They were one and the same. The Sky Gods’ gifted ability. Devenish untainted magic, and my ancestors had to realize that. Right?
After a few seconds, I began to win the battle just like I had the first time—except the first time the crown had also connected, which meant they were fighting much harder now.
My muscles finally relaxed, my head lowered, and the glow dimmed, showing the terrified faces of Evanna and my mentor glancing back at me. It appeared they expected my head to explode at any moment.
“I’m fine. I’m in control,” I assured, extending my free hand towards Evanna.
Doubtful, she glanced down at the leather satchel she held, and then back to me. “Perhaps you should reconsider. You just survived an attack, Brax; you need rest.”
“I agree with the princess. All the pieces of the Anima Crystallum together are eons of collected power, and you—”
“I have to at least try,” I interjected. “If I can’t master my own magic in time, then this is our last hope so I can become the Supreme Wizard needed to go against Raithian head-to-head. I need to find a way to wield these together in case they are all I have left. You both know that, so stop being protective mothers, and hand me the Dragon Crown.”
Sighing as though she hated me for being right, Evie glared at me and proceeded to open the leather bag.
Every muscle in my being tensed once again, anticipating the onslaught of power that would crash into me the moment I held it. The crown contained the two biggest pieces of my family’s crystal in its eyes, which meant its magic and the subsequent flow of energy would be ten times stronger than anything I’d experienced.
My warning gaze connected with my mentor’s, sending her a silent order to knock me out if anything went even remotely wrong. I wasn’t sure what would happen when my ancestors’ souls sensed me pulling the crown’s magic too, but I guessed we were about to find out.
With a firm nod, she placed a hand on her retractable spear just as Evie slipped her hand into the bag, pulling out the golden crown.
Its crystal eyes ignited that instant, as though the only thing that had truly blocked my energy from it was the fact that it couldn’t “see me,” and that was creepy as fuck.
“Here goes nothing,” I mumbled and gripped the Dragon Crown.
I opened my mouth to speak, or at least I tried, but no sound came out as my body was immediately captured by a wave of immeasurable, overwhelming, and devastating power. There were no words to describe what was happening to me. I hadn’t even put it on, and I could barely breathe.
Transformed into what felt like solid ice, my lungs could no longer expand or contract, unable to filter oxygen for me. All limbs seemed nonexistent; I couldn’t even feel my feet against the hard floor.
My entire being was frozen in place, like it had been when Raithian first took control over me, except this was far, far, FAR worse. Part of me felt suspended mid-air, and at the same time, falling swiftly, deeply, into the bottom of a dark abyss.
Confused and alarmed by what she was witnessing, Imogen took a step closer, her hand gripping the spear. I couldn’t even imagine how all of this looked to them. Risking a glance at Evanna, I realized she was freaking the hell out, and I couldn’t blame her. I would too if this was happening to her.
Gathering all the inner strength I possessed, I slightly shook my head at them. There was no stopping me now. I was going to finish this.
This was my legacy magic. I was born to wield this stone… To wear this crown.
Focusing on that truth, I pushed against the crushing magic, regaining more of my control with each second that passed.
Several moments later, a new breath finally made its way deep into my starved lungs, every inch of my being relaxing when I felt my abilities return. I was regaining control, but there was no doubt in my mind that the stream of power rushing in and out of me from the connected crystals was far more than anyone should ever wield.
Its potency was devastating to the point that it could easily drive someone insane. As it was, I found it hard to focus my thoughts. Still, I fought it with everything I had, overcoming its greatness. With each steeling breath, I regained my full senses and range of motion. Slowly stretching my body, I confirmed it was mine to command once more—even when my cells tingled with magic.
Soon, I felt confident enough to do what I really needed to do with the crown. Wear it. Taking a settling breath, I lifted the golden mask to my head.
“Are you sure you are ready for this?” Evanna asked again before I could put it on. “Maybe you should practice taking control of the crystals’ might a few more times before you wear the crown.”
Cracking my neck to relieve the built tension, I pushed my energy against the sword, ring, and crown at once, reminding them that I was the wielder now. “I can do this, Baby. I’m in control.”
It wasn’t a lie. The more I asserted myself, the more empowered I felt. Maybe my ancestors were able to sense the purity of my inherited magic, ceasing their struggle. Mom had assured they would want to help me; perhaps this meant they actually would.
“Okay.” Evie nodded, taking a settling breath. “I trust you.”
Feeling like myself again—well, like myself but with a shit load of mystical, ancient energy running through me like a live wire—I opened the metallic bands on the back of the crown and placed it on my head.
The face of the Dragon replaced my own.
A shockwave of magic immediately swept over me, and the bands locked on their own around my head. My eyes ignited brighter than they ever had, causing the two large crystals to glow so strongly that it projected from them, bathing Evie and Imogen in shimmery golden light…
And then a hundred chilling voices exploded in my ears, shocking me to the core.
Dropping the sword, my hands flew to my head, trying to wrench the Dragon Crown off me as hot blood trickled from my eardrums to my neck. Even with the sword’s crystals no longer in my hold, it wouldn’t move. The Dragon Crown seemed fused to my face.
The voices grew impossibly jarring against my ripped eardrums, the unnerving sound becoming unbearable.
“Get it off me!” I bellowed, desperately fighting to remove it.
Imogen jumped on me, her hands gripping the horns and tugging while Evie ran out of the room, calling for help. The floor shuddered under my feet, blood slowly soaking my shoulders as it steadily fell.
“It’s doing something to Braxton. We have to get it off him!”
Following Evie’s orders, Asher grasped the bands behind my head, and he, Imogen, and Evie all yanked. Nothing.
When the room shuddered once more, I realized it wasn’t the floor moving under me. I was tumbling, the blood loss affecting my vertigo.
Enough!
A roar exploded from my throat, and my Dragon strength took over, wrenching the crown off my head… and everyone else. The screeching sound of metal ripping echoed around us, though I could barely hear it. Asher and Imogen fell against the ground, my arms catching Evanna before she could hit herself.
The Dragon Crown hurled across the room, plunging horns first into the stone wall from the force.
Heart thundering against my ribcage, I felt my healing instantly come to the surface, restoring my eardrums until no more drops fell on my shoulders.
Evanna’s stunned gaze settled on me, fear and shock engulfing it as she, too, fought to breathe. “Are you alright?”