The wind is a soft caress against my skin, but it does nothing to cool the heat simmering beneath the surface. Sweat trickles down the back of my neck as I stand in the middle of the field, eyes closed, fists clenched at my sides. Nyx is pacing in my mind, her presence a steady, grounding force.
“Try again,” she urges, her voice soft but firm. “You’re overthinking it. Just feel it, Sadie.”
I take a deep breath, releasing it slowly as I focus inward, searching for the power coursing beneath my skin—the powerful essence that I’m supposed to command. But instead of reaching that power, my mind flashes to Alec.
I squeeze my eyes shut, pushing his image away and try to focus. I refuse to let my mind wander when I should be focusing on getting this right.
“Breathe.” Nyx’s voice is firm but g
