He made his choice in that split second of realization.
Instead of beating his wings to raise himself up higher, he spread his wings, staring Zane fearlessly in the eye as he shielded Chiara with his body.
Jared, no! she shouted through the bond.
He could feel her fear and her terror come flooding through the golden light that tied their hearts together—and he could feel her love for him. Like a great wave of warmth, it broke over him, streaming through his veins so that her golden light mingled with the silver brightness that had taken possession of him.
And then the light flared.
It felt as if a star exploded.
Light burst out of him. It was impossible to contain it all. It exploded out of his beak as his griffin cried out in defiance; it shone out of his eyes; it illuminated his feathers and his claws and every single golden hair of his lion’s fur.
He was light. He was power.
And he wasn’t alone.
Next to his light, two further jets of brilliant white had appeared.
Now, before him, he saw three lines of light, shining so brightly that they seemed to burn themselves into his eyes.
Three lines of light—coming from a triangle formed by him and the two griffin statues, which had suddenly come to life.
Their combined light hit Zane with its full force. In its blinding luminance, the darkness he had breathed out burned away like paper.
When their attack hit him, Zane screamed in rage. For a moment, the remaining shadows surrounding him writhed, covering his scales with the oily darkness that had once seemed so invincible.
Now, faced with the force of their light, it retreated as quickly as rats scurrying away. Trapped in their light, Zane twisted, his tail lashing back and forth as he convulsed in agony.
One final time, his black eyes staring straight at Jared, he parted his jaw.
But the shadows that came out never even reached Jared. Like smoke, they vanished in the glaring light with a terrible scream that rattled the crystal cave. Then Zane screamed as well, a sound of helpless, powerless rage.
And the light they were shooting at him began to grow and grow, until it formed a ball that surrounded him.
For a moment, it grew so brilliant that they couldn’t see Zane anymore.
And then, as suddenly as it had appeared, the power that had filled Jared nearly to bursting began to loosen its hold on him.
Little by little, the light burning in his heart was dimming.
A moment later, the lance of light he’d shot at Zane was gone. At long last, Jared’s muscles gave out, leaving him tumbling to the floor.
He felt exhausted and sore, as if he’d used muscles he never even knew existed. His wings ached as if he’d flown for an entire day.
Behind his eyes, he could still see the burning lines of light they’d used to entrap Zane. They formed a triangle—a triangle giving off three straight lines.
Just like the amulet he’d worn when he was found as a baby.
Just like the symbol on the mysterious fifth plinth in the council of elements.
It still didn’t quite make sense—but Chiara was safe for now. That was all that mattered.
Jared shifted back as soon as he hit the ground, and she was by his side immediately. Together, they stared at where the ball of light was still shining brightly, covering Zane.
And then that light died away too, little by little, as gently as the setting of the sun.
The body of Zane was left behind. He was still breathing, but unconscious.