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The wind hissed in through the door, whispering around me in warning.

The gold emblem had a wolf head etched into it.

Every inch of my body quaked from the sight.

“By the gods,” I breathed, my bones shuddering. Tavik rumbled inside me, restless and agitated.

I sensed Reid’s approaching footsteps, then heard his sharp intake of breath. “Alaric,” he said softly. “It cannot be—” He broke off, as if unable to finish the statement.

This was a totem of my tribe. It only belonged to the royals of my people—to the Mage King himself.

So why the hell did this witch have it?

Five

THE WITCH

Iawoke with my mouth tasting like cotton. A strange, coppery smell smothered my nostrils, and my body was sticky and itchy.

With a groan, I sat up in the grass. My hair was a wild mane around my face, full of twigs and leaves. I spat out something that tasted like dirt.

Storms, what had happened to me?

When I lifted my arm, I caught sight of the tunic I was wearing. It was brown and coarse, almost like animal skin. My trousers were made of the same material. They fit well enough, but they were certainly not the clothes I had been wearing earlier.

I jumped to my feet, head swimming. Shit, I did not feel good. I squinted up at the sun just visible from underneath the canopy of trees. Midday perhaps? Had I lost consciousness?

Had my own magic knocked me out?

Damn. Damn it all. I had to get home now. I had to take my tonic and tell Gran. She would know what to do.

Stumbling, I hurried forward, trying to find a landmark that I recognized. Something that could lead me to our cabin. I turned this way and that, taking in the trees, the shrubs, the leafy forest floor…

I clutched at my head, letting out a low moan of agony. I can’t do this. My breathing was sharp and ragged. I wanted to sink to my knees and cry. My stomach knotted so tightly I thought I might throw up.

Swallowing hard, I took a shaky breath and closed my eyes, trying to empty my thoughts.

What happened?

Where am I?

What’s going on?

The questions roared inside me, unwilling to be silenced.

I inhaled again and counted to ten.

Then, I held the breath for another five seconds.

The questions continued to float through my mind, but they were quieter now, and the knots in my stomach loosened with my long, slow exhale.

For good measure, I took another long breath and held this one, too. With my next exhale, my head was clearer.

I opened my eyes, scanning the foliage for clues that I could use. My eyes snagged on three notches in the oak tree to my right.

I straightened, relief filling my chest. I had made those notches years ago to help me find my way back to the cabin. It was close!

Deep down, I knew it didn’t make sense. I had been hopelessly lost yesterday. What were the odds I would wake up right next to the cottage I’d been desperately searching for all day yesterday?