‘I –’ Sapphire’s voice caught, and she realized how foolish she had been lately. So wrapped up in her own world that she never even noticed the decline in family dinners, in lessons, in time spent together. She had never wondered what had taken their attention. ‘I haven’t noticed.’

Ashes let out a soft laugh.

‘Whispers spread like wildfire. Whispers that my coven is weakening the barrier. Your people are blaming us. Me. It is much easier to have a common enemy than a common fear.’

Ashes was unravelling and Sapphire needed to make it stop. She felt an insatiable hunger to reassure, to comfort, to make promises she wasn’t even sure she could keep.

‘They are going to kill us.’ Ashes’ voice was certain, and it made Sapphire’s stomach turn. ‘This is their final attempt to eradicate us. The smudge on Eriobis’ gleaming history.’

‘The treaty is in place. My parents, they –’

‘Sapphire, they may not deliver the blow that takes my life, but it will most certainly be delivered.’

The vivid images of Sapphire’s nightmares came back. Graphic and detailed – lives taken, witches burned, cries of celebration and agony, a mixed chorus that made her ears ring.

‘I – I will talk to them. I will tell my parents –’

‘They are not your parents.’ Ashes’ voice was too loud, her words making Sapphire flinch. ‘And what would you say? That you care for me? That you have grown fond of your very own Shadow Witch so they should spare my life?’

‘I am smart enough to know that my heart cannot sway a country afraid of the unknown,’ Sapphire bit back. ‘I won’t –’

‘There is nothing you can do, Sapphire.’ Ashes did not look afraid; instead, she suddenly smiled. Sapphire felt ill. ‘But I will not go down without a fight. I will take as many souls as I can in my wake. In my final hours.’

‘Wh-what are you saying?’

‘I am the strongest of my coven. I was born to protect those who came before me, and I intend to fulfil the oath. If my coven collapses, I will bring the kingdom down with it. I will paint the world in inescapable darkness. And your people will curse my name for years to come.’ She cut her eyes to Sapphire. ‘I will welcome death, but I will not go alone.’

‘They will kill you. You will –’

‘They will.’ Ashes smiled as she said it. ‘But I’ll bring their nightmares to life before they do.’

At the declaration, something inside Sapphire snapped. Weeks of pent-up emotion haemorrhaged forth.

Anger.

Fear.

Ashes looked triumphant in the face of death. She seemed at peace with leaving this all behind. But the witch was Sapphire’s and Sapphire’s alone. No one would take her away. She would rather be a queen of rubble than be robbed of the girl in front of her.

‘No.’

Ashes looked down at Sapphire, narrowing her eyes.

‘Come again?’