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Let him find his own time. As long as it doesn’t take forever.

I sigh. “It’s time to go.” I turn back to Josh. “Are you ready to go for a ride?”

He looks from me to Stella, then back, and nods, though I can see he’s nervous. Stella lowers her head and sniffs his hair, and he giggles. Josh is like me. He’s always had an affinity for animals.

Zayne moves quickly, going to stand behind Josh. He puts his hands around Josh’s waist and hoists him onto the saddle. “There you go. How does that feel?”

Josh beams.

“I’ll keep hold of the reins,” Zayne says. “But if you feel at all unsafe, just grip onto the front of the saddle. Can you do that?”

“Should we tie him on?” I ask.

“Nah,” Zayne replies. “He’s a big boy. He’s not going to fall off. Are you, Josh?”

Josh shakes his head.

“Okay, I guess we’re ready then. It’ll probably take us a few hours to get back, and I’d like to make it before the sun goes down.”

I look across the grasslands and work out the direction I need to take. But Fury is already on his feet and padding away. I guess he knows where he’s going, so I follow, with Zayne, Stella, and Josh falling in behind me.

The going is level and easy, and the sun is warm on my back. I feel hopeful. I’m going to see Hecate soon. She’ll take care of everything. She’ll tell me what to do.

I keep telling myself that because, honestly, if she doesn’t, I’ll have to decide for myself—and I really do not feel ready for that. The whole idea of what lies ahead terrifies me.

I will do what I have to do. I will. That doesn’t mean I’m looking forward to it. And I need someone to help me, to tell me how, and I know Hecate will do her best.

After a few minutes, Fury pauses while I catch up, and then he walks beside me. I rest my hand on his back. It feels good—connected.

The land is covered in grass and small shrubs, and eventually, we head into a wide valley with steep slopes on either side. The valley narrows, and I know we must be coming to the western border of the warded lands. That’s how Hecate has stayed safe all this time—her powerful spells protect the village.

But as we move closer to the warded area, the land turns black and scorched, the vegetation twisted and dead. This is the effect of shadow fire, and unease stirs in my belly.

I marked the spot where I came through the wards on the way, and I see it approaching. When I get there, they’re gone. There’s no telltale shiver of magic as I pass. There’s nothing. This is very bad.

I stop. Everyone else stops. Fury looks at me, and I can see the understanding in his eyes. He’s been this way himself. He knows.

“What is it?” Zayne asks from behind me.

“The wards. They’re down,” I say.

“Well, that’s not good,” he replies.

Fucking understatement of the century.

“What does it mean?” he asks.

I look ahead.

When I came this way last, beyond the wards, the land was healthy and green. Now, the scorched earth stretches as far as I can see, and the unease coagulates into a big hard lump in my gut.

I don’t know what to do.

Should we go back? Should we go around?

But I really need to find out what has happened to Hecate. Maybe she and the others fought off the shadowguard and are still there, hiding, keeping safe, waiting for me.

I look to Zayne, and he shrugs. I know it’s up to me to make this decision.