Lena didn't wait for permission.
Viktor's hand was still on her throat when she slammed her elbow into his ribs. It did nothing to a vampire king… except make him blink.
That second was all she needed. She twisted out of his grip and yanked the artifact from her bag.
"Aunt Adara said it needs sacrifice!" she yelled, blood already dripping from the cut on her palm. "So take mine!"
"LENA, NO!"
Arian's voice cracked. He was already running, but he was too late.
She pressed her bleeding hand to the sphere.
The artifact didn't glow. It _screamed_. A sound like glass and thunder. Light tore out of Lena — from her eyes, her mouth, her veins — and slammed into Viktor.
It didn't kill him. It crucified him to the air. He hung there, snarling, pinned by light.
And then the light turned on Lena.
It started eating her from the inside out.
Arian caught her as her knees gave out. She was burning up.
"You're killing yourself," he said, voice breaking.
She smiled, tired. "I'm giving you a chance. Take it, Arian."