Shedra's head snapped high.
Blood-red light flickered violently in her eyes as her massive body thrashed against the ground. Purplish-red breath surged up, trying to force the white energy out—only to be crushed back again and again the moment it touched the lightning.
The white sphere pushed all the way into her brain.
Ethan let go.
Shedra's tail dropped with a heavy slam. The half-formed attack in her mouth scattered at the same time. Purplish-red power leaked between her teeth, leaving only a few scorched grooves on the ground before fading.
Far off, Velmira was still catching the tiny crawlers the shockwave had thrown.
She cradled the last few larvae on her thin wings and carefully set them back on the ground—but she hadn't missed the moment Ethan stuffed that energy sphere into Shedra's head.
All the eyes on her wings tightened at once.
Velmira opened her mouth, ready to call every insect into one final swarm.
She didn't get a sound out.
