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“Revel? Is that—” I pointed toward the stone platform.

He seemed reluctant to answer. “Yes, that’s where they burn people at the stake.”

I turned and looked at him. “If this whole thing goes worse than I expect, and the sorcerers decide that my death is the only way out of this mess …”

Revel didn’t dare touch me or show affection standing in front of the Tribunal courthouse. He shook his head. “Don’t think that way, and no, death by fire is only for witches and mages and folks adept at sorcery. It’s the only true way to extinguish them.”

“What other means do they use? You know, for us un-magical folk?”

“It won’t happen,” he said curtly. “We should get inside.”

My feet moved in the opposite direction, toward the stone platform. I had no idea why. It was as if some force was pulling them that way. It was possible the force was just my own morbid curiosity, but I walked straight to the platform. It smelled of stale smoke. I reached forward and ran my finger through some of the remaining ash.

Pain jolts through my head, and the ground beneath my feet grows hot. I suck in a frightened breath, and then, suddenly, I’m in the same place but still far, far away.

Flames lap at my bound hands. I laugh, determined to show them I’m not scared. But I am scared. I’m on the stake and brutally hot flames are building up around me. They blind me with their yellow glow. Another laugh, a shrieking sound, shoots from my throat. “You will pay for this! You have not stopped me!” I shout. In the distance, through the violent flames and smoke, I see figures standing around, watching, cheering on the fire. My feet burn so badly the pain is searing through me. I will not show fear. But I am afraid, very afraid, and as the stifling heat surrounds me, I scream one more time. “You will never be rid of me!”

I gasped and pressed my fingers against my temples to stop the sharp pains. My knees were weakened by the mind travel. Revel broke his vow not to touch me in this place and grabbed me to keep me from collapsing.

“What is it?” he asked. “Are you not well?”

It took me a second to be able to speak. “It was a glitch, a time travel.” I glanced back toward the stone platform and the macabre charcoal black stake. I’d witnessed Calista’s execution … through her eyes. Raina told me I could experience moments in the past through the eyes of people I was related to, like Mom. But what the hell was I doing in Calista’s head?

“We should get inside.” Revel’s deep tone pulled me from my alarmed confusion. “I can see Prince Granier’s carriage coming down the path.”

I took a deep breath. “I’m fine. You’re right. Let’s go inside. I want to be seated and gather my wits before I’m asked to speak.” I put the strange glitch behind me. I had far more important things to think about.

Revel and I stepped into the magnificent reception hall with its inlaid tile and mahogany floor. It gleamed as if it had just been polished. Coda, the elderly hall-keeper with the impressively long beard, came shuffling through a side door.

Coda didn’t need to ask why we were there. He raised a gnarled hand and curled his fingers for us to follow him into the Tribunal Chamber. Revel and I sat there alone for a few minutes. Our thighs and shoulders touched, and I had to fight the urge to just climb into his lap and curl into his strong arms. So much had happened to me in a matter of weeks that it seemed I’d aged a decade.

When the big doors to the chamber opened, I didn’t turn around to see who’d entered. Moments later, Prince Granier walked past my seat in a forest green tunic trimmed in silver. He’d brought along one palace guard. Before taking a seat, he stopped, turned and lowered his gaze to me. Before I could think to pull it out of his reach, he picked up my hand and kissed the back of it. I could feel Revel’s entire body tense next to me. Granier lifted his eyes. They held a teasing twinkle as he looked at Revel. The kiss was more to taunt the Valian warrior than to offer a romantic gesture.

Granier and his guard sat across the aisle. Fenrick and his revolting sidekick, Gunnar, walked in moments later. Since I’d left Regnamoor rather abruptly, he didn’t bother with a greeting. I wondered if either prince was as nervous as me. After all, as much as I’d been fated to each of them, I also held their fates, their futures, in my hot little hands. It was a daunting power to have, and one that left me nearly frozen with anxiety. I would have been a mess if Revel hadn’t been sitting next to me.

My first time at a tribunal I found it all interesting and quite the show, but today, I didn’t have the patience for all the pomp and circumstance with the entrance of the three sorcerers. As far as I was concerned, they were three men who held my future and my life in their hands, and I just wanted this over.

Orl, Roh and Fren swept in with their jewel-toned robes and their arrogance and power. The atmosphere in the tall chamber changed as if magical static electricity flowed in with them.

Orl spoke first. “Raphael Willow, you have been fated to both Prince Granier and Prince Fenrick. When you last stood in front of the Tribunal you were instructed to visit the regions of Solamere and Regnamoor and spend time with the princes and their families. This is a highly unusual predicament, and as such, we could find only one solution other than your death⁠—”

He spoke about my death very casually, but it sent a chill through me. How easily the last visit could have ended with me locked up and executed.

“We put the entire decision in your hands. You must now choose one of the princes, and the other prince will not be able to either marry or take the throne.” He said the last part with a grim expression, as if I needed anyone to remind me how significant my task was. “Raphael Willow, please come to the dais to give us your decision.”

Revel’s hand brushed mine, which gave me a touch more courage. I stood and stared straight ahead, even though I could feel the people on either side of me boring a hole in my head with their gazes.

It felt like a terribly long walk up to the dais. I stepped onto it and stood before the three sorcerers. It was shocking how much my life had changed and how much I’d changed with it. Months ago, having to talk to a bank teller would have given me a panic attack. Today, I stood in front of three powerful sorcerers who were expecting a clear answer from me, and I felt only mildly anxious.

“Your lordships.” The words squeaked out of my throat. I cleared it and started again. I thought about Raina and Mom. They were strong, smart women who took charge of their lives. I needed a dose of that right now. “You should first know that when I returned home to Norvale after my visits with Prince Fenrick and Prince Granier, I became deathly ill. A local healer discovered that I’d been poisoned by something called a polim plant. It is a very slow-acting poison, so I have no idea when I ingested it. I very nearly died.” I heard some grumbling behind me. Voices carried in the vast room.

Roh lifted his hand. “Quiet in the chamber.” The room fell silent. Roh continued. “This is a grave matter indeed.” He looked at both sides of the chamber. “You were forewarned not to cause Raphael any harm while she visited.”

“Your lordship.” Prince Granier stood. “I assure you it was not me. I made sure that Raphael had every comfort while she stayed with us.”

“Don’t lay the blame at my feet,” Prince Fenrick protested. “Poison is something used much more in the Fae realm. In Regnamoor, we use much more blatant assassination techniques.” He beamed for a second about his boast and then seemed to remember where he was, so he straightened and the grin fell away. “We also made sure that Raphael had everything she needed during her stay.” His statement was a bit of a stretch.

“Well, Raphael, what do you say?” Fren asked. “It seems it would be impossible to trace the poison back to any one source, and so we must disregard that it happened. Obviously, you survived …” He paused and eyed me in a suspicious way. “Who did you say healed you from the poison?” It was easy to see what he was getting at, but I already had my answer ready.