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“We have no choice, McColl. They will soon figure out that this clump of anthills is more than meets the eye, and we will be done for, anyway. You heard what they said about Snow. You saw what happened. They are tracking my magic…or she is, but it makes no difference. They will be back in no time. They will figure it out. You need to try.”

“Who are you?”

“Not now. We’ll talk later. I told you. They’re coming back. You have to try…please.” There is a pleading edge to his voice.

“I’ll try, but it more than likely won’t work,” I warn him.

“Then we will be captured.”

“No pressure.” I glare at him. It almost feels like I’m in school again, with Professor Thornfield giving me some impossible magical task. Only, instead of having to mop the floors because of my lack of magical prowess, I’ll end up in the dungeons.

“You can do it.” His eyes soften. “You brought me back from the dead.”

I want to laugh, but the approaching fae might hear. “That had nothing to do with me and everything to do with you being a fae,” I whisper.

“You can do it,” he repeats.

I close my eyes, focusing every ounce of my being on channeling the remnants of magic within me. Only, instead of remnants, a bounty of magic rises inside me. My skin turns golden. I burst with magic. It seems to come out of my every pore.

Control!

Easy.

Like a trickle from a stream instead of a raging river.

Once again, I hear Professor Thornfield’s voice inside my head, even though she never had to speak those words to me. It was always Lydia or one of the other stronger witches.

I have to tamp down my power, which I’ve never done before. I’ve seen it done. I know how to do it, so I do. The air still crackles with energy as I easily maintain the illusion we are shrouded in, taking over the spell seamlessly.

What is happening? How can this be?

The guards ride past us without a second glance, their attention diverted by something further down the meadow. Alaric sighs in relief, his grip on my hand loosening slightly.

“Don’t stop,” he whispers. “I’m sure they will be back.”

It doesn’t take long before they are.

“It’s gone,” the leader says. “He’s stopped using his power.”

“He can’t just be gone,” someone else yells. “He must be here somewhere. We’re missing something,” he mutters.

“Well, he is gone. At least he isn’t using his power anymore, so we can’t track him.” They go to the spot where I fell.

One of the guards dismounts, inspecting the ground. “It looks like someone either fell or dismounted. There are two sets of tracks.” He walks to the spot where Alaric jumped off. “He’s with someone. I think they might be on foot, but I can’t be sure.”

“Let’s split up,” the leader says. “Japhet, you take five guards and follow the horses’ tracks. We’ll keep circling. There are still a few hours of daylight. Keep your eyes open. They’re here somewhere.”

“They have to be,” Japhet says as he mounts up, turning his horse in the direction that the horses took.

They split up, a small group giving chase at a fast lope. The group headed up by the leader decide to check out a rocky outcrop in the distance.

I keep a tight hold on the spell until they are gone. It’s easy. I barely have to try. My well is full. My veins buzz with power. It’s exhilarating and a little disconcerting.

It’s also utterly baffling. How did this happen? Why now? I don’t understand.

“I thought you said you didn’t have much power.” He looks at me through narrowed eyes.

I drop his hand and end the spell. “You’requestioningme?” I shake my head. “You! I don’t think so. Up until not so long ago, you looked like a human. Who are you?” I demand. “Is your name even Alaric? I somehow doubt it. Everything you’ve told me is a lie, isn’t it?”