Seth launched the ball at me with another wave of magic propelling it. A boom sounded as it hit the shield and my magic fell a heartbeat later, but it had done its job. The ball bounced back and fell harmlessly into the mud with a wet slap. It took me a moment to realise the pitch had quietened. The Heirs were watching me from where they stood. Darius had his foot resting on someone’s back while Caleb was mid-way through choking another player out. Orion’s eyes finally found mine and he looked like he’d just been handed the holy grail.

