“We’re not actually outside,” I said. “It’s magic.”
He nodded in awe, as we made our trek toward the hill.
Eventually, I spotted Lana’s cottage at the end of the winding road. The circular windows were bright, meaning she was home and awake. A lump appeared in my throat when we approached. She had removed the enchantment on the door. I stared.
Ash waited a beat. “Are you going to knock?”
“You do it.”
He tapped his knuckles on the wood. It swung open.
But instead of Lana, someone else stood at the threshold.
My lips parted. “Rowena? What are you doing here?”
She glared at me, but the tears that welled up in her dark eyes betrayed her feelings. “I thought you were rotting away in the dungeons, you ungrateful girl.”
I embraced her. Her arms held me tight.
“You came back.” Elowyn poked her head out behind her sister’s skirts. Her eyes widened when she noticed Ash. “Who’s that? He’s handsome.”
Ash cracked a smile. “Prince Ash of Olderea,” he said with a smart bow. “You’re quite handsome yourself.”
Elowyn darted back inside with a squeak.
Rowena released me and stared at Ash. “It looks like we all have some explaining to do.”
Lana was absent when we gathered inside on the benches near the fireplace. I told Rowena everything that had happened, though this time Ash jumped in to insert his part of the story.
After the duchess assigned my punishment, Ash set out to find Peter, who turned out to be alive. He was hiding in the outskirts of the forest with plans to flee the kingdom. When he was cornered, he admitted to using a witch-made sleeping elixir, but still refused to reveal whose orders he had been acting under.
“No doubt the duchess is threatening him with the death of his family,” Ash said darkly.
With no other choice, Ash ordered his men to interrogate shops rumored to be associated with the Witch Market, hoping to trace down the witch who sold Duchess Wilhelmina the poison. His search was cut off when I was accused and imprisoned.
“So, why are you here?” I asked Rowena after we finished.
“Olivia Sternfeld told me and Theodora everything,” she said.
Olivia again. I couldn’t have been more grateful for her newfound bravery.
Rowena sighed and glared at me. “Theodora went to Lord Strongfoot and I came here to notify Lana. All of us were trying to come up with a plan to rescue you. How did you escape?”
“I managed,” I said. “But now we need to save Queen Cordelia and expose the duchess.”
She thinned her lips. “Amarante, they all know you’re a witch. They won’t want your help.”
“Rowena—”
“Look what they’ve done to you,” Rowena said, taking my hands. They were covered in dirt and grime. The scratches and bruises inflicted by Karen and Narcissa were still red and angry. I had almost forgotten about them.
Ash looked at my arm, then looked away. “She’s right,” he said in a low voice. “You shouldn’t go back to the palace. It’s too dangerous.”
“What about the queen?” I demanded. “How will you save her? How will you expose Duchess Wilhelmina?”
“I’ll manage,” he said with a slight smile.
“Listen to him,” Rowena said. Her eyes were rimmed red. “Lana agreed to let you stay here. Theodora and I will stay too. You’ll be safe again.”
