Molly is back in minutes, bringing the scent of house fire. I smell it before she appears from behind the tree she used for discretionary dressing. “Scratch the hour,” she backpedals. “We have five minutes.”

“You need to go hide,” Matthew barks.

Before I can argue, they’re all agreeing with them.

I firm my shoulders. “No.”

“Sheyla, you have bigger battles to face than this one,” Matthew asserts.

We weren’t supposed to be discussing my Sheelin solo mission before the battle. My glower is pure ice. It’s the only thing cold about me. My fire is rampaging in preparation to fight alongside my friends. It won’t be sidelined.

“I didn’t tell them.”

“We already know,” Ryan says quietly. “We were waiting to hear it from you but have known for a while.”

“We understand,” Declan adds, “and you need to understand how important it is for you to sit this one out.”

Accepting ownership of my role in what’s coming is why I can’t do what they’re asking. I’m not hiding and letting them fight my fight for me, even if they did suggest it to ensure my final battle against the Tribunal. If I ever hope to stand on my own, we need to stand on even ground.

“I’m not hiding,” I state resolutely. “If I’m not fighting, no one’s fighting.”

I’m the reason they’re coming. Honestly, if I thought for even a second they’d settle for taking me out, I’d sacrifice myself to save my friends, but the Rebels wouldn’t be satisfied by my death. They’re power hungry. Without Tayte keeping them in line, nothing is stopping them from seeking that power in the only way they know how. The collective Rebel Army is feeling the same thing—desire, greed, and destruction. There’s no talking them down. Mob mentality is truly terrifying, and that’s when it hits me. An idea.

Can I succeed? It’ll require patience and perfect timing. Tayte 2.0 with less death. Zero death is my preference.

I’m not strong enough to take all their energy into myself. I won’t survive, but maybe I don’t have to take it all. I could take a smidge from each of them and open up the channel for return, like with Tayte. If I can direct the blast, I can protect everyone else from the fireworks about to fly. I don’t want them getting burnt in the process.

“I have an idea.”

Connor lifts a doubtful brow. My strategizing generally leaves something to be desired. “What’s the plan?”

“You have to trust me. You need to give me a bit of breathing room.”

“I don’t like it,” he objects sternly.

“You don’t even know what it is.”

“That makes me like it even less.”

“We need to get them huddled,” I call to him.

He doesn’t have time to argue. “Okay.”

“Then we’re taking them all down at once.” Akantha’s at my side in an instant.

“How?” Connor isn’t convinced. “We can’t all attack at once, not if they’re that close together. People will get caught in the crossfire.”

“Withdraw your team,” I instruct.

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He balks. “You’ll be sitting ducks.”

“Exactly the point,” I agree. “Barry, wrap them in a Giant Bear Hug.” Barry’s been working on controlling his shield. He can wrap it around people now.

“Strategy isn’t your thing,” Connor reminds me. Yeah, that reminder is warranted.

“I’m trying something new,” I offer.

“I trust you,” he murmurs.

“I’m glad one of us does.”

“Fall back,” he commands.

As he motions them all away, I stand in the middle of an open area about a hundred feet from the Amazon treehouse with Akantha next to me. The waiting is the worst. Minutes feel like an eternity. The area around us is deadly silent like nature is holding her breath. It sickens me that all their hard work could go up in smoke, but they can rebuild. I’ll help them rebuild if I’m able.

She takes hold of my hand. “What can I do to help?” She’s ready to stand right at my side regardless of what it means for her safety.

“Give me all the juice you’ve got.”

The Rebels circle around me like a rabid pack of dogs. They’re hungry for my fear. It’s what feeds their hatred.

“Well, look at this,” Alexandria chirps. “I didn’t expect you to make it so easy.”

I let Akantha’s energy spread inside me. I need every ounce she can spare. “Who said anything about making it easy?”

“If you think sacrificing yourself will save your friends, you’re wrong,” Cathain informs me. “We haven’t come all this way just to rid the world of the dumpster fire that’s you.”

“I kind of figured.”

I feel the sting of her power when Alexandria points at me, the one where she alters the temperature of the blood running through my veins.

“Now,” I order Akantha. “I need all you have. Now!”

A steady increase follows the initial surge. I hold it for as long as I can. Simultaneously, I siphon energy from everyone, starting with Alexandria, who graciously gave me access. My body is a hot air balloon, filling until I’m utterly saturated. Then, I pop, releasing my fiery fuel in a giant burst. It blows out in a circle, targeting the channels I created by drawing in their power, just as I did with Tayte. The difference is that I’m prepared for the return and, therefore, able to control it. Sort of.

Targets locked successfully? Check. Heat-seeking missiles launched? Check. Targets immobilized but not incinerated? Check. Surprise, surprise, the hit is still somewhat problematic. An eye of the beholder type hit. Bright side: the Rebels aren’t destroyed by my incendiary release. We get that part right. Yay team! Dim side: my fire is still on a decimation warpath. Not the person. Nope, it doesn’t want the person. What does it want? The magic in that person. It cuts the threads connecting their human and elemental status. In a flash, my fire fuel eradicates their Sumair specialties. Total. Rebel. Reversion.

“What did you do?!” Cathain shrieks, throat hugging me.

Of course, the mass reversion won’t stop them from wanting to kill me. Just like killing me won’t stop them from wanting to kill my friends. They’re too enveloped in the cause to let a touch of humanity dissuade them.

Akantha takes hold of Cathain’s hands, separating them from my throat. “No more of this.”

Alexandria isn’t in any condition to support her sister. She’s mumbling incoherently and walking around in a circle. In truth, they’re all a little lost. You know what’s tough? Peopleing. Just being a regular person. That’s tough.

“You could’ve used those gifts,” Cathain seethes. “You wasted them.”

“I didn’t want them. I’ve only ever wanted to be free from all this.”

“This isn’t freedom,” she spits. “You’ve left us defenseless.”

“You’re not defenseless, but you’ll have to find something new to fight for if fighting’s that vital.”

My friends come out from behind the trees. Connor gives me a chin lift. They’re cool. I didn’t affect them.

It doesn’t take long for the mob to disperse. Self-preservation was an afterthought when they could back up their efforts. Without that, they don’t stand a chance against us. They leave as quickly as they arrived, Cathain and Alexandria lagging behind them.

I’m feeling on the heavy side of hypocritical. I’ve been downright preachy about not imposing my views on people, but the Rebels had to be eliminated as a threat. While it was an invasion of the basic principle of personal choice, they’re alive. I didn’t kill them. None of us were harmed. Point to me on a great outcome despite it making me a hypocrite.

I want to jump up and down and do an awkward victory dance, but it’s only one small victory, and I still have the final battle to fight. Before I take off to fight it, there are some goodbyes to endure…and a promise to keep.

Tally’s standing next to Barry, holding his hand. “Ready to cash in your rain check?”

Smiling, she shakes her head.

“You changed your mind?”

“No, I just shouldn’t be the one to go first.”

“What do you mean?”

“There are quite a few of us ready for a change in scenery,” she notes.

No one comes to mind. “Like who?”

“Can we start with me?” Ryan asks quietly.

I let his relief wash through me in a glorious emotional cleansing. It feels good. I’ve finally done something right. Maybe I can do a reverse polarity hat trick. My tinder heart is fully saturated with love. If there ever was a time to attempt a mass inversion, we’re right in the middle of it.