‘Ashes.’ Her voice shook. ‘I need you. I need your help.’

One.

Two.

‘Manners suit you.’ Ashes emerged from her left, palming a tendril of her own hair. ‘Now, say it again.’

That familiar scent of smoke and honey hit her senses as Ashes stepped in closer.

‘I need your help.’

‘No.’ Her voice was deeper and Sapphire shivered. ‘The other part.’

The princess frowned. With her free hand, Ashes smoothed the lines that creased Sapphire’s brow.

‘Say it.’

Sapphire felt it. That familiar shift in Ashes’ presence.

‘I need you.’

‘Good girl,’ she whispered before stepping back, adding distance. ‘Let’s go.’

Sapphire watched her hair tumble from the witch’s fingers as she turned to head towards the overlook.

She silently prayed that the witch would lead her anywhere else. Back to the flames, to the forest, to some dark hovel filled with monsters, it didn’t matter. She would have given anything in that moment to have the girl consume her in the shadows.

‘Are you coming?’ Sapphire remained planted on the spot, considering her next move. But the sound of footsteps sent Ashes scrambling towards her, concealing them both with her shadows.

‘Sapphire?’ It was Evera’s voice. ‘Sapphire, are you there?’

‘Let her go, witch,’ Kaian growled.

‘Kaian Princeps is awfully protective of you.’ Ashes sniggered.

‘I don’t need protection.’

‘No, you don’t.’ Shadows ran up Sapphire’s back. ‘At least not from him.’

Sapphire stared up at the witch. Ashes’ skin was pale against the shadows that danced around them. This close, she noticed that there was gold threaded through the blue irises of the girl’s eyes. The witch smirked.

‘Tell me, princess, are you afraid of the dark? Or do you long for it? The touch of something wicked?’

A shadow brushed against Sapphire’s lips. She felt it, cold and entrancing.

She had never been afraid of the dark, and she had half a mind to make that clear, but she heard Evera call her name once more, and the trance was broken.

‘Let them see me, Ashes.’

The witch ran a gentle hand down the exposed skin of her arm, and Sapphire hummed, leaning in slightly. The witch was terribly enigmatic but something about her enthralled Sapphire, refusing to let her go. A few beats passed, the two staring at one another, and Sapphire desperately wanted to confess every thought she had ever had. But the witch blinked a few times and the moment passed.

‘As you wish, princess.’

The shadows peeled away from them, revealing her two worried companions, painted by Evera’s flame with a warm glow that didn’t suit them. When they saw her, Sapphire stepped away quickly from Ashes.

‘You’re safe.’ Evera’s voice was tight as she pulled her into an embrace. ‘We worried –’

‘When I kill her,’ Ashes’ voice made Evera stiffen, looking at the witch with narrowed eyes, ‘I won’t make it so obvious.’