She reached the Cilirian shore and took in the looming forest, but did not stop. She unstrapped the dagger from her thigh and ventured into the woods as the sun sank below the horizon.

You will not fail. You will not fall.

Finding the witches proved harder than she had expected and she walked in circles as night overtook the world around her.

She stumbled and struggled through the forest ravaged by the storm. Downed trees and branches blocked known paths and opened others that were foreign to her.

‘Princess, why are we always meeting like this?’

Sapphire paused for a moment, before turning to meet the witch’s gaze as calmly as she could. The light of the orb in her hand illuminated in the darkness. Sapphire wanted to rip the smirk off Ashes’ face with the tip of her blade.

‘I was looking for your coven.’

‘How lucky you are that it is me that you found first.’

That was it.

The arrogance.

The lack of fear.

Her.

Sapphire lunged for the witch, placing the cold blade to her exposed throat and pressing it into her skin.

Ashes didn’t flinch. She did not step to the side. She did not scream. Instead, the witch laughed, causing the tip of the dagger to prick her skin. A bead of blood rolled down her neck and settled into her collarbone. She placed her hands behind her back, looking down at Sapphire.

‘You could do it, you know. Think of the legend you would become. The beloved Lost Princess who slit a Shadow Witch’s throat. They’d laud you as a hero.’

‘Two of my citizens were killed last night. Are you saying it was simply an accident of Ryvinika?’

‘She should’ve taken more.’ A wicked smile spread across Ashes’ face. ‘But you don’t have it in you, do you? To take a life.’

Sapphire leaned into the blade, the dagger digging deeper, more droplets sliding down the witch’s neck.

‘I should kill you.’

‘Then do it,’ the witch challenged.

Her voice did not waver, and her expression did not falter. Even with a blade to her neck, she was entirely undisturbed. Her eyes were locked on Sapphire.

‘Why are you not afraid?’

It was then that the witch genuinely smiled, showing all of her teeth.

‘Because,’ her voice was low, ‘since the day I saw you in the castle, since the moment I took your hand, I’ve dreamed of you putting a blade to my throat.’

Sapphire looked at the witch. Her focus lingered on her full lips flushed with pink.

‘Do they ever tell you?’ Ashes asked, breaking her focus.

‘Tell me what?’ Sapphire’s grip tightened on the hilt of the blade.

‘That you are exquisite. A thick mulled wine in a winter storm.’

‘I …’

Ashes reached out a hand, tucking a loose strand of hair behind Sapphire’s ear.

‘They could live a thousand lifetimes and never deserve you.’