Chapter 22 The Price Of Power

• The moment stretched like a blade's edge between heartbeats. Lord Cassius held the bone artifact aloft, his finger poised to activate the binding that would turn my power against everyone in the hall.
• Around us, the chaos of battle continued—steel ringing against steel, screams of the wounded, the acrid smell of magical energy burning the air.
• But in that crystalline instant of decision, I felt something I hadn't expected: Prince Aldric's consciousness touching mine through our soul-bond. He was awake, aware, and furious.