Tears threatened to spill over as Ashes began to tug her down the path. ‘It will be OK,’ she called back as the people who mattered most in the world to her began to fade from view. ‘It will all be OK.’

Gods above, she prayed, don’t let that be a lie.

‘How foolish to bring them here, princess. I assumed you had more sense than that, at least.’

Sapphire bowed her head like a scolded child but decided to be honest. ‘I was afraid.’

Ashes laughed, rolling her eyes. ‘You’ve stumbled blindly through this forest, practically begging for something dangerous to come slithering out of the darkness to devour you. What’s got you so timid now?’

‘I – well. What if they – your coven – don’t … approve. What if they –?’

Ashes stopped short, grabbing Sapphire by the chin and forcing her to look up. In the dim light of the orb, Sapphire’s stomach clenched as she took the girl in.

‘I would never purposefully bring you into a situation that isn’t safe for you. I need you to understand that.’

‘But you hate me.’

Ashes tilted her head, her lips tugging upward. ‘I might. But I always collect my debts. So, for now, my word stands.’

Ashes dropped her chin and began walking again, and Sapphire frowned, missing the girl’s hand in her own.

‘Do they know I’m coming? Do they know what I am?’

‘It was not my place to announce it.’

‘I thought no one was welcome,’ Sapphire said.

‘You happen to be an exception, princess.’

‘But why?’

‘You’ll see.’

Sapphire ran a nervous hand through her hair. Too much was unknown, there were too many unanswered questions, and too many riddles to solve.

The thought rooted her to the ground, forcing her guide to stop and face her.

‘What are you doing?’ Ashes questioned.

‘I don’t know if I can do this,’ Sapphire admitted.

Ashes’ usual hard expression softened slightly as Sapphire tried to steady her breath.

She waited for the witch to threaten her. Waited for her to make a jab. But Ashes was silent, her eyes slowly taking her in.

Mercy, she hated her.

Gods above, did she want to kiss her.

Sapphire studied the shape of her lips, the hollowness of her cheeks, the way a few loose tendrils of her red curls framed her face.

Wicked and alluring. Bewitching and impenetrable. Something Sapphire couldn’t quite understand, and something she couldn’t just ignore. She wanted to trace the lines of Ashes’ face with her fingers, memorizing each dip, each span of smooth skin. She wanted to breathe the witch in, keep her. Lock her away in a corner of her heart that no one else could find. Hidden and hers. Hers alone.