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The manipulation.

Everything I thought I knew was wrong. My world was shaken.

I didn’t know who I was anymore. Or where I belonged.

A knot of emotion welled in my throat, and I shook my head in frustration.

“Focus,” I murmured. “You can do better than this. You don’t need her to use your magic.”

Another exhale. The chaotic thoughts kept circling in my head, but I shifted my attention elsewhere. A gentle breeze drifted over my skin. The air smelled of oak and earth and moss. A thrush chirped nearby. My hands pressed into the fabric of my dress, sliding outward until they reached the frayed edges of my cloak. I caught the familiar loose thread and wound it round my finger over and over, the motion soothing me.

When my eyes opened, my pulse was steady, and my breathing slower. Magic hummed in my blood. With my hand outstretched, I channeled my power. Heat flowed from my fingertips and funneled directly into the waterskin.

The elixir rose to a bubble, and a sharp, minty scent floated from the canteen. A relieved smile spread across my face. The spell had been activated. My magic was now infused in the liquid.

I stared at the canteen for a long moment, my smile fading. This tonic used to be a comforting routine for me. But now, it was just more of Elvira’s lies.

It felt wrong to drink it, even knowing I had to do it.

Steeling myself, I lifted the canteen to my lips and took a long sip. It trickled down my throat, almost making me gag. I swallowed once. Twice.

After the third gulp, I lowered the waterskin, my face twisting with disgust. The idea of willfully drinking something Elvira and Geraldine had cooked up—of continuing to play whatever twisted game they orchestrated—made me so sick I almost threw up the tonic I’d just taken.

With a rough shake of my head, I packed up my things and trudged through the forest, praying I would be able to find my way out before the sun set once more.

Hours passed, and I was drenched in sweat. My throat burned, and I yearned for more water. I’d hoped to reach Tollino by now so I could refill my canteen and find food and lodging for the night.

But I was hopelessly lost in this blasted forest that never ended.

A flicker of gold light appeared along my fingertips. Alarm pulsed through me, and I was about to reach for my waterskin to drink more tonic, but then I faltered.

The glow was faint, almost blending in with the sunlight around me. I wiggled my fingers, and tiny gold sparks floated in the air.

I wasn’t feverish. And for now, the gold light wasn’t spreading.

I took that as a good sign.

Another moment passed. The strange gleam seemed to be isolated to just my hands. My heart was pounding, but I tried to remain calm. I hadn’t taken as much tonic as I usually did. There would probably be some minor symptoms like this.

It was fine. If it got worse, I would drink more of the potion.

I nodded once to myself and continued onward, struggling to ignore the shimmering of my hands as I walked.

When I reached a thick oak tree with particularly low branches, I dropped my satchel and started to climb. It was the only thing I could do to get my bearings. My muscles strained, sweat dripping down my face and neck.

After several breaks to catch my breath, I made it high enough to see above the treetops. I tilted my face toward the sun, inhaling deeply. Something about this forest made me feel so cramped and suffocated. But here, above everything, I could finally breathe.

Slowly, my eyes opened as I looked around. A huge gap in the trees was to my left, perhaps a mile or less away. The village? My heart leapt at the thought. But as I climbed a bit higher, I caught a flash of light.

Squinting, I realized it was the sun’s reflection against a large body of water.

Lake Alavern. The cerulean waters sparkled under the light of the sun.

My chest tightened, my breath catching in my throat. Each heartbeat seemed to pulse to the sound of his name.

Alaric.

Alaric.