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“You are, too.” He looks serious. Almost angry. I’m not sure why. “I’m glad you played along.” His voice is gruff. “That you trusted me.”

“We’re about to escape…together. I think that trust is important.”

“Very important.”

I look around, but the guards are gone, at least for now. I straighten my dress, trying to steady my racing heart. I wipe my mouth because it is still tingling.

I think I might have actually enjoyed a pretend kiss a little too much. Particularly with a stranger I am forced to trust with my very life. I will chalk it up to the adrenaline that is coursing through my system.

Yes, it’s that, and only that.

“I hope they don’t come back.” His jaw is tight. Alaric looks up at the sky. “Not long now.”

I look up and sure enough, the moon is already covering half of the sun. Once the sun is fully obscured, there will be a great release of power.

The surge.

Our chance.

Alaric takes the hammer from his belt. “Do you see that line of trees in the distance?” He points using the implement.

I nod.

“Aim for between the two tallest trees heading due south. You will find the path I told you about. The horses are tied up to the right of the big flowering honeysuckle.”

“We’ll go together, so you don’t need to explain all this to me.” My tone is a little shrill because I don’t fully believe what I have just said. There is no way that it will go as smoothly as that.

Not a chance.

“Humor me, McColl. Besides, you never know.” I see his Adam’s apple work. He’s nervous. “Look for the flowering honeysuckle. You can’t miss it. The horses are tied to the right of the bush, just fifty or sixty yards into the undergrowth.”

I nod. He’s afraid he might not make it.

“You don’t have to do this. It’s dangerous,” I tell him.

“I know the risk involved, but I do have to go through with it. I have no choice. We need each other if we want to escape this place. I won’t last five minutes without your magic. We stick to our deal: I free you, and you, in return, get us out of here. If I don’t make it, you run. I’ll do the same.”

I’m not worried about myself.

“You could die.” Why am I trying to talk him out of this? I don’t know Alaric. I shouldn’t care.

Only, I do.

“You’ll bring me back, McColl. I’m not worried.” The tightness in his body tells me otherwise.

Will I bring him back? I’m not convinced. I nod anyway. “I will do my best.”

“I believe in you, McColl.”

I feel warmth spreading across my chest. It soon turns icy. The problem is that he doesn’t know me at all. He has no idea what I’m capable of. Or where my many weaknesses lie.

You’re useless! What’s wrong with you? You’re no daughter of mine. You’re no Child of the Veil. You’re an embarrassment to the coven.

I hear my mother’s voice running through my head. All of her cruel taunts stabbing like barbs.

I pull the amulet from between my breasts, looking down at it. I may not be good enough to be a Child of the Veil, but I’m good enough for this.

I have to be.