"We can go to the Undine Islands—"

"I don't want to go there." Brighid crossed her arms. "I don't want to go anywhere with you."

Aelys swallowed. She was out the front of Brighid's manor. An elegant two-story structure made of grey stone with a shingled roof. Red roses, that weren't due to go dormant until winter, climbed the walls and sweetened the air. A row of oak trees with golden leaves bordered the grounds. The sky was a clear blue and a frigid wind seeped through Aelys's green cloak and velvet dress. Brighid shivered in a beautiful lilac gown; her dark hair was in loose curls.

"Please." Aelys's voice broke. "I want to make things right between us. What can I do to fix this?"

"You can tell me the truth."

Tears ran down Aelys's cheeks and she swiped them away with a gloved hand. A war raged inside her. Aelys knew that she had to keep their plan a secret because if word got out then they were as good as dead. She couldn't put them in danger like that. She couldn't betray Morgana, Briar, or even Caliath. But Aelys's heart had shattered when the only fae she'd ever loved was now lost to her because of their plan. Even though part of that plan was so that Aelys could become queen and create a court that would accept a marriage between her and Brighid.

No, she could never tell Brighid their secret.

Aelys couldn't put her life at risk too.

"If you can't tell me what it is then you can't blame me for thinking the worst! You can't blame me for thinking that there's someone else because what else could it be?" Brighid's eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

"It's not that. I swear."

"Then what is it?"

Aelys looked down, torn.

"Fine then." Brighid turned on her heel and opened the intricately carved wooden door to her manor.

"Wait!" Aelys grabbed Brighid's arm which was like unyielding stone beneath her grip. "You're right. There is something that I've kept from you but it's not what you think."

Brighid turned around. Her dark eyes blazed and her chin was lifted.

Aelys's heart thundered. "Promise you won't tell anyone?"

***

Morgana strolled through the maze in search of a quiet place to train. A cold breeze, that had the first stirrings of autumn, ruffled the browning tops of the hedges. A few leaves cascaded down onto the fresh grass, as fluffy clouds meandered across the blue sky. It was a chilly day, but Morgana's pale blue cloak kept her warm, as did her blue and gold brocade gown and white gloves. Her thoughts drifted to Caliath and heat bloomed across her cheeks as she remembered the moment they'd shared the other night. She was certain they'd been about to kiss. Had they done so, it would've been her first time kissing someone. Ever since that night, she hadn't stopped thinking about Caliath, about how understanding he'd been when she couldn't shadow-walk and how he'd comforted her. She couldn't stop thinking about his kindness in wanting to save his people. He'd even intruded on her hateful thoughts about Erik and what she'd planned to do with him once he was exposed.

Morgana shook her head. It was impossible to stop thinking about Caliath, but practicing the newly unlocked spell would serve as a great distraction. She turned a corner and came to a part of the maze that had no attractions. Morgana checked that there were no wandering sprites or fae nearby. When she was certain that she was alone, Morgana placed her hands together and muttered the incantation that she'd memorized from the grimoire, "By the power of three times three, the truth is all that you'll speak. You'll be compelled to heed this creed, so no lies escape past your teeth."

Magic charged through Morgana and her hair floated above her shoulders. A hum filled the air and vibrated over her skin. Warmth grew between her palms and a strange energy nipped her fingers. She pulled her hands apart and between them was a crackling golden ball that had bolts trailing her palms like electricity. Morgana grinned. She couldn't believe it. She'd done it on her first try!

Then the ball flickered and disappeared.

She sighed and dropped her hands to her side. It didn't matter, she would do it again and again until she got it right. Now that her magic was back, Morgana was more confident that she could defeat the lords and Erik. She continued the spell, muttering the incantation again and again. If she could hold the golden ball for at least two minutes, it would give her enough time to use the truth spell effectively. The ball needed to be pushed into the chest of the intended and then they would be compelled to tell the truth. This spell was what she'd needed and she had big plans for it. Sweat moistened her neck as she held the golden crackling ball. It disappeared after four seconds but that was two seconds longer than the last time. With hope in her heart, Morgana dabbed her brow and tried again. An hour passed and by the end of it she was out of breath and her arms were shaky. Holding the ball took a great deal of strength and she'd only managed to hold it for about six seconds before it disappeared. It was progress but not as much as she'd hoped.

The sun descended towards the horizon and dark shadows cloaked the maze. Morgana figured she'd better head back to the castle soon, before it got too dark. But not until she'd given the spell another try. And just as she muttered the incantation, a chilly wind dragged icy hands over her face, and she caught a whiff of something on the breeze.

Orange blossom and citrus. A fae's scent.

Her hands dropped and the ball disappeared. Morgana glanced around, expecting a courtier to come around the corner but there were no approaching footsteps. There was no one there. Morgana frowned, the scent was familiar, but she couldn't place when or where she'd smelled it before.

"Hello?" She followed to where the scent was strongest, down the far end of the maze where she'd been practicing. Morgana turned a corner and froze. Shadows cloaked the corridor ahead and dread pooled in her stomach. She stood there for a moment, wondering whether she should walk through it or not.

An inner voice screamed at her to leave, to run away.

She felt as if something, or someone, watched her from within the shadows. She took a step forward and a large patch of darkness moved.

Morgana turned and fled.

Terror clawed up her spine as her feet pounded the grass. Morgana's breath was sharp as she skidded around a corner and chanced a look over her shoulder. There was nothing there, save for the growing shadows that came with the setting sun. But if a Shadow Walker was following her then she wouldn't be able to see them anyway. A whiff of orange blossom and citrus teased her nostrils and Morgana put on a burst of speed. Her thighs burned as she ran out of the maze and onto the lawns. To her right, a breeze lazily rustled a willow tree, its branches grazing a pond filled with koi fish. The sun dipped below the horizon and the sky purpled with dusk. Shadows draped the lawns and stretched over flower beds and bushes. No. No. No. She needed to get to where there was light. Morgana ran through a crystal archway and dodged a group of nixies fighting under some tulips. Their chittering trailed after her. Morgana reached the path that circled the castle and skidded to a stop under a torch filled with fireflies. Wonderful, beautiful light showered over her as she bent over and tried to catch her breath. Morgana's eyes darted over the lawns for any signs of movement. For any signs that she'd been followed. After a moment she straightened up, the sweat cooling on her forehead. The lawns were empty save for will-o'-the-wisps and sprites. Whoever was inside that shadow was gone. For now. Morgana sighed and leant her sweaty back to the wall and gazed up at the fireflies dancing overhead. 

That was close. 

But her relief was short lived as Morgana realized that whoever had been inside that shadow had seen her do magic.