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“The two men from the village—the ones who were harassing Melisandre—they attacked me. I tried to fend them off with magic, but they were so fast… so much stronger than me.” My pulse ramped up, while my vision blurred, darkening around the edges.

The brothers surrounded me, telling me to slow my breathing, to sit down, but before I could heed their advice, I fainted.

"Goldie, I’m so proud of you. You fought fiercely.

" I woke up to my mother’s voice, still fresh in my head.

I gripped my necklace, glowing with heat, while I took in my surroundings.

I blinked up at Galen as I realized his arms were wrapped tightly around me.

He pulled my head into his chest, smothering me and kissing my temple.

“I’m never letting you out of my sight again,” he said as I peeled out of his arms.

“I’m fine. Let’s get on the road,” I muttered.

“You’re riding with me,” Galen said possessively.

The other men began to disperse as he helped me onto Napoleon and tied our horses together.

I put up no fight as he climbed behind me and tucked me against him, like I was a frail baby bird who’d fallen from the nest. It wasn’t far off from how I felt.

I’d been disillusioned enough to believe I was a fledgling, growing flight feathers, nearly ready to soar…

but instead, I’d nearly been killed by two starving faeries.

Any confidence I’d built since arriving in Nymera had disintegrated with the males who’d nearly killed me.

“What happened? How many were there?” I asked, feeling grateful for the eternal fire that burned inside of Galen as I leaned into the safety of his arms.

“There was a group of four waiting to ambush anyone walking the path. They’re all dead now—true deaths. Desperate faeries who turned to crime, unfortunately.”

I stayed silent as I let myself ponder what could’ve happened if Rafael hadn’t come when he did.

Training was going well; I’d been advancing quickly, but when the time had come to fight, I froze.

I forgot to use my shields. It had happened so fast. And those men had been ready to take more than my magic.

“They deserved to die for what they did to you,” Galen continued. “But it’s always a shame… to lose a faerie. They’re under my rule, under my protection. Every time someone lashes out because they need magic, it’s a reminder that the Kingdom— that I —let them down.”

He tugged me closer, laying his large hand flat over my belly. “When you open a portal for us, you’ll stop their suffering. They won’t have to turn to crime. It’ll be a new era of peace.”

I bit my tongue, letting his words hang in the air. Was I misunderstanding him? Heat rose to my cheeks as I said, “You still expect me to open a portal for your entire Kingdom, even knowing what you know about the Elders? You think releasing one world onto another will bring peace ?”

“There will be an adjustment period, of course,” he said with an edge to his voice. “But yes, I think it’s the only way forward. We can try to break the curse when we get to Erador, but first and foremost, my people need magic. They need their home world.”

My stomach sank. We really didn’t see eye to eye on this. Was he blinded by love for his people or did he simply not care about mine ?

“It’s blood they need. I don’t want your mother and her council anywhere near the people of Erador.”

Galen’s body tightened around me as his tone turned combative. “We don’t have a choice. ”

I peered around, making sure the rest of the group was still ahead of us and out of ear shot. “What if we just took a small party through to break the curse? Without their permission ,” I whispered.

“Love…” he sighed. “I’d never risk your safety in that way. If they found out what you were suggesting—” He paused. “You were sent here to save us—to right the last walker’s wrongs. I know you’ll do the right thing—your bleeding heart is one of the things I love about you, after all.”

My entire body stiffened. I was trying to do the right thing. How could he not see that? Hot blood sloshed between my ears as I shrank within myself. My pulse was loud and angry.

lub-dub.

lub-dub.

lub-dub.

There was a gnarled knot in the center of our relationship.

If we couldn’t untangle it, then it would destroy us—put us on opposite sides of a war that was starting to seem inevitable.

We couldn’t continue to argue about this right now, not in a forest full of kindling.

This was a conversation I couldn’t afford to screw up; I had to make him see my side. There was no other choice.

I swallowed it all; the frustration that roiled inside me, the nauseating fear of what this meant for our relationship, the hollow sadness of feeling misunderstood. It stung as much as it ached. I loved him. I didn’t want to lose him, but I wouldn’t bow to his Queen. I wouldn’t bow to him .

“Marigold, are you alright?” Galen asked, squeezing my knee.

“Yes, sorry,” I rasped. “You’re right. Of course.” My mind continued to wander until the gentle rocking, combined with Galen’s sturdy presence, lulled me to sleep.

I awoke to rain pelting my face while a fierce wind whipped around us. Galen still had a firm grip on me, keeping me secured in the saddle. When I began to stir, he murmured, “Excellent timing. The others found a cave up ahead—we’ll be dry soon.”

A glow illuminated the entrance to a cave off the main road and we steered towards it. Finally, this terrible day was coming to an end. The men helped pull my stiff, shivering body off Napoleon and took me straight to the fire.

Once everyone was in dry clothes, we sat in front of the blazing fire, eating dried meat, bread and fruit.

