“You stopped time.” I reached for her hand. “That’s not unstable magic. That’s power. Real power.”
“It’s not just that.” Alice lowered her head. “Something happened with my bracelet.”
I glanced at her bracelet. It looked ordinary enough—two delicate gold strands wound together. Nothing that screamed magic.
“When I came to the Elder Dimension, I only had one strand. A second strand formed after I stopped time. It never happened in my world.”
I studied the bracelet again, trying to see what she saw. The bracelet had changed. Her magic had worked without breaking her apart. And she still couldn’t let herself believe it.
“Alice—”
Caterpillar exhaled a lazy curl of smoke. “You don’t know... what happened.” He let the words hang in the air. “And yet... it happened. Curious, is it not? That one can do a thing without knowing the doing of it?”
I squeezed her hand. “He’s right. You didn’t have to understand it for it to be real. Your magic protected us, Alice. Whether you’re ready to believe that or not.”
Alice shifted uncomfortably. “It wasn’t me. It couldn’t have been.”
“Couldn’t?” One eyebrow arched slowly. “Or shouldn’t?” He poked the fire again. “You stopped arrows mid-flight. You froze soldiers where they stood. You held time itself in your palm.” A long pause. “And you say you don’t know what happened.”
“I didn’t mean to?—”
“Intent.” He waved a hand dismissively. “Such a small word for such a large thing. The question is not whether you meant to, child. The question is... can you do it again?”
“I told you I didn’t do it.” Alice gritted her teeth.
Denial. I recognized it. Sometimes the truth about yourself was harder to swallow than any lie.
I brushed my thumb over her palm. “Then how do you explain it?”
She avoided my gaze and looked into the woods as if there was an answer hidden there. “I can’t.”
“If you’re wondering about our heading,” Chester said, “we’re heading to the Nowhere Grotto. Less than three miles away.” His body disappeared, leaving only his grin floating in the darkness. “The others are waiting for us.”
“The Uncrowned Seven?” Finally, some good news. Hopefully Doc was at camp. If we didn’t get there soon, I’d pass out. I couldn’t put everyone in danger because of me.
Chester’s body reappeared. “Some were out on patrol when I left. Grump wants the rebellion to meet again. Rabbit is planning to arrive with news in two days.”
I opened my mouth to answer, but a wave of agony ripped through me. I gritted my teeth, waiting for it to pass.
“Darius?” Alice’s hand tightened on mine.
“The rightful heirs...” I forced the words out between ragged breaths. “To the Whitveil crown.” Another spike of pain. Black spots danced at the edges of my vision. “Cormac invaded... stole everything.”
“You’re trying to restore it,” Alice said softly.
I managed a nod. Speaking was becoming harder. Breathing was becoming harder. The arrow shifted with every movement, every word, sending fresh fire through my ribs.
“Stop talking.” Alice’s voice shook. “Save your strength.”
The ground began to rumble beneath me, each vibration jolting the arrow, sending fresh waves of agony through my side.
Hoofbeats. Dozens of them. Maybe more.
I couldn't face whatever was coming flat on my back.
I tried to push myself up. Failed. The pain drove me back down.
“Chester.” I gritted my teeth. “They’re coming.”
