King Tiberon watched Serena step into the center of Hyran's small arena.
He was about to send this girl to a war summit without his son, surrounded by Alpha Kings who would smell her weaknesses before she sat down.
She had better be as good as Hyran claimed. For all their sakes.
"Let's see what we're working with," Hyran said, arms crossed.
Sixteen pairs of eyes were studying Serena. No pressure. Just a casual demonstration in front of the King, his Master Mage, the High General and Beta of Drakenfell, and everyone else who mattered.
She closed her eyes, finding Velkaris's energy, and the Hidden Flame mark burned hot against her skin.
She held out her palm and winced.
Fuck.
Fire exploded from her hand with the subtlety of a battering ram through a stained glass window.
It hit the far wall with a deafening roar, scorching a black streak across the stone.
She stopped immediately, upon seeing Hyran's look of horror.
