Sierra catches my hands and pulls me to her, hushing me as subtle hysteria begins to take over. My lungs constrict in panic at the thought of my adopted mom being out there, among that, fighting her own, getting hurt. Even a scratch, a tiny knock, and it would slice me to a million pieces. I know our lives are bonded but it’s not computing in that way in my brain right now.

“Alora listen to me, you can’t turn…. Your gifts are weaker… I can feel it. I know each day they dwindle more; you can’t hide it from me. I can heal you if anything happens, I can...