Get out of my head! She clenched her teeth. You're not real.

Asair chuckled. I'm as real as the boy standing next to you.

Halen teetered on the edge of the armrest, catching Tage's attention.

Tage cocked her head to the side and bit back the piercings on her lip.

Halen studied the print behind Tage to avoid her stare. She thought of colors, composition, the gnarled wood frame—anything to throw Tage off from getting a read on her. But Tage was too smart.

She lunged, grabbing Halen by her arms. "Is he in there?"

Halen's spine stiffened. Why couldn't vanishing be one of her siren powers?

Tage shook her hard. "Answer me!"

"Get off her!" Dax pulled Tage, but she slapped his hand back.

"It's Asair," Tage said. "He's not dead! He's hiding inside Halen."

"Whoa, wait a minute." Ezra scooted to the other side of the couch. "You're still not thinking these fires have anything to do with Asair—really?" He raked his hand through his hair, tugging at the ends.

Halen's breath quickened. Her skin heated with sparks. She had to say something, but guilt and fear blocked the words from rising to her throat.

"I knew it." Tage gripped her hard, interpreting her silence as a confession. 

"Look, I—" Halen started to explain when a blinding ray of light burst through the room. 

Tage let go, shielding her eyes, and Halen leaped from the chair. Peeking between her fingers, she darted across the room. She had to know what was out there. If the fires were because of her—because she hadn't killed Asair—she had to know what she was facing. 

Dax ran to her side. "Get back!"

The sky deepened with clouds, the orange embers fading with the sun, and even though the neon numbers of the clock radio reflected 2:58 p.m. on the windowpane, the sky turned pitch black. 

They stood in silence, peering into the void. Dax leaned closer. His chest rose and fell, keeping time with her rapid heartbeat.

"Look there!" Ezra pointed.

Halen followed his gaze. A swirling ring of fire crowned the darkness. The ring swelled in diameter, undulating with a rippling force. Transfixed on the center, a shadowy form swaying from side to side drew her attention. She pressed her sparking fingers against the warming glass; the thrumming sound of the beating pulse vibrated along her arms.

Silver wings flashed, swishing past, narrowly missing the pane.

"Dragon!" Dax dragged her away from the window.

She clamored for a better view, catching sight of the beast between the loop of the wooden armrest.

The beast's muscled body rippled with a mosaic of onyx and silver scales. Its enormous copper eyes gleamed with the encompassing flames. Blistered wounds punctured the creature's head; bloodied scales peeled back from its hide when the dragon's nostrils flared. As its wings thrashed the air, the dragon's body jerked violently as if a thousand swords plunged through its flesh.

A stag.

A boy.

A river of blood.

Three blurred images flashed before her eyes with each beat of the dragon's wings. 

Filled with an inexplicable yearning to connect with the beast, to glide her fingers along the torn scaled hide, caress the pitted bone of its horns, her fingertips sparked. Her bones ached; her muscles throbbed as she reached out. "We need to help it." 

"Help?" Ezra's voice was a shriek. "It wants to eat us!"

Flames shot from the fiery circle as lightning struck the sky. The beast's jaw spread with a crippling howl, cracking the windowpane like a fissure in ice. A second pained cry escaped the dragon's breath as the ring of flames cinched shut, stealing the beast and leaving nothing more than pillows of smoky clouds drifting in the charred sky.

Ezra tucked his legs to his chest, rocking back and forth. "Holy freaking dragon! We're all going to die!"

Tage jumped to her feet, grabbed a hoodie, and shoved it into a backpack. "We have to get the hell out of here. We need help."

Dax nodded. "I'll call my dad."

"Daspar?" Halen asked. "You have a way to contact them? I need to speak to my mom." Her mom had trapped a Hunters' soul. Maybe she knew how to get one out. If she could fix this before...  

"Halen, what gives?" Tage asked.

"What do you mean?" She shrank back from her accusing stare.

"I have a hard time believing this has nothing to do with Asair." Tage shook her water bottle at Dax. "This is your fault. You said he was dead!"

Halen wrung her hands. She glanced at the door, wondering if she could make it across the room before Tage pounced. 

Dax rubbed the back of his neck. "I watched him die," he said, though his eyes held that familiar look of doubt. "Besides, I don't feel his presence in her. There has to be another explanation."

Tage shot Halen a pointed stare.

Ezra stepped in front of Tage. "Let it go. Asair's dead. The Tari were wrong about everything. Killing Asair made things worse."

"That's for sure." Tage shoved a pair of socks in her backpack, dropping her inquisition, but Halen felt she still didn't believe. 

