Mind Control

It was too late anyway. Darkstalker’s claw was sliding smoothly across the paper, words falling into place, spelling out the beginning of the end of the world.

“Now,” Darkstalker said to his father. “Stop talking.”

Arctic opened his mouth.

And nothing came out.

“Never use your magic again,” Darkstalker said pleasantly. “Never attack me or my friends ever again. Don’t try to escape.”

Arctic clutched his throat. His tail was lashing like a snake on fire.

“What did you do?” Fathom whispered. On the other side of Darkstalker, Clearsight had her face buried in her talons. He couldn’t tell whether she was crying or planning or spinning herself into the futures to get as far away from now as possible.

“Release Whiteout from the spell you put on her,” Darkstalker went on, ignoring Fathom.

Arctic’s claws reached toward his daughter, although he was clearly trying to fight them. He seized the golden glass shell necklace around her neck, pulled it off, and smashed it.

Whiteout let out a gasp. She shook her head, blinking like mad, then looked around, taking in the scene as if she’d just woken up.

“Oh no,” she cried. “It’s too late. The sand is falling.”

“You’re all right, Whiteout,” Darkstalker said, reaching to take her front talons in his. “I saved you.” She touched his snout gently with hers for a moment, then stepped back.

“I’m grateful to be unfrozen,” she said. “But I’m sorry for winning.”

“Don’t be,” he said. “We both win. We’re going to have the greatest future I can give us. All of us.” He swung his head to include Fathom and Clearsight, then rolled his eyes at the expressions on their faces. “Calm down. I saved the day. It was amazing, didn’t you notice?”

“Let me see,” Clearsight said, holding out her talons.

Darkstalker shrugged and slid his scroll toward her. Fathom stepped around him and read the spell over her shoulder.

He’d known what it would say. It was clear from what he’d seen in front of him.

But still, seeing the words in black and white …

Enchant Arctic the IceWing to obey my every command.

Darkstalker C28