Page 101 of Truthfinder’s Promise

“No, she has to take it off. She’s wearing the damn crown of Solomon. It’s amplifying her power and her Aspect’s in a feedback loop with it. If anyone but her tries to remove it, they will interrupt that loop. In all likelihood, the backlash will kill whoever that is. Think of it like trying to shut off electricity by grabbing onto a power line with your bare hands. You die, and the electricity’s still on.”

“So what do you suggest?”

“Get her to remove it voluntarily.”

“How?”

“Get through to her,” was Jace’s oh-so-helpful advice.

“Again, how?”

“You could try kissing me.” The trickle of Aspect still spilling from Meredith shut off.

Jace and Jensen spun toward her. She’d crossed her arms beneath her chest and she looked amused.

“It always works in the movies. Whenever the power-crazy person is on the brink of destroying everything she loves, the hot guy kisses her and it fixes everything.”

Jace gaped at her. “You’re wearing the crown of Solomon. He wore it once and couldn’t take it off. Drove half of his constituents insane.”

“Solomon was a lightweight. Historians estimate him as a high-mid-level Truthfinder at best. If I hadn’t bungled my test on purpose, you’d know I rank high-high, and my control is off the charts.” She lifted the crown off her head and held it out to Jace, who took it like it was an adder that might bite. Despite her calm words, she watched it go with something like longing on her face. “But just in case, maybe lock it up somewhere I don’t know about.”

She turned to Jensen. “It won’t save the world from me, but I could use that kiss.”