Here and now, rather than fearing the wolves outside the room, she looks more afraid of her own lack of control. The unpredictability of her strength and the kind of damage it can cause.
Just like I had to teach her, even if I never wanted to dampen that side of her.
Shame curls inside me. All of this is my fault, down to every last decision. If I hadn’t isolated us and had told Caleb the truth from the start, maybe he would’ve been there. Maybe we wouldn’t be in this situation at all.
Yet, even now, something in me still clings to the belief that hiding her abilities was the right thing. Magic use is outlawed on the Willow Island, and I didn’t even know what would happen if someone found out before, but I didn’t want to know.
“Mama…” Astrid murmurs, nestled against my side. “Are we going to die?”
That cuts through me even deeper than my fight with Caleb. Far deeper than any cold shoulder from him.
It’s the last thing I ever want her to even consider.
“No, Astrid,” I whisper with a fierce intensity that can’t be mistaken, gently cupping her cheek despite the restraints. “I won’t ever let that happen, and neither will your father.”
She looks up at me with that wholehearted, child-like hope. “Will he come?”
Emotion tightens around my throat, and I force myself not to choke on it. “Yes, he will. I’m sure he’s on the way right now.”
I have no proof of it, but even if Caleb is still hurt and pushing me away, I know he’ll come. He’d tear every last wolf apart before letting anyone harm Astrid.
The words garner a tiny nod from her, and despite the circumstances, she doesn’t look quite as burdened by it.
I don’t know how long we sit there for, but the fear never loosens its grip on me. The guards don’t say a word, and they don’t even move.
Not knowing what they want with either of us makes it even harder to bear, but we won’t survive long enough to find out unless I act.
While there, with Astrid nestled in my arms, I feel the stirring of magic inside her. It lingers in her chest like always, almost alive in the way it pulses, just waiting for the chance to be harnessed.
Mentally, I reach for it like I usually do, covering it before it can spread further.
But the moment I do, I imagine how it might’ve looked when Astrid hurt that one wolf back at the house, and the beginning of an idea finds its way into my mind.
I spent years tamping down her power, redirecting it, and caging it, all to keep it a secret and ensure her safety. Ithas always been wild in its own way, especially in a world that doesn’t welcome witches or half-breeds.
Despite my efforts, it feels like the only real option we have.
We won’t survive unless I unleash it. Unless we finally let her magic free.
Leaning in close, keeping my voice quiet enough for the guards to miss it entirely, I murmur, “Astrid, sweetheart… Listen very carefully.”
She only looks at me, vaguely confused and slightly trembling still.
“Do you remember what I told you about your power?”
She nods. “That we keep it inside so nobody sees.”
My heart lurches, but I nod in return. “That’s right. But right now, I need you to do the opposite.”
Her eyes widen slightly, suddenly looking far older than she really is. “But, what about—”
“I know,” I murmur, gently brushing her hair back despite the shake in my fingers. “I know it sounds scary, but we can use it to get out of here. We’re going to use it together, okay? I’ll help you.”
Astrid looks down at her bound hands, then toward the wolves outside. “What if I hurt people?”
“These people don’t want you to be safe,” I whisper, trying to be as reassuring as I can be despite the circumstances. “They want us scared so we’ll give up, but we aren’t going to do that. We won’t let them win.”
Her hesitation lingers, but as she looks at me again, I feel her place all of her trust in me. “You’ll help?”
