Failure was a crushing boulder on someone who seemed to have all the power of the Universe at her disposal. Case in point. I hovered there, clinging to Max's neck with my hands and my magic, heart pounding, head spinning, wondering what the hell was the use of being this megawatt pawn of Creator when a second plane began to crumble.

Oh, hell no. Not this time, not on my watch when I had said magic burning in my veins, begging to be used. Except, ...