Valindra collapsed to the ground. She was encased in a pale golden cocoon of light like a moth trapped in amber.

Her stunning features had frozen mid-expression, caught between shock, fury, and disbelief. Only her dimming eyes held a last flicker of awareness. Her gaze was locked onto Dustin, who was swaying on his feet, with his sword as the only thing keeping him upright.

It didn't make sense to her. She commanded the earth element, and inside Immortal Palace, that power should have made her