Forged Destiny [Book 9: Ch. 14]

"Destroy it from outside!" I snapped, dragging him bodily toward it. "There's no point you dying here. We have Healers who can patch you up. Everything else can wait until later."

"Fool. There won't be a later if the CCT falls to her. This is bigger than me, though not bigger than you." Ironwood gripped my collar and pulled my face close to his. "You can control the Ironwood. It will live on through you. It must!"

He pushed, and I was blown back by a blast of magic. The others too. We slid away as Ironwood fell onto his knees once more. The floor under him rippled and bent, flexing under his power. The walls themselves moved inward. No, they weren't moving. They were growing. The Ironwood was building up and closing in, making the hollow tower solid. He was going to crush everything within it, the Grimm included. Himself included.

"Penny!" he yelled. "This is my last command to you. Remove them from the tower and take them to safety!"

A hand gripped my collar before I could move. Penny's voice was resigned. Sad. "Yes father."

"Ironwood!" I roared, struggling against a grip somehow far stronger than me.

—Forged Destiny [Book 9: Ch. 14]