Leading the guards was a grizzled fae named Bronson who had grey hair, a pot belly, and the reddened skin of an alcoholic. Whenever he was on shift, he was either drunk or asleep at his post, which was why he was always accompanied by another guard who had the extra job of babysitting him and picking up the slack. Bronson often barked lewd comments at the ladies of the court, who complained to Captain Flynn Auron about his behavior. But Bronson was never sacked, which was strange because the guards were never allowed to speak to the aristocrats, unless spoken to first. To become a guard a fae had to be professional, honorable, and maintain a level of fitness so that they could do their jobs properly. Worthier guards than Bronson had been sacked because they'd failed the yearly elemental test. A test where they had to display their elemental powers, and if there was a dip in the previous year's output then their contracts were annulled. The standards were high, except for where Bronson was concerned. He was exempt from these tests and how he kept his job was a mystery to Morgana until she found out that he was one of Captain Flynn Auron's cousins. Nepotism was why Bronson's incompetence was overlooked and why he had a job that he was grossly unqualified for. A job that had been handed to him as if it were a cake on a silver platter. Bronson had never earned a thing in his life. He was privileged, entitled, and lazy.

Which was why it was no surprise when Bronson had felt entitled to do something nasty to Morgana one afternoon, a few months ago. Morgana had come home from Briar's cottage and Bronson had been on duty near the bedrooms. That day, Captain Flynn had thought it was wise to have him guard the royal bedrooms because there were other guards just below the stairs who did the real work. When Morgana had walked past Bronson, he'd tried to grope her. She'd dodged his hands and fled to her bedroom. Then he'd banged on her locked door for five minutes and when he'd realized Morgana wasn't going to open it, he gave up and grumbled about how females couldn't take a compliment. For a while Morgana had stood there in shock, fists shaking as she went through a gauntlet of emotions. Her disgust finally turned into rage and she contemplated killing him there and then. But it would've jeopardized their plan, which was why she didn't do it, otherwise she would've made Bronson choke on his own air. Slowly. Bronson's attack was something she'd never told anyone about. Not even Caliath, Aelys, or Damon knew about it. And it was because Morgana had figured that if the ladies of the court had complained about Bronson and nothing had been done, then more of the same would happen. It would be pointless to tell anyone what he did because he'd still be around. Fae like him always got away with their crimes against females. It was another unfairness in Golah Court, evidence of the patriarchal system that valued males over females.

Morgana despised him.

"Don't kill the witch or the curse will activate. Arrest them!" Bronson bellowed.

The white aura around Morgana brightened and Bronson's erudium armor screeched as he was crushed to the floor like a flimsy tin of tomato soup under a boulder. Blood sprayed through his cracked armor and all that was left of Bronson was a sheet of erudium and his mushy remains.

Everyone gaped.

Then pandemonium erupted.

The guards yelled and charged towards them, but Caliath sent forth a wave of crimson fire. Heat singed the room and smoke billowed into the air. Some of the guards screamed, perishing in the flames. Others leapt through it, deflecting the inferno with their own elemental powers. One guard swung his sword at Aelys, who dodged it. She sent him careening into the ceiling with her air magic. Another guard threw an ice hatchet at Orin, who shattered it with his water magic. Briar's earth magic rumbled the walls as she parted the guards to either side of the chamber into two squirming piles, clearing a path to the door.

"Let's go!" Briar screamed, sweat glistened her forehead.

Aelys and Orin ran out of the chamber.

However, Morgana was transfixed by the power humming in her veins. It was seductive, intoxicating. The struggling guards were as insignificant as a pile of ants. She could easily kill them. It would be the most logical thing to do, a solution to an easy problem. It'd be like swatting a fly with her hand. The guards deserved it. Didn't they? She shook her head and cleared her thoughts. The power loosened its grip. If she gave in to it, would she be no better than Erik?

Caliath grabbed Morgana's hand and they ran through the opening as he kept a shield of earth magic around them. Fiery arrows and icy swords bounced off it. When they reached the doorway Morgana paused and turned.

"Come on!" Aelys was already halfway down the corridor.

The aura around Morgana brightened as light poured from her hands and over the guards. They screamed, as memories of Caliath and Orin seeped out of their minds and spilled through Morgana's magic like paint swirling down a drain. Some of the guards bucked and fought until they fell silent and collapsed, dangling in the air as if they were puppets hanging off strings.

