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RYANDALTON

blues and reds. A dome of ‹re encased them, punctuated by
long spikes of ice jabbing out in all directions. Malcolm could
hear electrical arcs as lightning jumped from spike to spike.
“Back away, toward the doors,” Valentine said.
They followed her, the protective dome rolling along the
£oor with them.
“Nicely done,” Asha whispered, then leaned back to give
Malcolm a peck on his lips.
Despite the situation, his cheeks warmed. He noticed now
how snugly her body was pressed against his. Focus, man!
“We’re at the doors now,” Valentine said. “When I tell you,
drop to your knees and give me an ice dome.”
Malcolm nodded. Just a few more steps and they emerged
into the gigantic entry hall. Valentine counted to three.
“Now!”
Malcolm fell to his knees, arms wrapped around Asha.
Concentrating, he tossed up a second dome made entirely of
thick ice, shielding them from the dome his sister had created.
Valentine knelt with them.
Her dome exploded like a bomb. The throne room doors
ripped to pieces and the frames came tumbling down, blocking
the opening with piles of debris.
“Run!” she yelled.
Malcolm’s dome shattered, Asha sheathed her blades, and
they sprinted across the entry hall while angry shouts echoed
from the throne room. As they burst through to the grounds
outside, what seemed like hundreds of Everwatch citizens stared
in alarm.
Asha ignored them. “This way.”
She sprinted, leading the twins across the vast grounds until
they reached a familiar path through a familiar grouping of trees.

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