I brush away the fire with one hand, contempt for the woman before me burning harsher than any blaze she can send my way. She staggers a little, eyes huge as her power is deflected.

"Zoe." She holds out one hand to me, face morphing from shock to the old arrogance I'm so used to. But her fear is palpable now, and I wonder if she's always been afraid of me. "You can't believe a word that woman told you."

"And yet," I say as I descend from the altar and approach the woman ...