Briar dropped the guards and they fell to the floor with a crash.

"What did you do to them?" Caliath gaped.

"I removed their memories of you and Orin. That way they won't know you were here and they won't hunt you either," Morgana answered.

Gratitude shone in Caliath's eyes, even though regret squirmed in Morgana's belly. Was it wise to leave all those guards alive, considering she was unsuccessful at removing the spy's memory at the Autumn Ball.

"We need to go now," Orin said. "There'll be more of them on the way."

After a short deliberation it was decided that Morgana would shadow-walk Aelys, and Caliath would shadow-walk Briar out of the castle. Orin would lead the way.

Soon, they fled through icy shadows and left the dungeons. They climbed a stone staircase until they reached a dusty room filled with books and old furniture in the East Wing. A room that was familiar to Morgana because it was her secret hideaway from her family whenever she wanted to read in peace. They lingered near the fireplace, sweaty and out of breath.

Caliath walked over to a bookcase where a giant shadow loomed behind it. "If we go through this shadow, it will take us to the woods then to Aeperos Court. Once we get there, we'll set you up somewhere safe and remote. There's no doubt that Erik will have both courts on the hunt for you."

"Thank you for organizing all of this and for coming to help us," Morgana said to Caliath and Orin.

A magical breeze swept through the room and dust clouded the air.

Orin's water magic was a ribbon, swirling around him. "Who's doing that?"

A familiar hum skimmed over Morgana's skin. "It's the grimoire, something's happening to it." She sensed where it floated, near her left shoulder, and pulled the grimoire out of thin air.

Orin's eyes widened.

Morgana opened the grimoire and the pages began flipping of their own accord until the final page was reached. A dark shimmery cloud covered the page, and for a moment the cloud swirled like disturbed silt in a pond. Then a warm breeze combed over the grimoire and the cloud disappeared, revealing a blank page.

Morgana frowned.

Then the scratching of an invisible quill filled the silence as a phantom hand drew richly detailed lakes, forests, and mountains over the page. The Undine Islands were sketched out, followed by the humongous Auron Mines. Golah Court was next, then the Vale Territory, and the rest of Aeperos Court. The Cursed Forest was illustrated, followed by the peaks of the gargantuan Frigard Mountains. Nestled between those mountains was a multipronged star with the inscription, Allegra's wand. The sketching stopped and silence fell over the group.

"Is that what I think it is?" Caliath's voice was a hoarse whisper.

"Yes." Morgana's throat was dry.

She and Caliath locked eyes and hope passed between them.

Hope that they'll defeat Erik and the Golight Lords.

Hope for Caliath's court.

Briar peered over Morgana's shoulder and gave a low whistle. "That won't be easy to get."

The Frigard Mountains were known to be brutal with icy terrains that had fae lost in minutes or had them slipping off the mountains to their deaths. The unforgiving winds could freeze anyone to death. Oh, and that's if the mountain dwelling faeries that resided there, such as the sluagh and the aswangs, didn't get to them first. And there was the matter of the Cursed Forest.

No, getting the wand wouldn't be easy.

"If we get this wand, it could change everything," Morgana murmured.

There was a gleam in Aelys's eye.

"That's all well and great, everyone. But we need to get out of here first before we go wand hunting." Orin gestured towards the bookcase's shadow.

"Yes. Right." Morgana tapped the grimoire and it became invisible and hovered behind her. She grabbed Aelys's hand, ready to shadow-walk.

"Remember, stay close," Orin said, before jumping into the shadow and disappearing.

"See you on the other side." Caliath smiled, as the shadow swallowed him and Briar.

Morgana and Aelys took a step forward, ready to follow the others, when powerful earth magic smashed them into a wall.

Aelys's arm broke and she screamed.

Pain exploded along Morgana's spine as she crashed into a portrait. She tried to fight off the attacker but she was pinned to the wall. Morgana's scream turned into a weak gasp as the air was crushed out of her. The earth magic was just too strong.

King Erik emerged out of the fireplace's shadow. He wore a black velvet suit and his gaze was as cold as ice. Valerio slinked out of the shadow behind him, in his trademark black uniform. How long had Erik and Valerio followed them? How much did they overhear?

Morgana's mouth twisted. The aura around her brightened, but Erik crooked a finger and Morgana's head snapped back and darkness fell.