I sprinted inside, up the stairs, and into my bedroom, slamming the door behind me and falling back against it. It took several minutes before my breathing and racing heart even began to calm.

“Nothing happened,” I whispered to myself. “You’re fine. Nothing happened.”

Except my fingers still tingled from the touch. And the vibration… It had felt familiar, like a massive jolt of the feeling I got when I touched the egg. Magic?

The door shook, and I yelped, leaping off it and whirling around. It clicked open, revealing a bemused and uncertain Kiva. She raised an eyebrow, but I shook my head.

“It’s time,” she said.

* * *

Ericen’s carriage looked overloaded with both our belongings, and we ended up hitching a wagon to a couple of horses to lighten the load. Then suddenly, everything was ready. Ericen had already climbed inside, a package tucked under one arm.

“Are you sure you don’t want your own carriage?” Caliza asked, worrying at a few strands of hair with one hand.

I shook my head. “I have to learn to deal with him. Besides, the better I know him, the better off I’ll be. Whether that means outsmarting him or having one Illucian in that damned kingdom who doesn’t want to stab me in the back.”

She didn’t look convinced.

“I’ll be fine,” I assured her. “For all your worrying, you forget I’m a trained rider. Crow or not, I can still kick someone’s ass.”

She flashed a brief smile that turned into a grimace. “I just hope you don’t have to.”

I dropped my voice. “I won’t stop trying to hatch the egg. We’ll find a way to win the other kingdoms’ support. This isn’t over.”

She flung her arms around me, hugging tighter than ever before. I returned the embrace, trying to memorize the way it felt. If things didn’t go as planned, it may be a while before I hugged my sister again.

“Keep your head down,” she whispered. “I know it’ll be hard, but don’t give Razel a reason to pay attention to you. Don’t make her angry. She can be…unpredictable.”

I nodded but didn’t let go. Maybe if I never did, the world would just pause. I wouldn’t have to go. Rhodaire would be okay.

Caliza squeezed tighter, and finally, we pulled apart. She smiled, and I returned it. “Here.” I undid the clasp of Estrel’s bracelet, then wrapped it around her thin wrist. Her breath caught as I secured it.

“Keep this safe for me,” I said. “I’ll be back for it.”

Caliza’s jaw set, and she nodded. I stepped reluctantly away.