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“Why would you have me leave? I will go with Filip if I need to.”

Her mother glanced away. “You are my daughter—how am I to trust your welfare with Filip—a stranger, and a powerful one?”

“I’m sorry, Ma, but I’m staying to do the test.”

Velinka sighed and dragged a hand over her face. “Make sure your scar is covered at all times. Keep your bedroom door shut when you undress. Don’t show anyone, not even Tihana or Pa. Do you hear me?”

“Yes, Ma,” she replied in a thin voice. “But don’t you think Pa should know?”

She shook her head. “He has enough to worry about after the threat Pyotr made against his livelihood and his shop. Let’s not add to it.”

Adelina flattened her shaking fingers against her poneva skirt, counted to three, then scooped up the grocery bags from the table. She emptied the rolls of cheese, potatoes, carrots, and onions into the pantry, then placed a fresh jar of honey beside them.

Fighting a rising panic, she left the room. Grabbing her coat, she flung it over her shoulders, then went out on to the porch. Her stomach twisted and her lungs tightened. Placing a hand on her breast, she fought for breath.

“Ad? What’s wrong?” Damir jogged towards her. “I only left you for ten minutes. Has something happened? ”

She glanced from one end of the street to the other. When she was sure they were alone, she gripped his arm. “I don’t think I’m going to pass this test.”

∞∞∞

That evening, when Tihana was tucked in bed, Velinka boiled water on the stove while Adelina sat forward in her chair. She tapped her fingers against her knee and bit her lip.

“For heaven’s sake, dear. Stop with the tapping. You’ll be fine. The bathhouse will help ease your nerves,” her mother said.

Adelina leaned back in her chair and let out a deep breath. “There’s no history of magic in our bloodline, nor anyone we know. Why would I be marked? Why would it choose me? How can I be sure I’ll truly be able to help?”

Her mother crossed the space between them and cupped her cheek in the palm of her hand. “You, my daughter, are an incredibly special person. This magic chose you for a reason. You were born to help.”

“You won’t be saying that when I’m taken away from you.”

“I’ve had some time to think about this. If that happens, you know how to be strong, how to defend yourself. If Filip wants you, then I must believe he will treat you well. How else will I let you go?”

“How are you calm? After all, you wanted me to run away. ”

Velinka shook her head. “You’re doing the right thing, my dear. I wanted to protect you. It is all I will ever do for my children.”

Adelina kissed her mother’s cheek. “I know, Ma.”

∞∞∞

Adelina was jolted awake in the early hours by a commotion downstairs. Loud sobs and clatters of furniture echoed through the house. She flung back the covers, darted out of the room. “Ma?”

“Oh, my darling!” Her mother drew her into a tight embrace.

“What’s wrong?” She pulled away, and her gaze fell upon her mother’s tear-streaked cheeks.

Daro sat at the dining table, face and clothes covered in soot. Little Tihana cowered in the corner, blubbering profusely. Candles flickered, and the final remnants of moonlight shone through the window.

“Pa?” Adelina hurried to her father and dropped to her knees in front of him. She took his hands in hers.

“There’s…been a fire at the workshop,” Daro said through gritted teeth. “Thankfully, a lot of people turned up to help put it out before it spread. Who knows the damage it could’ve caused otherwise?”

“How?” Her gaze darted from her father to her mother, then back again.

“Tihana, she—”

“She what?” Adelina pressed.

Her sister bolted from the room in a flood of tears .

Velinka patted her eyes with a handkerchief. “I ought to go see to her. Darling, are you all right to tell Adelina alone?”

Daro nodded to his wife who hurried after her youngest child.

“Your sister—she came to bring me supper last night at the workshop, although I wasn’t there. Another customer needed my help with an emergency. As she was looking around for me, someone shattered the window. She hid inside the cooled stove, the clever girl.” He shook his head.

“Who was it?” She gripped his hands tighter.

“From Tihana’s description…Pyotr.”

Adelina covered her mouth to stifle a gasp.

“He did threaten my livelihood, my shop, but I didn’t think—I guess I was wrong.” He rested his face in his hands. “My whole business. Gone as quick as a breath.”

“Is Tihana hurt?” She glanced over her shoulder at the door to her sister’s bedroom next to the staircase. Adelina had retired to bed early in the hopes of getting enough sleep for the looming test. Her stomach knotted—if only she’d stayed awake. Maybe she could’ve gone in her sister’s place.

“Not badly. She followed Pyotr out of the broken window as the fire picked up momentum and a wooden beam had collapsed and blocked the door. She’s got a small nick on her thigh from the glass, but nothing serious. Your ma’s bandaged it up.”

“Oh, Pa. I’m sorry.” Adelina took the cup of tea from the table and placed it in her father’s hand. “Drink this.”

He offered a half-smile, then sipped the tea.

“Is there anything I can do to help? ”

“Afraid not. The building is completely destroyed. I’ve savings from the stoves I’ve already completed, but all my materials were inside.

I’ll have to source new supplies before I can fulfil my other orders.

” He sat the cup aside and leaned his head back.

“Leave me to myself, child. Tend to your sister.”

Adelina planted a gentle kiss on her father’s cheek, then slid into Tihana’s room.

Her younger sister lay wrapped in blankets on her bed. She blinked, large water-filled eyes as she turned to face Adelina.

She rushed to Tihana’s side. “I’m here now. Everything is going to be fine.”

Adelina’s gaze travelled to her trembling mother who sat in the chair on the opposite side of the bed. She held her hands to her mouth and shook her head.

Reverting her gaze back to her sister, Adelina stroked Tihana’s hair and sung her softly to sleep.