I wish I could feel you, I think at the trees. I wish I had magic. Not that wishing will achieve anything. That’s not how magic works at all. The itch only gets worse, lingering even after I rub my hand on my jeans.

“Fifty years ago, these trees pulsated with energy,” Emmi says, her words suddenly choked with sorrow. “A hundred years ago, this area was so rich in elemental energy, no mage could wander these woods without becoming overwhelmed by the magical forces here. And now, this is all we have left. What happens when it’s gone? What happens when we’ve used up all the natural energy?”

“We turn into Taika.” Ekaterina’s comment earns a chorus of snickers, which die a sudden death as Emmi scowls.

“Release whatever energy you managed to store in your amulets, pay your respects to the forest, and line up at the birch. Ekaterina, with me.”

While the others drop their energy-free amulets back into the bag I’m still holding, Emmi takes Ekaterina aside. I wish I could hear what’s being said, because whatever it is makes Ekaterina’s face turn red and her hands ball into fists, but she nods before marching over to me.

“I’m sorry,” she says as if the words cause her physical pain.

I hope they do. She tosses her amulet at my feet.

Mercifully, the bell rings, and we follow Emmi back to school. I’m only paying attention to my feet, so I actually jump when Natalie’s voice sounds close to my ear.

“I don’t think it was Katya or Sini. Probably someone in Tero,” she whispers.

I bite the inside of my cheek, stifling all the angry words I want to fling at her. Of course Natalie would defend her friends! But I don’t want her to go. It’s been ages since we’ve talked, just the two of us.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” she asks.

“I’m fine. Magic can’t really hurt me.” My voice sounds as croaky as Kamu’s.

“Yes, it can,” Natalie says quietly.

“Well you would know, wouldn’t you?” The words are out before I can help it. No! Why? Why do I say these things?

Because you’re useless. You’re pathetic. You can’t even do non-magical stuff properly, the voice screams in the back of my mind, and for a moment I think maybe Natalie hears it too, but no, she’s wincing at the words I said.

Her face crumples before she stomps away, leaving me scrambling for an apology. When I need them most, words desert me, drowned out by that other voice yelling inside my mind.

“Taika, one moment.” Emmi beckons me closer.

Reluctantly, I go over, annoyed when Aysha pretends to retie the shoelaces of her designer sneakers only to eavesdrop. The others have already gone on ahead.