to cover the doorway sheltering Elsie. I crisscrossed the air with my sword, breaking every arrow.

  "She still has power, Commander," one of the men yelled with his lips twisting in a horrified gasp.

  "Not for long," the commander said with narrowed eyes.

  Screaming in agony, I swung one blade for the man closest to me.

  I grew weaker by the second, not just from the injury, but from my quickly draining power. I barely managed to strengthen my hit. It was enough though. My sword shattered my enemy's and sank into his chest. I ripped it free and spun for the next one. The shield over Elsie grew so thin I worried it would not stop an attack. Using my power, I ripped a warrior through the air while he screamed and impaled him upon the sword I held with my injured arm. We both cried out from the pain, but he fell into a blood heap while I lunged for another warrior.

  Only two remained, but I wasn't sure I'd be able to even take a step after this next one, much less take them on. I blocked a hit with my right blade from one and caught another with my left, but I faltered from the pain and weakness, and my enemy's sword bore down against the blade, forcing my own sword to sink into my thigh.

  I slammed my head against the man's nose and kicked him in the gut using what power remained. He flew back and slammed against the wall with a thud. Twisting, I reared back to attack the next one when weakness knocked my legs out from under me. I couldn't control it. I fell onto the ground, barely catching myself with my sword.

  A sword swung for my head. I focused on it to stop it, struggling to lift my own weapon in defense.

  An arrow whizzed past my ear and embedded in the chest of the man attacking me. His sword fell short as he stumbled back, shocked eyes falling to his chest. Another arrow flew and then a third.

  "Ma!" Elsie screamed as each of her arrows thudded into the two men.

  I summoned all my strength and launched myself forward, burying my sword in the closest man's gut. Elsie wasn't ready to take life. She wasn't ready. Even if it killed me, I needed to kill these men before her arrows did.

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  The warrior and I both fell to the ground together. My grip on my left sword failed and it clattered to the ground. My arm hung uselessly at my side. I gasped with pain as every single movement ripped at my wounds as if tearing them wide open.

  Tendrils of my power flowed through me, the last remnants that kept my insides warm. I directed it all at the man running at me from the far side of the room. A red streak of power broke through his teeth and escaped through the back of his head.

  "Ma," Elsie cried again and ran to me. My hands trembled from the exhaustion and injuries. The girl caught me as I fell, struggling to hold me up. "I called for dad." Tears filled her voice. "He'll come. He always comes."

  Blood poured out from the fresh leg wound, but I couldn't draw upon any power to burn the skin closed. I needed to bandage it before I lost any more precious blood.

  "Elsie…" I struggled to find my voice. The world around me spun slowly. I tugged at one of my sleeves. "Cut this off for me."

  She nodded and used her dagger to saw the sleeve free. Without being instructed, she wrapped it around my thigh tightly. I swallowed my grunt of pain so I wouldn't upset her, but the burning and searing agony of the arrow injuries strained my voice badly. "Thank you…"

  "We have to go." Elsie sniffled and stood up, trying to drag me to my feet. "We have to hide until dad finds us."

  I struggled to my feet and stumbled forward, nearly falling right back down to the ground. It hurt so badly to walk. Every step tore at my wounds. Elsie held me tightly around my middle, dragging me toward the door at the end of the hall.

  "Baby girl…" I settled my cheek against her temple as we trudged forward. "I need you to listen."

  "No." Anger tensed Elsie's fine features. "I won't. I know what you're going to say."

  "Elsie–"

  "I said no. We're staying together. You want me to leave you, and I won't. You can't make me."

  As we continued forward, hot blood started to drizzle from my side. I put my hand to it, feeling the skin swollen with internal bleeding that my cauterizing job blocked from freely leaving the wound.

  Elsie slid her hand over mine, her voice shaking. "Ma–"

  "Keep moving." I nudged her forward, powering through the heaviness of my body and the pain sawing at my wound.

  Wild fear danced in her wide eyes and tightened her voice to a small tremble. "It's really bad."

  Warm blood pooled between my fingers. With my free hand, I took her face and held firmly. "Elsie, listen to me." Every second intensified the pain as my energy waned. It'd been so long since I lacked power. I forgot entirely how it felt. "You trained your whole life for this. You're ready."

  She started to shake her head no, but I gritted my teeth and deepened my voice. "Now's the time, Elsie. Move. Don't stop, even if I do. You find your dad."

  Tears slid down her face. Lately Elsie felt far too grown. I wasn't sure when it happened. One day she was running barefoot through the village and the next, an independent mind bloomed beneath deep eyes and a surprisingly confident veneer. But Elsie looked every bit the small child I'd tucked back into bed after nightmares or the crying girl who couldn't stop crying after skinning her knee. Right when I thought I'd been wrong, that this would break her, she let out one long, slow breath. The emotion fell from her expression, and she nodded.

  "Let's go." Elsie wrapped her arm around me. When had she grown this tall? Since when could she reach around me like this?

