“Oh, Maeve. It very much is. Please don’t tell me you thought you’d be leaving here. I assumed all of that was just talk to soothe your naïve child.”
“She’s not naïve.”
“Well, come on.” She motioned with a curl of her fingers. “You’re getting one anyway.”
The stone behind her folded inward, and a long corridor was revealed. It was lit with the same blue flame, but I didn’t move.
The shadow mark pulsed again, but the sensation had changed. Before, it had seared or chilled or itched beneath my skin until I wanted to claw it out. Now it felt like something listening.
Her gaze flicked to my shoulder, where the mark lay flat. “Interesting.”
“What?” I asked, shaking my head. “There’s nothing interesting about much here.
“One must always stay alert in Shadowick. It’s the key to survival.”
“I’ll make a mental note.” I stared at her.
“I see that the mark is settling.”
I tried to keep my face blank, but my pulse gave me away. “Is that what we’re calling it?”
“It has stopped fighting you.”
My stomach clenched.
“It’s merely a scar,” I said, shrugging. “I have several.”
“But this one speaks to you, does it not?”
I refused to answer, and she continued.
“It’s a door, Maeve.” Her smile widened. “It will lead you to places you can’t even imagine. You can thank me when you’re ready to admit that you belong here.”
I glanced toward the passage where Keegan had disappeared with Celeste. The wall had sealed over completely, and I couldn’t hear them anymore. Worse yet, I couldn’t feel them.
All this magic, all these impossible things I’d learned to do, and I couldn’t even reach across a few walls to know if my daughter was safe without privacy and a moment to let myself fall into hedge magic.
The Priestess followed my gaze. “They will leave unharmed. I gave my word.”
I laughed, rolling my eyes. “Your word doesn’t exactly warm my heart. You haven’t given me many reasons to believe you or trust you.”
“It should. Words have power here.” She clasped her hands together. “Let this be the fresh start you’re looking for. I’ll be open and honest with you. I'll answer the questions you have. There’ll be no more hiding. After all, it’s only fair if you’re going to be my next in line.”
“But there are always loopholes in Shadowick.”
That earned me another small smile. “You’re learning, but it’s not just Shadowick. It’s magic in general. I’m surprised no one has taught you that.”
I hated that she sounded pleased, as if she could bestow some worldly wisdom on me.
But I took a step forward, not because I wanted to, but because I was trapped here for now. I needed to learn.
That was the game.
And if the Priestess thought I would spend my time crying into my sleeves and wishing Keegan could kick down doors until he found me, she clearly hadn’t been paying attention.
Although, for the record, I wouldn’t object to Keegan kicking down doors.
The Priestess began walking, and I followed at a careful distance.
