‘Oh, witch, we were hunting monsters. You were exactly what we hoped to find.’

With a flick of the wrist, one of the men shot a vine at Ashes, but her shadows quickly devoured it.

‘Now, now, gentlemen. There’s no need for this. I’m sure you have families that will mourn you.’

‘We should carve your tongue out before we kill you.’

‘Is my tongue truly worth your life?’ The men laughed at the question, and Sapphire felt the familiar slow, smouldering burn of rage. Her fingers danced at her side, her magic begging to be set free.

‘We do not fear you.’

‘I am not the one you should fear,’ Ashes replied.

The men’s laughter echoed off the trees, ricocheting off Sapphire’s skin. It stoked the fire that threatened to consume her.

‘Then tell us, girl, who should we fear?’

Sapphire stepped from the shadows with a smile on her face and death dancing on her fingertips.

‘Me.’

The men followed Ashes’ gaze and saw Sapphire.

‘Princess?’ the shorter man wheezed before Sapphire’s dagger buried itself in the side of his neck. Blood spilled from the wound as he grabbed for the hilt. She turned her focus to the other man, smiling.

‘Apologize,’ Sapphire demanded.

‘Wh–what?’ The man’s voice betrayed his terror.

‘Apologize for treating her poorly, for accusing her. For interrupting our night.’

‘Princess, I –’ His words were cut short as he tracked her movements, saw the flame flickering in her palm. She circled behind him and kicked the back of his knees, watching as he collapsed before Ashes.

‘Grovel. Beg. If she grants you kindness, I will allow you a three-minute head start before I rip you in two.’

Ashes watched Sapphire, eyes dancing with approval. The witch smiled down at the man.

‘I’m-I’m sorry,’ he stuttered. ‘We just want our families to be safe.’

Ashes arched a perfect brow, taking a step towards him. The kneeling man was forced to crane his neck to meet her gaze.

‘You understand that, don’t you?’ the man begged.

Ashes squatted down, almost to his eye level. She studied him, head tilted, with a soft expression. She reached her hands out to cup his cheeks. The two stared at each other, moments passing in measured heartbeats until the witch smiled at him.

He breathed a sigh of relief.

Her smile grew.

‘No.’ Ashes’ voice was deafening. The man froze, his body rigid. ‘No, I don’t think I do.’

The sound of bones snapping filled the forest. A sickening chorus of splintering fragments, of a death served quickly, rang in Sapphire’s ears. Ashes held the man’s limp head in her hands, looking up to Sapphire from her kneeling position, and grinned like a proud predator.