  I focused on each step to keep my weight off her, but as we rushed through the hall, weakness tangled my body. I faltered and she caught me, grunting to help keep me standing. I leaned against the wall for support.

  As we walked down the hall, I saw the door open.

  My vision blurred.

  I pulled my bow from my back and screamed as I drew back slightly on the bowstring. Despite my best efforts, I slid slowly down the wall, my aim quivering. A cry wrenched from my lips as I drew further back on my bow.

  Elsie ripped the arrow from my hand, wrenched the bow from my weakening grip, and slid into a perfectly controlled stance. It shouldn't have surprised me because nearly every day for a decade I taught her how to shoot. But the shock silenced me as I watched her shoulders straighten, her body still, and her arrow fly.

  It snapped mid-air. Elsie nocked another but I shook my head for her to stop when I heard the familiar voice.

  "What's happened to you?" Sloane approached with her disciples flanking her.

  I looked up at the Coastal Prophet, having no idea whether she was a friend or not. If she wanted to kill us, I couldn't stop her. I couldn't summon even a spark of power, and I barely kept my eyes open. While I didn't believe she'd ever try to kill me before, I no longer felt that way. Not when this was her only chance.

  "My husband and I son," I said, trying to suck in enough breath to ask more.

  "Last I saw, Nash was fighting his way up the stairs. I saw Piercey take your baby when the attacks began." She knelt down and studied the growing blood spots on my bandages. "You poor thing. It appears Malach has begun his war against you."

  "So, what is it?" I struggled to form the words. "Will you fight with us? Or hope Malach stops with my kingdom?"

  "It's unexpected to see you injured and helpless like this. I didn't prepare for this scenario. If I don't help, you very well may die." She sat back on her heels, sounding like she spoke to herself more than me. "Helping means going to war today and facing an enemy who can do this to you. Defeat may be certain."

  "Sloane–"

  "I appreciate you inviting me here, Eclipse. I appreciate your reasonableness. If you live I hope you can understand why it's not possible for me to help you today."

  "What?" Elsie lunged forward and caught the woman's pant leg. "Wait, please. You can't leave her like this. She's dying."

  "I do feel for you, Eclipse." She looked down on me with pity. "You've never done anything to deserve this. It's clear you're genuine. You're just not the political kind. Still, they can't let you and your kingdom remain in peace. I wish I could help. I honestly do. But I'm not getting involved. It wouldn't be good for my people."

  "Take my daughter." I forced strength into my voice, speaking forcibly and not as if I was begging. "She's just a kid."

  "I'm not leaving you," Elsie said, voice hitching.

  "Quiet," I said.

  The prophet's gaze shifted between us. "If I interfere, then I'm picking sides. My kingdom needs more time to prepare."

  "She's a child. Think of your daughters."

  "I am." She stood back up, looking down on me sadly. "Do you really think I should place them in danger? I brought them here with me."

  "Don't do this," Elsie whispered.

  "I'm sorry, Eclipse," Sloane said. "I really am. Elsie, I am very sorry to you as well. I need to return to my daughters and make sure I give no one a reason to hurt them."

  "You're helping them to kill us," I said.

  "See it however you must." She turned and began to walk away from me.

  "I won't forget this," I said in a low rumble.

  She paused but did not look back at me. "I can't imagine you will. But you have many enemies and I also know you will not bring more ruin upon your people. I will not help your people, but I won't help anyone hurt you either."

  "Don't assume you know what I'll do because you think you know me."

  "Best of luck, Eclipse. I really do hope you survive."

  I squeezed my eyes shut. "I fucking hate politics."

  With Sloane halfway down the hall, Elsie spoke out in a threatening voice. "I won't forget this either."

  Reaching for her, I took her hand and squeezed her tight. "It's time to hide."

  "We'll hide together."

  "I don't think… I can walk anymore…"

  "I'll try to drag you."

  "Just go, Elsie." My eyes slid shut. "Please…" Everything started to fade.

  I tried to jolt up, realizing I'd drifted off, but lacked the energy to even do that.

  Elsie pressed against my shoulders. "It's okay, Ma." She sounded strong and calm even though I saw tears sprinkling her cheeks. "I know what to do. You can let go for now. Rest."

  No. Never. I could never pass out and abandon her. I reached within myself for my power, not even feeling the slightest embers burning. Darkness crept over my view of her. My hand fell limp. Elsie pressed against my wound now, burying her hands in my blood. Pain tore through my heart to see the darkness staining her hands. I never wanted her to experience anything like this.

  "I've got you. Dad will be here soon. It's okay."

  It wasn't okay. I'd failed her so badly she felt like she needed to console me. I wanted to hate myself for it, but I'd been through enough to understand the inevitability of imperfection. Despite doing my best, loving her my best, I couldn't save her from this.

  I at least wanted to stay awake with her.

  "Elsie…"

  Her forehead pressed against mine.

  Hide. I tried to say the words. My lips moved. Nothing came out though. Elsie needed to hide.