There was a great sucking whoosh inside my head. White spots danced and spiraled in front of my eyes. Ari's heartbeat was joined by a sparking noise. A clicking sound like a lighter not quite catching.

My chest constricted. I was blinded by the white filling my vision. The clicking morphed into the explosion of a single spark, so loud it deafened, so tangible it snapped my head forward. My magic burst free wrapping my body like barbed wire. A million agonizing bites tore into my ...