What would my father have thought about the defeat? I asked myself, once I got into my bedroom. I mentally substituted myself out there with Elena and I could see her blacking out from that one punch Lucas gave me. I used to beat her. My powers were stolen by her and I could not see myself being the useful person I once was. I went over to my duffel bag and emptied its contents on my bed. Every book I had had nothing to say about stealing another witch’s power, talked more about regaining a power that had been stolen.

Of what good is my hybrid form now? Father...