Where had the house gone? Theo was certain he hadn’t hallucinated the dark house, but even though they had been walking for some time—from the way Bruni kept falling behind, they were past the ‘a while’ he had said was how long the powders would allow him to walk.

  Emberion still rested in Theo’s pocket; he hadn’t moved since Theo placed him there. Theo hoped he was still alive and hadn’t perished from being zapped by energy by the wraith. He gently stuck his hand into his pocket and petted Emberion, relief filling him when he felt the tiny chest rise and fall beneath his fingers.

  Dusk surrounded them, and Theo didn’t want to imagine this forest in complete darkness. What horrors would come out then?

  He pulled out three of the nut cookies he had made the evening before. Had it only been one day since they were at Glyssa’s cottage? It seemed longer.

  “Here,” he said to Freya, handing her one of the cookies.

  “We should stop and eat,” she said, though she bit into the cookie.

  Theo turned to Bruni, who was far behind them again. Theo and Freya stopped, waiting for him, and once he reached them, Theo gave him a cookie too.

  “Thanks,” Bruni mumbled.

  “You must be near death if you’re thanking me,” Theo said, but the smile died on his lips when Bruni looked up at him. He was pale as a sheet, sweat pouring down his forehead, and his eyes were so tired, it hurt.

  Bruni sat down, or perhaps collapsed was a better word. With a shaking hand, he brought the cookie to his mouth.

  “I’m sorry,” he said. “This is as far as I will get.”

  “What?” Theo said, even though it wasn’t at all surprising.

  “Me,” Bruni said. “Can’t go on.”

  “But the powder,” Theo said.

  “I ran out,” Bruni said. “It was only two doses, at least in my current condition.”

  Theo sat too, as if Bruni’s words stole his energy.

  Freya said, “But we’re not leaving you here.”

  Bruni looked up at her. “So what, you’re going to stay here until I’m dead?”

  “Bruni,” she said sharply.

  “I’m not pitying myself,” Bruni said. “It’s just the truth.”

  “We’re going to get to the witch,” Theo said. “And we’ll—”

  “We’ll what?” Bruni asked with a humorless laugh. “You and Freya are the only ones still on their feet. Emberion is a glint and I’m…”

  “You are not giving up,” Theo said with a force that surprised himself.

  “What are you going to do, boy? Carry me too? I’m not a shapeshifter.”

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  “Fine,” Theo snapped. “Be that way.” He came to his feet, frustration making it impossible to stay sitting. Though he directed it at Bruni, deep down he knew he wasn’t really irritated with the dwarf. No, he hated the unfairness of it all, of Bruni being sick to start with. If the damned witch had just left the amulet well enough alone…

  Freya grabbed his arm. “Where are your going?”

  “Just—stay with him,” Theo said. “I just need a minute. I’m not going far, I promise.”

  “Stay within my field of sight,” Freya said. “No disappearing again.”

  Theo nodded, and Freya let him go.

  “Besides, I have Emberion with me,” Theo said with a small smile.

  Freya frowned. “He doesn’t seem to be much use right now.”

  “Nibblet, then. She is fiercer than we knew.”

  Freya glanced down at the glint. “Yeah.”

  “I’ll be back in five,” Theo said.

  Freya gave a short nod.

  Theo stepped into the forest, glancing over his shoulder at Freya, who placed a hand on Bruni’s shoulder and handed him a pouch of water.

  Theo turned to the forest, taking another bite of his cookie. He would stay here, close to Freya—he had no intention of getting lost in the forest—but he needed a moment to handle his own feelings.

  He was afraid for Bruni. The dwarf was rough and rude, but he was here and tried to do his part… but he was much sicker than he let on.

  Theo’s mom’s death had almost killed him, the grief so overpowering he had struggled to even breathe in the days after.

  Bruni wasn’t anything like Theo’s mother—but being so sick was such a harsh reminder of his mom’s illness.

  It happened so quickly.

  One day, she was there. The next she felt sick. The third she was bedridden.

  Two days later, she was gone.

  The doctor had never been able to say what stole her from Theo.

  He needed to do something about Bruni—no way was he just watching Bruni perish.

  He turned around—only to find the others were gone.

  “Freya?” He said, frowning. He hadn’t moved—he had stayed well within sight of her. So where were they?

  The log on which Bruni had sat was empty.

  The leaves risked around him, and he froze. His heart kept increasing its pace, thrumming like a tiny bird.

  “Freya?” he said again, voice trembling.

  “No.”

  Theo startled at the new voice, feeling like his nerves were on the outside of his body.

  The foliage shifted, and a girl of no more than ten emerged from the shadows. Theo’s heart raced. She didn’t reach his shoulders, and held herself awkwardly with thin, hunched shoulders. Her small frame twitched with barely contained power. The dress she wore writhed with living shadows, patterns shifting and swirling like they were alive. Her wild, ginger hair flowed around her, and across her cheeks, she had a scattering of freckles. But it was her eyes that paralyzed Theo with fear—huge, glowing orbs of emerald green that pierced right through him.

  Flashes of red surrounded her, like fireflies gone crazy.

  “You—” Theo began and had to stay over because his mouth turned to suddenly dry. “You’re the witch.”

  “Intruder,” she hissed, eyes flashing. “Shield. Break. Why?”

  She raised her hand toward him, and Theo flinched back.

  “I—” Theo said, but what could he say? He wasn’t even sure what they were there for. Demand she hand over the amulet? Were they planning on hurting her? Could they hurt her?

  “Leave.”

  Theo’s gaze flickered back to the empty log, his stomach clenching unpleasantly.

  “Where are my friends?” His voice shook more than he wanted it to.

  “Gone,” the witch said, the words like a whip through the night. “Away.”

  “If you hurt them—”

  “Mine,” the witch snapped. “Hurt. Monster.”

  Monster? Theo’s heart stuttered. Where were his friends? Were they… dead? Had she killed them?

  “And what are you going to do about me?” Did she know about the dragon resting in his pocket?

  Nibbler chose that moment to stick her head out of Theo’s pocket, and he cursed inwardly.

  “Little,” the witch said.

  “Nibblet, no,” Theo said—but the glint left Theo’s pocket and scurried over to the witch. Theo stared at the small animal, feeling oddly betrayed.

  “Hello,” the witch said, stroking her head.

  “Bring me to my friends,” Theo demanded, though he had nothing to back it up. He was weaponless, had no magic, and though Emberion was in his pocket, he was, like Freya had pointed out, of no help at the moment.

  The witch regarded him. She had the most incredible green eyes Theo had ever seen.

  Then she shrugged. “Home.”

  She snapped her fingers, and the world went dark.