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“Thicket?” Elian hurried towards her, his blue eyes pooled with concern. “What’s wrong?”

It took a moment to realize she was crying.

“I-I’m fine,” she stammered, palming at her face.

Elian caught her hands in his. She let him entwine his fingers in hers and lower them to rest in his lap. “Bad dream?”

Was that what regular dreams were like?

She squeezed her eyes shut. More tears spilled down her face.

Elian held her tighter. “It’s going to be okay.” His breath tickled her ear as he ran soothing strokes along her back. “Just breathe. It was just a dream.”

It was just a dream, her mind echoed.

Fresh terror crept up her throat, wrapping around it like two firm hands—and squeezing.

You are the prophesied plague upon our kingdom.

Her steps.

Remember her steps.

First, smell the lavender.

Thicket took in a shaky breath. All she smelled was the faded citrus of Elian’s shampoo. Not lavender.

Next, identify her surroundings.

She extracted herself from Elian. Everything around her was unfamiliar, from the pale cotton sheets draped across her to the cheerful orange walls, so bright and polished unlike the dim colors of Bilya.

“Where are we?” Her breath hitched. “Is everyone—”

Elian gripped her hands. “Everyone is fine. Thanks to you. You bought just enough time for them to escape.”

Thicket nodded, the knots in her stomach slowly untangling. One stubborn thread remained. “And Marcellus?” Her head whipped around, expecting him to be leaning against the corner or to hear the slow, taunting drawl of his voice. But he was nowhere to be seen.

He had been so injured the last time she saw him. And the wall… She wasn’t sure if she had been able to open it for him. She had been the one to refuse to leave when he told her to. She had been the one who asked him to stay. If something happened to him… It would be all her fault.

The corner of Elian’s lips tightened. Panic took flight in her heart. “What is it? Is he—”

“Marcellus is fine. He managed to catch up with us before we got too far. In fact, he’s right outside, as delightful as ever.”

You are destined to destroy them.

“No casualties?”

“No casualties,” he reassured her.

Lavender was wrong. She hadn’t failed them. She had done it. She had protected her kingdom.

Thicket allowed herself one moment to let her head fall back against the bed frame, letting the relief sink in. Elian held her hand the entire time, lending her his warmth and support.

Thicket tossed the sheets off, exposing her bare legs. Her bloodied clothes had been exchanged for a simple dress. She pulled the hem higher, remembering how the vine had dug into her leg, but the wound was gone. Only a small scar remained, one that was already starting to fade.

“What happened? How long have I been out?”

“Almost two days. Lotta said you drained most of your magic. If you hadn’t passed out when you did...” he trailed off, as though he didn’t want to consider it. “Once the wall stopped, we tried to return to Bilya but it was completely covered with vines. We couldn’t even walk the streets. So the soldiers led everyone to Sleeria.”