"She's a walking disaster," Isolde continued, watching Mira's reactions with satisfaction, feeding on her fear.
"That power inside her is poison. Every time she uses her magic, every time she lets that fire rise, it damages her core further. Cracks it, weakens it, brings her closer to the moment when it all comes apart."
"You're lying," Mira whispered, but doubt crept into her voice, memories surfacing unbidden.
"Am I?" Isolde's smile widened.
Mira thought about it indeed. The episodes she had witnessed. The very few moments when Eris lost control, when the fire came without her calling it, when she burned too hot and couldn't bring the temperature down. The times Eris collapsed after using too much magic.
No. No, that couldn't be true. Eris was strong, powerful, in control. She'd survived so much, overcome so many obstacles. She couldn't be falling apart. She couldn't be,
But Mira remembered. Gods help her, she remembered.
