The shadow creature's claws raked across my shoulder before I could dodge. Pain exploded through my body—real, physical pain that my depleted cosmic powers could not simply erase.

"Lyra!" Prince Rhett moved to cover me, his blade cutting through the creature with precision that came from years of training I had not yet witnessed. "Fall back!"

"No." I gritted my teeth against the agony and channeled what little remained of my power. "If I retreat now, Kael and Darius will think I am weak. ...