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I force myself to look forward, each step away from Ledger feeling like a betrayal—of him, of myself, of the person I’d started to become. But I keep moving because that is what I’ve always done, what I’ll always do for the people I love.

The guards descend as Ledger attempts to pursue us. He draws his sword, unleashing himself on the guards around him.

“Layla!” Each scream of my name makes something in my chest throb. My nails scratch at the skin there, needing relief from the pain. My power pulses unhappily under my skin and my legs strain against my command to keep walking away.

Ledger spins, his power lashing out, his sword singing through the air and into flesh. His movements are strong and skilled, but his face is desperate as his eyes flicker to me.

He slashes down guard after guard until I can no longer bear to watch. Maddox pulls me through the woods at a pace so brisk I struggle to keep up.

“Almost there, Lay.” He throws me on his horse, and I give Ledger one last look before I force my eyes forward. No part of me wants to leave this place, to leave him.

The horse races through the woods, the trees blurring around us. Maddox holds me tightly to him. “I got you,” he murmurs into my ear.

I swallow the sob that works its way up my throat and cling to Maddox’s arm. The further I get from Westray, from Ledger, the harder it is for me to breathe. We ride higher and higher until we get to a tall peak .

Maddox takes me with him when he dismounts and sets me on a tree stump. He kneels and I wrap my arms around his neck, clinging to him as tears cascade down my cheeks.

His arm comes around my waist while his fingers stroke my hair. “I’ve missed you, Lay.” I clutch him tighter, breathing in his recognizable scent. Gods, I’d missed him so much.

“You’re alright,” he murmurs. “It’s okay, you’re safe now.” I release him and blink my eyes against the sudden onslaught of emotion. I wasn’t alright, was far from it.

“He can’t hurt you anymore. I’m sorry I couldn’t get you out sooner.” A sob ratchets my body and Maddox frowns as his thumb brushes away a stray tear.

His warm hand wraps around mine. I didn’t realize I’d been scratching at my chest. His eyes linger on the necklace lying just below my collar bones. His brows draw together as his eyes flicker from my face to the beautiful piece.

His confusion is evident causing my heart to race. I keep my lips sealed, terrified of what might come out. I’d fallen for the prince of Westray. My captor. The last man that I should have let myself care for.

The ground rumbles as horses gallop straight for us. Maddox stands, his hand going to the pommel of his sword. I let out the breath that I had been holding and push up on weak knees.

Tamish appears from the tree line, followed by a few guards and Forde. I frown, fear snaking through my veins .

“Why is Tamish here? And why is he with Forde?” I wipe my damp cheeks with the back of my hand.

“My father ordered him to go with us to bring you back. He didn’t trust I could do the job.” His jaw feathers and his eyes narrow as they near, slowing their horses.

Tamish jumps from his horse and strides towards us. His sword is out, and the tip is covered in scarlet blood. “You made the right choice, darling.” He directs the comment at me, but I hardly register it.

“Why is he here?” I glare over at Forde, and he gives me a cocky smirk.

“When I saw Tamish and Maddox come through Bellehaven looking for a healer girl, I knew I had to help them. They agreed to offer me the reward if I could flush you out of Westray. I hope Ledger and his crew received my gift.” I bristle at his words.

“You unleashed the Dire wolves and Kerolu onto the innocent people of Westray?” I grit my teeth.

“You are lucky that is all I did, especially after his behavior in Grimwood. Ledger took something that wasn’t his. He must learn those things have consequences.”

“Fuck you,” I seethe, lunging for him. Maddox holds me back.

“Do calm down, Layla. Honestly, what did you expect? If you ask me, we went easy on them.” Tamish wipes his bloodied blade onto his pants, and my power sizzles .

“Why is your sword bloody?” My stomach churns uneasily.

“The prince was more zealous than we anticipated.” He sneers.

“What did you do?” I ask, hysteria building inside of me.

“The King asked I deliver a message.” Tamish sneered.

“He doesn’t like his things borrowed, especially not by Westray.

The balance of power between kingdoms has always been precarious, and your little adventure could tip us into open conflict.

Sandor is…displeased about the lengths he’s had to go to retrieve you.

I simply made that clear to the prince.”

“Take me back,” I demand, turning towards Maddox.

“You’re not going anywhere, girl.” Tamish steps in between us. My power pulses beneath my skin.

“For the love of the gods, I didn’t kill the boy. We don’t want a war with Westray yet; he will recover.” I picture Ledger hurt, and it makes me want to slit Tamish’s throat.

“I need to go back.” I sidestep Tamish and plead to Maddox. I can almost taste his confusion, see the questions bubbling inside of him.

“You do not belong there. Do not further humiliate yourself. Get on the horse and let this fade into a distant memory,” Tamish says, gesturing to his horse. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way, and trust me, girl, you won’t like the hard way. ”

I release the hold on my power and propel it towards him. He staggers back a step as it slams into him. I squeeze at his windpipe, and he gasps, grabbing at his throat.

Tamish struggles against my hold, and I fight to keep him still. His knee hits the ground, and my power flickers. My abilities are still deeply drained from what I’d expended the day prior.

A sick smirk slides over Tamish’s thin lips as he lifts his own hand. Blinding pain explodes in my body, and I collapse and lose all control.

My limbs twitch, and I scream silently as his rank power filters through my body. Agony. It is so acute I retch, bile dripping over my cheek and mixing into the dirt.

“STOP! Tamish, please.” I hear Maddox begging and feel his hands somewhere on my body. I can see Tamish’s hand hovering out in front of him, pumping me full of his torment. I get a glance of Forde’s giddy face

I latch onto my own power, gathering the pitiful remains of it, and manage to shove what I can out towards him with the intent to fragment the bones of his fingers.

Before it can reach Tamish’s outstretched hand, a guard steps out from behind him, stopping my attack and ricocheting it right back to me.

My piercing scream echoes in the distance as the bones in my hand shatter. I grasp my arm to my chest, tears streaming down my face. Maddox is yelling, his panicked face blurring above me. I moan as Tamish sends one more pulse of wretched pain through me.

“Put her on the horse,” he demands, and Maddox arms wrap around me.

“You’re okay—you’re going to be okay,” he whispers, breathing his apologies into my ear.

My body spasms with the aftershock of Tamish’s assault as he places me in the saddle. Hand throbbing, I fight for consciousness. My mind screams, begging my body to move, to fight, but it doesn’t obey.

My legs and arms remain limp, and my power is an unhappy flicker in my core. I want to war, to cry, to burn down this unfair world.

Instead, I sit on the horse as it carries me away from Westray. Away from the people I have come to love and cherish and the man I’ve allowed myself to care for so deeply. The fight in me wavers, unclear and displaced.

I feel like a prisoner once again. I can’t fathom how I am supposed to return to Bellehaven after my world’s been turned upside down. I am brimming with emotions and life I’ve never dared let myself feel before, and I know I’ll never be the same again.