Uhrin pushed her hand against her ribs, winching as her fingers encountered the burning agony of her wounds. The darkness surrounding her fluttered faintly, the room dark but restless. Some of the shadows still convulsed in pain, their fluid forms slow and unstable. Mireya's blast had done more damage than Uhrin had anticipated.
"How?" Uhrin clenched her teeth. Mireya had always been steady, never showing signs of unusual strength. Yet somehow, she had unleashed enough force to scorch the very beings that thrived in darkness. Uhrin's thoughts churned. Mireya wasn't meant to be this powerful.
"You shouldn't have pushed her," one of the shadows growled from the corner. Its voice was cracked, strained from the abuse it had suffered.
"I didn't know she'd fight back like that," Uhrin grumbled bitterly. She stared at her injured companions, shadows that had followed her faithfully. They were suffering because of her misstep. Mireya's magic had flared brighter and fiercer than any witch Uhrin had encountered in years.
Her power... Uhrin's gaze darkened. Could she have been hiding it all this time?
She shook the thought away. It didn't matter. Whatever strength Mireya had discovered, Uhrin knew she couldn't let her uncover the truth—not about the shadows' plans, not about what she plans on doing to the coven.
"Rest," she commanded the wounded shadows. "I'll make sure that she goes nowhere far."
Uhrin's breathing was shallow as she slumped back on the cold wall. Mireya's power may have been unexpected, but she wasn't invincible. Uhrin would find her again.
And this time, she wouldn't underestimate her.
Uhrin's mind became more focused as her eyes closed. She would follow Mireya's every move as soon as she was strong enough to move, follow her every step, and attack before Mireya could find what she was looking for.
"She won't see me coming."