Maya's POV

I did it. I stopped it.

I’m still not sure how, I just knew I had to. The moment the arrow flew toward us, I understood that no one else could save us. It had to be me. And somehow, it was.

The ice arrow shattered against the invisible shield I raised, the pieces scattering at our feet like shattered glass. My mother had not held back, she had meant it as a real threat. But I had protected both myself and Lauren.

I think my mother might have been even more excited than I was. She ...