Then he gives it a firm, businesslike shake.

“All right, then, Iselia. You have yourself a deal.”

I free my fingers from his clammy palm and wipe them on my skirt. “Let’s go find the others.”

A well-marked path leads us deeper into the forest, but there are still lanterns strung in the branches, with faeries dancing through the trees or lounging at their roots. I quickly give up on supporting my own weight with my aching legs and lean on Raze’s arm as he drags us both along.

I don’t even have to ask.

None of this looks familiar, but I feel like I know where I’m going. Like this is a path I’ve walked before. The feeling makes my skin crawl, and I keep checking the compass in my palm over and over. It guided us in the mortal world. Why not here?

But the enchantment must only work in the mortal world, because it just spins impatiently, searching for something that isn’t there. I press my opposite thumb into the design, squeezing my hands painfully tight.

I need to find Isolde. I drove us here. If she’s lost forever, it’ll be my fault.

There’s still treasure waiting for you.

I recoil from the ugly thought so suddenly that I stumble, almost knocking Raze over, and we both freeze in the middle of the path. I don’t want the treasure without Isolde. There’s no point in having any of it without her, and my heart will stop beating before I give up on finding her here.

Let’s hurry this along, then.

I hold my hand up in front of my face, studying the design. I know I’ve felt a presence, faint at the edges of my consciousness, ever since the enchantment soaked into my skin. But it seemed inanimate, more like a feeling than something capable of thought.

Maybe the faerie world is making it stronger, because I don’t think those thoughts were mine. Or maybe I’m just now becoming aware of it. How much of what I’ve done these past few weeks was me, and how much was influenced without my knowledge?

My knees shake, and Raze forces me to look up at him, still supporting half my weight. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

I stare up at him helplessly, because I can’t tell the truth without losing his trust, and right now is not a great time for division. We have to stick together if we’re going to survive, to find the others.

He looks genuinely concerned, which just makes me feel worse. “Do you need to take a break? We can stop for a—”

Hurry!

I obey without thinking, taking off down the path at a hobbling run. Raze follows, trying to reason with me, but I can’t listen to him and think at the same time. I let my palm curl open and see the needle pointing straight, and somehow I know it’ll lead me to Isolde. Whatever guides it is in just as much of a hurry to find her as I am now, except its magic is actually useful.