He reaches for the doorknob and takes a deep breath; his head lowered as if he’s waiting for me to stop him. I do no such thing.

He leaves the room, and the door shuts behind him with a resounding thud.

“Good riddance,” I sulk, lying back on the pillow. “Break the curse. Ha! As if anything is more powerful than the gods!” Heat flickers through my hands, and I shake them with a snide grunt. “Especially not some old woman hidden away in the woods. If she’s even still alive! The Minea would’ve told me about her. Nuri would’ve seen her.”

Another sizzle webs through my torrid palms as my thoughts race between the memories I saw when I held the Minea's hand. The old woman, the younger girl…could that have been her?

“Fine, maybe there is a Woman of the Woods. But they would’ve told me if they thought there was a way to break the curse.”

My fierce headache returns. I need another Teddy tonic, and quick. “Besides, even if there is a way, what’s the point? It’s not like Braizen and I could ever be. Our Kingdoms are at war!” This time a severe pain rustles down my spine, and I yelp.

Go to him. Find him now.

“No.” I counter the feeling and cross my arms. Anguish burns deep in my chest and prevents me from taking a satisfying breath. “Are you going to kill me if I don’t obey? Is that what this is?” I wheeze as the pain travels up my neck and thumps against my skull.

A nasty headache that even Teddy’s solution can’t lessen. A headache just like the ones I saw my mother grapple with…I stop squirming.

I hold my throbbing head in my hands and slowly set my bare, dirty feet on the floor.

“You know, I’m growing quite exhausted from this.” I complain to the phantom urge that compels me to run down the hall and find him. “What do you want from me? Why are you pushing me towards him?! Answer me if you want my obedience!”

Slowly, the ivy on the dresser begins to fidget. They are tiny movements, but I swear the ends of the sprouting vines turn golden and curl into a circle. I hear Nuri’s words, and raging heat consumes my hands.

Above all, magic will try to preserve itself by protecting the world it lives in.

Go to him!

Without a second thought, I’m charging towards the door. I fling it open and nearly crash into him on the other side.

“Braizen!” His hand is poised to turn the knob, and he carefully returns it to his side. I pull my weight back onto my heels to prevent a collision.