“I should’ve known,” she spits. Her chest heaves as she takes in shallow breaths.

I part my lips to speak, and the arrow digs deeper. “That tongue is done spilling lies, Brader!” Her ferocious hiss is barely human. “I’m done being your pawn in this stupid, little game. It ends now.”

Any further, and she’ll break through skin. I study her frantic eyes, no longer those of a fawn gazing across a green meadow. They are now those of a huntress, and she’ll stop at nothing to claim her kill. The barb drives deeper, deeper…

I grab the arrow, yank it away, and roll forward in one swift motion. Idalia tumbles face first, landing in my place.

Already on my feet, I look to where I’d left my bow and other arrows; they’re gone. Now I point the arrow down at her. She groans, throwing her heavy cloak away from her legs and swipes some of the hair from her face. I swear I hear her growl; her face is tight with fury.

“What is this?!” I ask loudly. “What are you doing, Idalia? Has The Wood driven you mad so quickly?”

She spits and scrambles away from me on her hands and feet.

“Stop moving! Tell me what’s happened! Have the woods possessed you, Sparrow?”

Her hair covers her face, but whimpers escape the thick strands that do their best to shield her.

“Answer me, Idalia!” I yell, walking closer. “Have the trees poisoned your mind?”

“The only thing that has poisoned my mind is you!” She shrieks, but I hear her choke on the words. She’s crying.

“Look at me, Idalia! Look at me and explain what you mean!”

“You won,” she says. She drops her face into her hands and sobs. Her muffled cries soon fill the air around us.

“Baelliles has won. Please, kill me now. Don’t take me to him!” Her eyes are swollen, and her fragile face crumples in defeat.

I throw the arrow as far as I can and fall to my knees before her.

“Idalia, talk to me. What’s wrong? What are you saying?”

“It’s too late,” she mumbles. “It’s too late for me to run.”

Anger rolls through me like a wave gaining traction in a storm.

“Talk to me, damnit! What’s going on?”

Her wet lashes stick together, but her stare still pierces me. She wipes her hand across her nose.

“How could you do it, Braizen? Before they come, tell me. How could you!? Was it all a lie!”

The Florian Wood has her mind in a terrible hold, this much I know for sure. I shuffle towards her, and her sobs grow louder.

“Just kill me, please.” Her words seem to be dragged out of her throat. “Kill me before they get here.”