The mandrake makes the mistake of grabbing Mia. It doesn't know this is a mistake but it will.

As swift as she can, she grasps the root-tendril holding her in both of her hands. Fire flares up from her fingers, the flames lacing her body without consuming her. The mandrake isn't as lucky.

"Put me down," she says firmly, almost as if she were addressing the plant she keeps outside her window who does much the same thing to trespassers.