Raf offered a flask of faerie whiskey to whoever was brave enough to try it.

I sniffed at it and took a small sip. It burned down my throat and warmed the parts of me that the fire hadn’t been able to reach.

Galen grabbed it next and finished it off in one long gulp.

Rafael gave him a dirty look.

“I’m going to try and get some sleep,” I announced, moving to curl up on one of the furs that had been laid out.

A moment later, Galen had joined me in his lion form.

He was splendidly cozy, especially once my face was buried in his soft mane.

I could feel eyes on us, but I shut them out and wrapped my fingers around his fur as I fell asleep.

The next day of travel was smoother than the last, but the temperatures had dropped substantially.

Coniferous trees covered in pale lichen surrounded us as we scaled the mountain, trudging through mud and slushy snow.

We were all wearing fur-lined coats that were warm and dry thanks to Galen’s fire that had blazed all night.

Rafael rode up beside me. “How are you feeling after yesterday?” he asked.

I’m sure the bags under my eyes were answer enough.

I’d tossed and turned last night, thinking of his shadows.

How they’d incinerated skin, muscle, and bone in seconds.

He was capable of that kind of magic, and yet he let the Elders and Sylvia talk down to him.

How many times had he fantasized about turning them all into dust, I wondered.

“Honestly?” I sighed. “I’m feeling like a failure. I should’ve been able to defend myself.” I paused. “Also, remind me not to get on your bad side.”

He snorted, giving me a hard stare, before the lines in his face softened. “I lost my temper. I should’ve waited until you were out of sight.”

The look he gave me caused my chest to tighten and my skin to tingle. It was apologetic, but laced with something heavier .

“Thank you for saving me,” I murmured. “I’d be having a terrible day right now, if you hadn’t acted when you did.

Perhaps I wouldn’t even be here.” My voice caught in my throat.

I thought back to the day I arrived in Nymera.

Black smoke had surrounded me and then all six wylks were dead. It had been Raf who saved me then, too.

“Galen isn’t the only one who cares about your welfare.” The depth of his words—the way he said it—made my stomach twist. I couldn’t handle his kindness. It was easier to be friends with him when he teased me or pissed me off. Silence stretched on long enough that it turned awkward.

He cleared his throat. “Have you felt any closer to your shifting form with all this time spent outdoors?”

My magic danced beneath my skin in response, but I still didn’t know how to embrace that feeling and shift. I looked down at my hands, just in case they decided to turn into hooves or claws.

“I feel…” I paused. “Like I’m on the edge of the cliff, but I don’t know how to jump.” I hoped he understood.

“Need a push?” His dimples flashed.

“Perhaps you just need to take me for that ride. Maybe I need to spend some time in the air.”

He rolled his eyes. “A little more groveling and I’ll think about it.” A half-smile, designed to devastate, lit up his face before he nudged Zag forward without a goodbye.

We stopped to rest for the night, planning to make it to the Oracle by mid-morning tomorrow.

The men exchanged stories of the Witch of the Woods, as they liked to call her, seeming to enjoy taunting me.

“My cousin’s friend went to the Oracle asking for a love potion, to win over the woman he desired.

She gave him the potion… before turning him into a toad,” said Robert. The most I’d ever heard him say.

Alaric spoke next. “That’s not how it works.

She tells you what the price will be before you pay it.

My friend’s brother went to her, wanting to know how to get rich.

She said she’d tell him how in exchange for cursing him with a loveless life.

He took the deal—he was in debt from gambling and was out of options.

He’s the richest man in his village now, but has no one to share it with.

It’s made him bitter and cruel. She feeds off those emotions for years to come.

She doesn’t let anyone leave without a price that will cost them greatly. ”

“She’s not dealing with just anyone, ” Louis said. “Marigold is a world walker; she’s both human and faerie… Her presence alone will be a gift to the witch. Plus, it would benefit her to help, if she ever wants to see her sister in Erador again.” Louis was trying to make me feel better.

“To offend the world walker is to offend the gods,” Raf said with mischief in his eyes. I glared at him.

“She’s been leeching from others long enough. If she gives us trouble, we’ll fight back,” Galen said. I really didn’t want to tangle with a giant spider; but I supposed if I had to, having three magical Princes, eager to help, was as lucky as I could hope to get.

“Can we please stop talking about her? It’s making me rethink this decision.” I rubbed goosebumps off my arms.

“Yes, but one more thing. Please think long and hard before you accept whatever deal she offers you. If it’s something that is going to endanger your life, it’s not worth it. We can find another way to unlock your magic.” Raf’s eyes were drilling into me as he spoke.

“Surprisingly, I agree with him,” Galen chimed in.

“So do I,” Louis added.

“You guys nag me more than my old lady’s maid,” I laughed. I thought of the count down the Elders had given me, of the humans that needed my help. There was little I wouldn’t agree to at this point, but the Princes didn’t need to know that.