The sword from Carex’s hand flies toward the man at my command, and I will it to slice a deep gash across his stomach. Grass burrows into the wound as the rebel’s screams of pain reach an inhuman pitch. I make another slice on his thigh, then have a large tree branch whip across the wound. Silent heaves wrack the rebel’s body now.

“Have you changed your mind?” I ask.

“N-n-never!” he whimpers. I pierce his other eye, completely blinding him. I’m lost in the thrill of my power, lost in my righteousness. Something within me urges me on, so I flood his lungs with water.

“Laurel,” Carex says sharply. “I think that’s enough.” Whipping around, I stare at him, letting my magic shake the ground. His eyes widen in shock and fear, and he takes a step back. “Laurel,” he whispers now. “You don’t have to—”

“Leave us,” I command with aether in my voice, too far gone to care that I’m compelling him with the power I loathe. Carex looks like he wants to protest, opening his mouth and fighting the compulsion, but he has no choice but to turn and leave. I barely register the guilt that creeps across my consciousness, but I know I’ll regret it later. My gaze finds the Prince, and I sear him with a cold look. “You too.” I nod my head after Carex, but don’t use the aether-voice this time.

“I believe you ordered me to never leave your sight,” he says, smirk returning, though it doesn’t reach his eyes. Hollow orbs stare back at me, matching my own.

“Have it your way,” I murmur, not letting his absolute insolence distract me from what matters. Of course he chooses now to obey my order.

“Tell me what you know about the rebels’ plans,” I command the man, this time using the aether-voice, again pushing down the nausea I get when I remember the way it felt when it was used on me all those years ago.

“They attacked today as punishment for using your healers when they fell sick,” he says dryly, not in control of his words under my influence. “We took anyone who was loyal to our cause with us before we burned the village. I know nothing more. I was told to tell you that this was the beginning.”

Something deep inside me is hissing with rage, and that same feeling I had in the Council room returns. Briefly, so fast I’m not sure it’s real, I evolve into something more, something bigger than what I am. Shaking away the feeling of losing control, I focus my gaze on the rebel to bring me back to the present.

“Who sent you?” I ask, once again using the aether to force the confession.