“Do we? Really?” The tip of Rosalind’s sword finally lowered to the ground as she stared at Cordelia, breathing hard. “If you’ve been talking to them all this time without telling us, when you knew how scared for them we’ve been …”

“Well, of course she has,” said Lady Elianora. “Can’t you see it? Keeping secrets from you two is what she does best.”

“Don’t listen to her!” Cordelia cried. “Giles! Ros! You know me. You know I wouldn’t—”

“Then how could you tell that those soldiers were waiting by the mist?” Giles demanded. “How did that arrow wound of yours heal in only an hour? And do you really think I’m so stupid, I haven’t noticed there’s been magic at work every night while Ros and I were sleeping? I’ve seen those flowers underneath you every morning! Are they part of the magic that lets you talk to Connall and Mother without either of us listening in?”

“No!” Cordelia yelled. “Mother and Connall didn’t heal me. I can’t reach out to them any more than you can. I would have told you if I could. Trust me!”

“Trust you to tell us anything? You haven’t trusted us for days!” Hissing out a breath, Rosalind threw up her hands, letting her sword fall to the ground. “How stupid do you think we are?”

“If you’re stupid enough to think I would ever—”

“Enough!” Giles’s cry rang out through the shadowy green air. Unshed tears shimmered in his eyes. “I am finished trusting you when you refuse to trust us back. Cordy, if you can’t tell us the whole truth, right now, then we’re not going any farther with you. Not one more step!”

Rosalind’s jaw clenched visibly with tension … but she gave a short, sharp nod of agreement.

Cordelia’s whole body shook as if it were tearing itself apart … or trying to pull her back in time, to change that first terrible night for good, to keep them all safely planted within the walls of their castle, with every terrifying secret kept walled outside forever. “If I tell you the truth, I’ll lose you anyway!” Her words fell into the air like broken pieces.

“Cordy?” Giles’s voice softened as he started forward. “What are you talking about? You’re our sister. As long as you’re honest with us, there’s nothing you could ever say that—”