Sapphire grimaced as she dropped her hands, not wanting to open her eyes. When she did, she jumped, as the witch was much closer than she had expected. Ashes grabbed her roughly by the arm, pulling her back. Sapphire’s body slammed into her own. The witch put a single finger under the princess’s chin, forcing their gazes to meet.

‘Would you like to know what happens to liars in my coven?’

Sapphire refused to back down, but when she spoke, the tremor in her voice betrayed her.

‘No.’

Ashes’ grin widened at the sound of her fear.

‘We carve their tongues out of their mouths so they may never tell a lie again.’ Sapphire pushed away from the witch, but Ashes didn’t budge.

‘I need to see the barrier tonight,’ Sapphire huffed.

‘Your needs are of no concern to me. We made a deal. If you can’t uphold your end, well, that is quite unfortunate for you.’

‘I can. I will. I just need one more chance. Let me try again.’

‘No.’ The response was curt. ‘I am exhausted by your childish attempts. We are done for the night.’ The witch looked to the moon and then back to Sapphire. ‘I’m not a dealer of second chances, princess. But for you, just this once, I offer you one. Tomorrow night.’

‘So soon? What if I can’t get away? I need time to pl–’

Ashes laughed, cutting her off as she stepped closer once more.

‘Your problems are not mine, princess. I am not beckoning you into this forest.’

Sapphire wanted to bite back. She wanted to beat her fist against the witch’s chest. She wanted to scream, but she needed to see the barrier. She couldn’t mask the frustration in her voice as she spoke.

‘Fine. Tomorrow night, then.’

Ashes nodded, her shadows dancing too close for comfort.

‘I’ve warned you once – about making a deal with a Shadow Witch. Don’t disappoint me.’

Sapphire clenched her jaw. ‘And I’ll warn you now – double-cross me and I’ll kill you myself.’

‘Tempting,’ Ashes said with a curious smile. ‘But, princess, if you killed me, who would you dream of at night?’

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Her maidens woke her up much earlier than she had hoped with worse news than she could have imagined. The Princeps were on their way.

Her stomach lurched. The events of last night were written across her face, manifesting in dark bags under her eyes. Her skin was dull, her hair knotted. She collapsed into a nearby chair.

Sapphire barely noticed when they laced her into a dress and laboured to cover the lingering bruises under her eyes. She didn’t speak. She didn’t meet their eyes. She did not argue. She followed the routine she knew well.

When the Princeps arrived, she greeted them with a simple nod as they bowed. Sadara’s unpleasant stare lingered on her.