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“Megaera... this—” I shake my head, over and over. “It can’t happen.”

Her voice rises, cutting through the quiet night. “What do you mean?”

“You don’t love me either,” I say, my voice trembling.

Her mouth tightens and anger flickers across her face. “Do you think this is my choice? Do you think Iwantto marry a man who has no interest in me? There are other reasons for marriage!”

I stagger back from her, my chest heaving. “Not for me. I’m sorry.”

“Cael—” she starts, but her words twist and sharpen. “Stop him!”

Her people surge forward.

I spin and bolt for the gate, but a small army of steps claps over the cobblestones behind me. A hand grips my robe, yanking me backward with enough force to expel the air from me. I twist violently, and the heavy fabric of my sleeve tears free as I stumble forward.

Another aklo lunges, his fingers digging into my shoulder. Pain lances through me as I yank back with everything I have.

“Let go!” I snap.

He tightens his grip and I slam my heel against his shin until his grunt of pain gives me just enough slack to wrench free.

A third aklo blocks my path, his arms outstretched. I duck low and slither beneath him, the cobblestones scraping my ribs. The evening air stings as I scramble to my feet and sprint harder.

Behind me, Megaera’s voice cuts through the chaos.

Father’s yell follows hers, thunderous and commanding.

The narrow streets of the city close in around me as I dart through twisting alleys. The aklos’ footsteps pound against the road behind me, but I take every narrow turn, every sharp corner, until the sounds grow fainter.

Finally, I burst free of the city and into the woods, my chest heaving, body trembling. The sounds of the chase fade as I slip through shadows until I’m finally alone, panting, in the middle of the forest.

I laugh bitterly.

I’ve escaped my wedding, but with nothing but embroidered boots, jewelled braids, and...and the flask Akilah saved for me.

I might not get far with this, but it’ll be far enough. I can heal in exchange for food and shelter. I can start a new life. Maybe I’ll stumble into him again on my travels, not that I’ll try to find him. Certainly not that I’d care if I don’t. Calix Solin, Maskios,liar... Akilah is wrong. I didn’t run from marriage forhim. For a person that makes me feelredinside.

I slam a palm over rough bark and on the lingering sting, I slump through the woods towards an unknown future.

As for the one I left behind... I slam my eyes shut on the kind faces I’ve just abandoned. Akilah; my soft-hearted mother; my beautiful little niece Lucetta, who I so often carry on my shoulders. Just last night, we’d watched the stars, her bouncing up and down, gleefully pointing to the shiniest ones...

I swallow. At least... At least they won’t have to worry about me getting them into trouble anymore.

A sudden ferocious gust of wind slams into me, scattering pine needles like daggers. The sharp stench of burning magic—wet wood and scorched thimbleweed—floods the air.

I gag as I scour the woods. Vespertines? Crusaders? Water wyverns?

No, not that... I sniff the air. My heart sinks. Not wild magic.Sentinian.

Deadly.

I run away from a storm of cries and snapping branches nearby, but the forest seems to shudder with the force of it. I scramble up an embankment, clawing at roots for balance and suddenly, the chaos halts. The wind dies and the air settles into an eerie stillness.

But through the quiet comes a cry.

“Someone’s hurt,” I murmur, my feet rooting to the spot.

Keep running.What if the aklos catch up and drag me back? To the luminarium, to finish the rites?