"Leave her alone!" Laeddin's voice pierced through my soul. My heart pricked with pain. My genie was the Unknowns' prisoner. I almost spoke his name, but I covered my mouth - or tried to. The Unknowns didn't know I could hear them. I was at an advantage because I knew their plan. They wanted me dead so they could start over. I wouldn't let that happen. Somehow I would get back to my body. I would save Laeddin and everyone else. As Joanna said, it was my destiny and had been since the day I was created. "The genie wants to fight back," the male said, interrupting my thoughts. "How amusing." "I know what to do about him - about all of them," the female said. Laeddin, I cried out in my mind, desperate. "Can the girl hear us?" the male asked, surprise in his voice. "That isn't possible," the female responded. But it was. I wanted to rub that in their faces. But all at once, there was a whoosh and I was immediately back in my body. Hands rested on my shoulders and my head lay on some

I closed my eyes, trying to sense the bond, but detecting nothing. "No," I admitted. Christopher had believed we were meant to be together. Now Laeddin might be tied to me forever. Where did that leave Troy and me? Suddenly, being free of Laeddin was the only thing that mattered and I blurted out the words, "I wish you free. You are no longer required to serve me, genie of the lamp." I was proud of the way I worded my wish. But as soon as the words left my mouth, I realized my selfishness. I didn't want him to be my servant, but I needed him to help me defeat Sharra.His eyes grew big. He knew my mistake too. "Why?" he asked. Nothing could be done as the black tribal tattoos around his wrists shimmered a moment before returning to normal. Laeddin's shoulders slouched and he stared at his wrists. "Your wish didn't work." He was astonished but also relieved. "Strange. I don't know what happened. Maybe I'm out of practice. Try another wish, but this time wish for something of value."I

As soon as I was back inside the cave, I sensed something was wrong. Sounds of fighting echoed beyond the exit. Panicked, I yanked open the door just as an elf with long silver hair and empty eyes fell into me, knocking me back so my butt hit the ground. I didn't want to kill anyone else. That was the last thing I wanted to do, but as though on autopilot, my newfound crown powers took over and as I pushed the elf off me, white lightning danced across my fingertips and into her body. She disintegrated instantly. What. The. Hell!But I didn't have time to contemplate what happened as another elf came at me. I rushed to my feet and put out my hands, revealing my fangs as he came for me. Again, white lightning lit my hands and the elf disintegrated. Was it because they were elves coming after me, or was it because I was in danger? I glanced around, preparing for more. The remaining akuma were occupied with Joanna and her League of Huntsmen. The battle was intense. A troll fough

As soon as I arrived in the Hollow, the hot air caressed my skin like flames on cooking meat. I wrapped my arms around myself, working to get my bearings. The sky was dark, and I had a moment of fear - perhaps Pops was wrong and Sharra's powers reached here as well - until I noticed the pinks and oranges in the distance. The sun was rising. A shiver of joy touched my heart. Light was coming and that filled me with hope. I took a step forward and something crunched under my boot as my shin cracked against something sharp. "Ow." I glanced down and discovered the ground was made of sticks, several of which were jabbing into me. "Where am I?" I knew I was in the Hollow, but where specifically? The thick twined sticks were woven together but that gave me no indication. Lifting myself up onto the wall of twigs, I peered over the side. A wave of dizziness sent my head spinning. Below and across the expanse as far as I could see stretched an unending valley filled with craggy hills, some much

Lirle took to the air, her attention on the direction where the sound came from. Her whole body trembled. "You're frightened. What is it?" I asked, fighting my own nerves. Lirle's eyes bore into mine and her terror shone brightly as she said: We're too late. The Ondror's magic is upon us. Listen carefully. A dragon's magic comes from the soul. Our greatest weapon is using the weaknesses of our enemy against them by showing them what they fear most. She flew over to the stream before coming back to me and pointing with one claw. Lirle asked: Do you see the soul magic coming?I followed her gaze and squinted until I saw the blackness, traveling like a deadly mist through the trees, and heading right for us. "Can we outrun it?" She shook her head and said: No. It's everywhere. She spun in a circle and I followed her. Lirle was right. It was coming from every direction, like we had a homing beacon on us. She met my gaze and said: You see? Whatever happens, whatever you experience o