I feel numb. I can hear everything and everyone around me, but I can’t talk. Hearing the news of Kayla being captured tore me apart. She is the last person I wanted to bring into this crazy life. It’s not fair. She shouldn’t have to suffer just because she knows me. I’m willing to turn myself in for her freedom, but of course, my warriors won’t allow that.

I do understand their worries and reasoning, but don’t they know it’s my fault it happened? I feel like I’m having an out-of-body experience. My eyes are closed, and I’m trying to focus on Jolie’s voice as she tells me a story in an attempt to help me to forget just for a moment.

Time seems to be passing in a blur, and I’m now lying in bed. Looking to my right, I find Jolie resting next to me.

“What have I done, Jolie?” I ask, my voice cracking.

Her arms are suddenly around me. “You haven’t done anything, Dara. Kayla is going to be fine, do you hear me?”

I want to believe her, but there’s still this voice at the back of my mind telling me it’s not going to end well.

“I hope you’re right.”

“Have I ever been wrong before?”

I shake my head, not having the energy to continue to talk out loud.

“Listen to me, Dar, Kayla is going to be fine. Alaric will make sure of it. We need all your thoughts and energy on Topaz.”

I nod my head then feel myself drifting off.

I jolt awake to the sound of my door closing. The bed dips, and I’m pulled into a hard body. I look up into Harlan’s deep brown eyes, searching for the courage I need to get my shit together. I don’t back down at the sign of a challenge. I’m wasting precious time by lazing around and feeling sorry for myself. I need to be strong for Kayla and for everyone in Silvia. Pushing the bad thoughts aside, I wind my arms around Harlan’s neck, pulling him flush against my body.

He whispers in my ear, “You have this, Dara, and we will be here for you through it all. You’ll never be alone. Now, pull yourself together. I want my strong, take-no-shit princess back.”

I give him a small smile, finally ready to face what today brings.

After a quick shower together, we go to the kitchen. Oliver is cooking up something delicious. He looks up from the frying pan and offers me a smile. I have an overwhelming desire for affection today, so I make my way up to him and bring my arms around his waist.

I feel Blair embrace me from behind, and I close my eyes, sighing gently as I enjoy my twin sandwich. Declan clears his throat, breaking our moment.

“Sorry to interrupt, Dara, but we need to talk about Kayla’s situation.”

At the sound of my best friend’s name, I whirl around to face Declan. “What news do you have?”

His eyes dart to Blair and Oliver before returning to my face. “We think it’s best that we leave her rescue to Alaric,” he says carefully.

“What? Why can’t we go with my initial idea of turning myself in for Kayla?” I demand. “We could trick James and both get out of there. That way Alaric isn’t compromised,” I plead, hating the fact that Alaric is risking so much for me.

Blair tells me, “No, Dara. That’s not going to happen. This plan is the best we can do. That way we don’t waste any more time retrieving Topaz and Kayla will get out. Alaric will make sure of it. Just… trust us. Please?”

Putting my head in my hands, I let out a huge sigh. Deep down, I know this is the best strategy we have, but it kills me not knowing if Kayla will get out alive. After a few deep breaths, I lift my head high and smile. “Okay, let’s go fuck shit up.”

We all go down to the training room, stopping in the middle of the mat.

“So, we know what we must do to destroy the wall. It isn’t going to break down easily, my father made sure of that, but our advantage is he knew our strengths. We need to use them together to bring it down.”

Declan steps forward. “Jolie and Dara need to practice the spell that Sam revealed. Harlan, Blair, Oliver and I need to work on our strength together as one. We’ll check on our progress at the end of the day.”

The guys go in one direction, while I follow Jolie into the dome, thinking about my father’s message. I still don’t quite understand how the term ‘let light rise out of darkness’ relates to Topaz, but I guess we’ll find out soon enough.

“Dar, come over here,” Jolie says. She’s in the centre of the space, surrounded by crystals. I join her, sitting with the soles of my feet together.

“We should spend the next hour max relaxing our bodies and getting into the right mindset. That way, when we practice the spell, we’ll be spiritually ready.” I nod. “All right, I want to use a significant crystal today that relates to our mission; Topaz. Of course, this isn’t as strong and powerful as the real one, but it does come from the same family, so it’ll help us get into the right frame of mind.”

At the mention of Topaz, my body becomes alight with excitement, my magic bubbling to the surface and threatening to burst free. Jolie hands me a crystal. I look down at it - the blue is light, yet it sparkles like nothing I’ve seen before. I think I’ve just found my new favourite. Greedily, I want the real Topaz in my hands.

Jolie snaps her fingers in front of my face, breaking the trance.

“Captivating, isn’t it?” she asks.

“I love it.”

She smiles brightly. “I’m more of a ruby girl, but it sure is beautiful. All right, now I’ll place it in between our bodies. Sit with your legs like this.”

I follow her instructions, keeping the soles of my feet touching. We’re sitting so closely that our knees connect, almost creating a circle. She places the stone in the space between us, then she takes my hands in hers.

I close my eyes and try to relax my whole body. I concentrate on my toes, working my way up my body, calming every muscle as I go. When my entire body is tranquil, Jolie squeezes my hands, telling me we’re ready to start working on the spell. Opening my eyes, I’m met with Jolie’s beautiful green ones.

“Now that we’re both in the right mindset, we need to practice that spell. I want you to bring forward your magic and have it ready to use.” She gestures to a rock wall set up to one side of the dome. “On that.”

I pull myself up off the ground and join Jolie in front of the wall. Looking at it closely, I discover it looks similar to the one in the cave. I glance at Jolie, waiting for her to give her order.

“You can take charge for once, Dara. You know what we need to do. You’ve had enough practice in the past several weeks. Start taking the lead like you used to.”

When I shake my head, she sighs then says, “I know everything that happened with Blair has taken its toll on you, but enough is enough. Put on your big girl panties and be yourself again - that tough-arse, sassy bitch we have come to love so much.”

I’m stunned by Jolie’s words. I know deep down she’s is right. I do need to pull my shit together. This is exactly the kick up the butt that I need. I lift my head up high and crack my knuckles. “Let's kick some arse.”