“You had already earned it until you stomped all over Lina’s heart because of your own foolish pride.” Talhan shifted on his feet like he was a pacing wildcat.

Her voice broke and she clenched her fists in frustration. “I let her go.”

“So go apologize and win her back, you bloody idiot,” Talhan snarled. Bri chucked her pillow at him and he easily dodged it. “What do you want more, Bri, a throne or her?”

The muscles in her jaw ached from grinding her teeth so hard as tears slid down her cheeks. What would she want if she hadn’t been told? If the currents of Fate and her mother’s meddling hadn’t tossed her to and fro . . . She closed her eyes and imagined the future, the same future she’d envisioned while resting her head in Lina’s lap.

Finally, she spoke the words that had been echoing in the back of her mind the past day. “A throne means nothing without her beside me.”

Talhan let his hulking arms drop to his side, his face softening. “Then why are you still here?”

Aneryn burst into the room. The two of them twisted toward her, staring at the witch’s flickering blue eyes and the sapphire flames licking up from her hands. Behind her, the rest of their friends hung in the doorframe, having not gotten far before the blue witch came running.

“What is it?” Rua asked from the hallway. “What do you See?”

“The Western Princess is in danger,” Aneryn panted, locking her flickering eyes with Bri.

Blood drained from Bri’s face, her limbs numbing as she leapt out of bed. “Cole?”

“I don’t know,” Aneryn breathed, her brow furrowing in frustration. “I don’t See anyone, just this thick purple smoke.” She grimaced as if even the thought of it stung her throat. Her eyes cleared of the flickering blue and she narrowed them at Bri. “But I hear things . . .” Her voice dropped to barely a whisper. “I hear her screaming.”

The cold, sharp sting of those words slapped Bri in the face. She darted to the wardrobe as the rest of the group stumbled in.

“We’ll go ready the horses,” Remy said.

“I’ll go get my blade,” Rua echoed.

Bri turned to them with panicked eyes. “But your party?”

“Fuck the party,” Rua said. “We’re coming.” She darted a look at Aneryn. “Aneryn can host.”

The blue witch gave her a tight nod. The others bolted to their rooms, and Bri was dressed and ready to depart in the blink of an eye. Each movement was haunted by the imagined screams in her head. They had to get to Swifthill before Aneryn’s vision came to pass.

*   *   *