Sven shoved the gag back in my mouth. I wrenched away, but he shoved it back in and tied it in place. At my furious glare he said, “You’re so much more attractive with this on.”

I growled behind the cloth, calling him all manner of names. Even with the gag I was pretty sure he caught a few of the insults.

With every minute that passed, Bastiaan could be taking his last breath. I tried to focus on that—resurface the memory of the arrow going through his body, him folding to the ground. I let the sickness surge inside me, willed the emotions to come.

But I was too angry, too guarded, and the tear wouldn’t come. Frustration made me want to scream. If I couldn’t speak the wish, would it even work? I could waste it—die for nothing.

Maybe I could toss myself from the horse and rub my face against the ground to remove the gag. By the time they got to me, I would’ve had plenty of time to speak a wish.

I just needed to cry.

Sven eyed me and I startled. Had he been watching me that whole time? He shook his head. “Hedy!”

Kees nudged their horse until the four of us were side by side. Instinctively I leaned away from Hedy, but she looked to Sven for instruction.

“We can’t risk her using her wish,” he said.

Winter’s breath! Had my thoughts been that loud?

Hedy nodded. “I’ll have one use left after this. Are you sure?” Her Bane. She was about to use her Bane on me.

“I’m sure.”

That was all the push Hedy needed. She yanked my gag free so hard it left a burn on my cheek. “I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time.”

This was my chance. “Kees! Is Bastiaan alive? Did you—?”

“Shh.” Hedy pressed a finger to my lips as one would shush a child. Her pupils pulsed purple and a pressure hit my throat, like someone was pressing their fingers against it. Then a pulling sensation released with a snap.

I gasped but no sound came out.

What? My mouth moved to form the word. Breath exhaled to deliver the question. But again. Silence.

Hedy’s Bane had stolen my voice.

Chapter 52
Myrthe

I couldn’t use my wish even if I wanted to. What was worse was that this helplessness got me the closest to crying. But I had to shove it back. Again. And again. And again.

We reached the edge of the woods and halted. “On foot from here.” Sven dismounted and yanked me down. My pathetic feet couldn’t handle the impact, and I crumpled.

“You two ready?” Sven asked.

Kees nodded, standing stiff as a weathered oak. He never answered my question about Bastiaan, but I gathered it was because he didn’t know if Bastiaan was still alive. And that frightened me the most.