Another stumble forward and her body sent what felt like a final warning shot before freefall. The pain made her stiffen – like claws digging into her mind. But her magic led her forward … and she knew she was no more than an arm’s length away from the barrier.

Reaching out a timid, shaking hand, she braced for impact.

A hand clamped down on her shoulder, wrenching her out of the sensation. She was dragged away, the heels of her boots scraping against the ground as she fought the force. She blinked a few times, her vision clearing, and watched as the barrier receded further and further. Her eyes found Ashes’, whose hand was too tight around Sapphire’s shoulder.

‘Unhand me!’ she shouted too loudly, pulling out of the witch’s grip. ‘You have no right –’

‘I have every right when it is my life on the line. Touching the barrier is forbidden. Even I, a pariah of this forsaken country, know that. If you were caught, it would be my head the executioner held.’

‘I am the future queen of this land. I will do as –’

‘The future queen of this land should be able to find the barrier without the assistance of a witch. You are hardly prepared for your role, and you’re a fool to think differently.’

‘You cannot speak to me like that. You –’

‘I can speak to you however I like.’ Ashes stepped forward, so close that Sapphire could see a vein throbbing in her neck. ‘You are no queen of mine. I will never kneel at your feet like the sycophants who swarm around you.’

Sapphire fought the urge to stomp her feet like a child. Ashes smirked like she could read her mind, and Sapphire looked past her to the barrier, longing for the feeling of absolute power it had bestowed upon her.

‘When I am queen, you will regret every word you have said,’ she whispered, eyes still trained on the blue wall of magic.

‘If you become queen, my words will be the least of your worries.’

Sapphire snapped her focus back to the witch.

‘What is that supposed to mean?’

Ashes gave a wicked laugh.

‘Oh, highness, you will surely see.’

Claye found her sitting by the lake that morning. A comfortable silence settled between them as he observed her from a few feet away but relaxation did not come. The feeling of the magic from the barrier coursed through her, impossible to forget.

The sensation of her skin tearing, her bones grinding, her chest collapsing. Untameable magic. She yearned for it.

‘Claye?’ she called out.

The man took a few strides forward to join her.

‘What can I do for you, princess?’

‘What do you know about my disappearance?’

He paled, quickly averting his gaze. ‘Why do you ask?’

‘Would you not be curious?’

It took a few minutes for him to finally look back at her.