She blocked me. Of course she did. But that didn't keep me from attacking her again.
And again.
And again.
The power I released ricocheted around the room, hitting the walls, the slab, passing through Alison, reverbing back from Max as he protected himself.
Can you help me? I threw my need at him, heard him grunt.
I will feed you what I can, he sent. But right now I am the only one keeping this house from collapsing.
Crap. Never mind, I sent. And thank you.
Let Max go. Focused on Ameline. Panted a little as I pulled back, felt her for weakness. There had to be weakness. Just look at her. But no, nothing. Not a hint of a way through the shields surrounding her.
No matter the power she expended, she had accessed the magic of the chamber. When I tried to tap into it myself, the same shielding blocked me, the reason, I understood now, for its sadness.
Thanks to the magic she hoarded behind her wards, we were equal.