The lands beyond the barrier were known to be dark and sprawling. A forest of never-ending terror now inhabited by some of the darkest creatures. Creatures that Marca could not bring himself to write about.

Monsters.

Witches.

Magic.

Marca questioned it all. How the barrier was constructed. If practitioners of Dark Magic truly deserved exile. If the war was more politics than a crusade for a better world. If they had stolen his ancestor, dragging him to the other side.

His musings filled the journal, questions bleeding off the page, questions that were now lodged into Sapphire’s very core. He recounted how people had tried to break down the barrier, desperate to discover what was truly on the other side. But this led to injuries, to imprisonment, to death … All attempts had faded away.

She could feel his pleading through the pages. Pleading for answers and understanding. It left her feeling empty to think he probably never got it.

Still, all her reading – and the lack of answers – led her to one conclusion.

Sapphire needed to see the barrier in person.

She knew she was a fool. So, she supposed she shouldn’t have been surprised when she made her way to the lake and dived underwater, headed for the shore of Ciliria. Not her best-laid plan, but she couldn’t stay in the castle any longer. Not when she couldn’t stop thinking about the barrier, about the journals, and if she was being honest, about Ashes.

She had spent too much time wondering why her mind constantly went back to the forest. To the shadows. To her. But it did – and maybe it was because Ashes seemed to be the only person in the entire kingdom who didn’t care about her at all. The only person who didn’t tiptoe around her or try to pressure her into greatness.

No, Ashes simply treated her like she would anyone else she couldn’t stand. Sapphire almost craved it.

When she reached the familiar shore, she didn’t break stride as she moved towards the forest. She was surrounded by trees now and despite her fear of what lurked in the beyond, she felt the weight of the day slide off her with each step. She was about twenty paces into the woods when she heard the distinct sound of someone or something nearby. She rushed to tuck herself away behind the nearest tree, squinting in an effort to make out whatever lurked in the shadows.

‘You can’t hide from the darkness that exists in these woods, princess.’

Sapphire bit her tongue to suffocate the scream that threatened to burst out of her. Whirling around, she found the witch looming over her. ‘Running from something?’