But as open as Agatha tried to be to her mentor during their training sessions, by late in the week, the only thing she’d learned was to count to ten every time she had the urge to disembowel her.

“IT’S A WAND, YOU HOPELESS HALF-WIT,” Cinderella barked, jowls flapping. “FIVE DAYS OF THIS AND YOU CAN’T EVEN HOLD IT STRAIGHT!”

“Because you’re making me nervous!” Agatha yelled, trying to steady Professor Dovey’s wand at the White Rabbit, patiently leaning against a tree while he snacked on a cheese biscuit.

“IMAGINE HOW NERVOUS YOU’RE GONNA BE WHEN AN ENTIRE ARMY’S TRYING TO KILL YOU!”

“If I could just speak to Merlin, he’ll see he shouldn’t have picked me for this—”

“TOO BAD MERLIN AIN’T AROUND!”

“But why do I have to do it?” said Agatha, the wand shaking so much she could feel her queen’s crown quivering. “Why can’t someone else?”

“’Cause for some ungodly reason, Merlin thinks you’re the one to make Sophie destroy her ring!” Cinderella blared. “I, on the other hand, think we should fillet and fry you and serve you to Evil as a peace offering.”

Both glowered at each other, fuming.

“Listen to me, you overgrown milkweed. There’s no use fighting this war unless you can make Sophie shatter that ring,” Cinderella growled. “And I say the only way you can do that is by giving her the choice between living and dying. But you have to be willing to hurt her in practice, otherwise you won’t believe it when the time comes. And if you don’t believe it, she won’t believe it.”

“But why do I have to hurt a rabbit?” Agatha argued, pointing at the one against the tree.

“Agatha,” said Cinderella, trying to control her temper. “If you can’t hurt a rabbit, how would you hurt your best friend?”

“Can’t I just stun him with a spell? Why do I have to use a wand—”

“’CAUSE SHE’S NOT GONNA BE AFRAID OF A STUN SPELL! SOPHIE WON’T BE AFRAID OF ANY STUPID SCHOOL SPELLS!” roared Cinderella. “She’ll be scared of Dovey’s wand if she thinks you’re ready to shoot her with it, and Dovey’s wand works the same way all magic does in our world: by intention and conviction—both of which Merlin seems to think you have, despite all evidence to the contrary.”

Agatha gritted her teeth and exhaled. “Once, all right? I’m only doing this once!”

Cinderella threw up her hands. “So far you’ve been doin’ diddly-squat, so once would be an improvement!”

Agatha ignored her and slowly raised the wand at the White Rabbit once more. She pictured armies clashing around her . . . the entire fate of this war resting on her shoulders . . .

She held her breath, gripping the wand tighter.

It’s for Good.

Just once for Good.

But now, instead of the rabbit, she saw Sophie looking back at her with emerald eyes and rosy cheeks. The Sophie who’d tried again and again to be Good, only to end up Evil.