A bass beat boomed from the desk and Halen was thankful for the interruption.

Dax snatched the cell phone and answered. "Hello? Yeah, we saw it. Yes, she's fine."

"Is it my mom?" Halen leaned closer so she could hear the voice on the other end.

Dax stepped back. "Are you sure?" His brows furrowed. "No, I can get us there. I'll call you when we get there." He ended the call.

"What is it?" Halen asked. "What's happening?

"Our parents are traveling with Tasar and Lina. The spell still binds Etlis in flames. Whatever happened in Asair's dimension accelerated the heat. The fires are bursting into our atmosphere. The dragons are trying to escape."

"This is the beginning of the end," Ezra moaned.

"Did Asair tell you something when you were in his dimension?" Tage asked. "Did he say something before he died—anything about the fires?"

"He wanted—" She clasped her bracelet, tracing the tiny etchings. Asair had teased her with his charms as he eyed the silver band. He had vengeance in his heart. And she feared the price Earth would pay. He had to die or the fires would never stop. She needed to talk to her mom—immediately. "He didn't say anything that would help."

"Just great," Tage huffed. "We're no farther along than when we started." 

Halen walked toward the window once more. When her fingertips connected with the fractured glass, her magick sparked and the dragon's dying song rang in her ears.

A boy.

A stag.

A river of blood.

The images wavered across the window like reflections drifting across a rippling pond. She withdrew her hand at once, flinching when Dax stepped beside her, fearful he could see them too. She glanced up to see his gaze instead focused in the distance, where flames danced across the water, skipping along the waves.

"The liquibrium is combusting," he said.

"What?" Tage and Ezra asked in unison.

"Technically, the liquid shouldn't overheat, but we've never faced dragons before." He shook his head. "Earth's entire water supply will ignite in flames if we don't find a way to cool Etlis down or open the portal."

Release your Guardian, Asair whispered through the crevices of her mind.

Halen gritted her teeth at the sound of his voice. Never!

Surrender your power to me and Earth will be spared.

Get out of my head! She crouched with her hands over her ears.

"What's wrong?" Tage crossed the room. "It's him, isn't it?"

Dax shoved Tage back so hard she fell against the desk. "No one is touching her."

"I wouldn't hurt her, you idiot!" Tage rubbed her elbow. "I was thinking her mom could perform a purge. Corinne knows how."

Halen rose. Her mom could remove Asair.

"Even if he was inside her, a purge is out of the question. Do you know what happens when a soul gets ripped out of someone?" Dax asked.

"What?" A sinking feeling came over Halen.

"You could lose your mind. I've seen it happen before. If the other soul is forced to leave, it won't be pretty."

"Not pretty how?" Halen swallowed hard.

The phone rang before Dax could answer her. "It's Lina," he whispered.

Halen followed, hoping to hear the conversation on the other end, but Dax turned away from her so Lina's voice came out garbled.

"I see." He ended the call.

"What?" Tage asked.

"They're coming here." He pinched the bridge of his nose. "My dad, your mom, Lina, and Tasar; they're on their way."

"What's wrong?" Halen touched his arm.

"The shifters are restless. They want to go home. With Etlis still burning, there's doubt surrounding Asair's death. And since many don't know you..." He placed his hand over hers. "They want proof." Halen's stomach knotted—proof was her life.

"How long before they arrive?" Tage asked.

"They'll be here shortly." He withdrew his hand from hers. "But we have another problem." "What?" Halen feared the answer.

"Hunters were spotted in the Redwood Forest, near the portal to Etlis. Since Daspar has Otho's soul, Lina believes they followed them. If we can't get out in time, we need to prepare."

"I'll cast a protection spell." Tage rubbed her hands together.

"I'll help," Halen said.

"No. Magick drains you," Dax said. "Let's get some food in you—if the kitchen is even open. You'll need your strength if we have to run."

Food? How could he possibly think of eating? "My magick is our best defense."

"Not if we have to carry you out of here." Tage poked the pillows on the couch. "Damn. Foam. Feathers would have been perfect to bind the spell."

Surrender, Asair whispered. We'll be stronger as one. I can end the flames.

Liar. You're the reason Etlis is burning. If you think for one second I would let you—You need me, he interjected.

Halen dug her nails into her palms. I don't need you. I'm powerful enough. Her legs trembled as she fought to keep her footing. Her energy waned and her head throbbed each time he spoke.

Have it your way.

A dead silence washed through her as if Asair had simply given up and left. She feared his compliance. What if she really needed him? What if surrendering was the only way to save the realms? A sinking feeling clutched her bones. What if she just turned away their only hope of surviving?