She could swim to Ciliria, and find Ashes. Find her, ask her questions, and put this exhausting fascination to rest. She had been studying the map of Eriobis. She knew that the large lake that extended from the training ground would eventually lead her to the shore of Ciliria’s forest.

Pulling her cloak from the wall, she tiptoed down the corridor, sliding past the guards lounging at the main entrance, and exited through an unguarded servants’ door that she’d noticed on a tour of the castle. Sapphire moved quickly, not slowing until she reached the lake’s edge.

As she took a tentative step into the water, a chill breeze wrapped around her, reminding her of Ashes’ cold touch on her hand. Her heart hammered in her chest at the memory, but she took another step deeper, pulled into the water at the memory. Then she thought she heard footsteps nearby.

Planting her feet a few inches deeper into the water, she forced her breathing to slow. No one who didn’t live or work at the castle was allowed into the grounds. She was safe. She was the princess, and this was her realm.

And she was going to Ciliria to find Ashes before she went mad.

As her training uniform met the water, she forced herself to take another step. Then she thought she heard the distinct sound of someone clapping their hands slowly. Whirling round, she was greeted only by darkness and a gust of bitter wind. She shivered at the sensation, unable to shake the feeling that she was being watched. Looking back to the sky, she noticed that the moon had been concealed by thick cloud cover and in that moment, she had the sinking feeling that something wasn’t right. And as badly as she wanted answers, as badly as she wanted to find the witch, something inside her screamed to run. Warned her that her questions could wait.

As she took a step towards the shore, the pressure on her chest grew, and she quickened her pace as she moved towards the doors of the castle, walking backwards to ensure nothing and no one was following her.

She spent the rest of the night in her room watching the moon, thinking of red hair and full lips until the sun rose.

CHAPTER TWELVE

That morning, Araxia demanded small and specific motions from her: water shields, control, balance, and everything in between. Sapphire surprised them both by unintentionally causing waves to spread throughout the lake. Araxia beamed at her. But Sapphire knew she had plenty of work left to do.

Despite her aptitude, she hadn’t adjusted to how exhausted training made her feel. And as soon as the nearly five-hour session in the water was over, she collapsed into her large bed.