I hadn't realized how suffocating Arego was becoming until I stepped outside the comfortable confines of the village with a pack slung over my shoulder, a sword at my hip, and Renit at my side. A new wave of relief has washed over me since we left a day ago to trek towards Lona; I can breathe without hitching, I can close my eyes without seeing Celestine's body, and I don't have to worry about either member of my company nagging to know what and how I'm feeling.

Renit already knows; Citlali has a good enough idea of what is going on inside my head to give me the space I need to overcome these obstacles. For my sake, she doesn't pry. I wouldn't have picked her if I knew she'd be one to ask me an endless amount of questions, but the fact she's leading this journey into Lona and towards Luna gives her all the focus and determination she needs.

Instead of trekking near the land that drops off into the ocean below, we maintain a close distance with the river that flows from Illbre, borders on the Oxpea Mountains and snakes all the way to behind Mailan. Through streams of mountain runoff and snowmelt, the river is forever supplied with the coldest, freshest water Esaria can provide.

We maintain a sizable distance to any trails. If the king sent an army to Arego without us noticing, it's likely he has other patrols throughout the kingdom, waiting to find us or stumble upon us on their way back from bloodshed. The three of us couldn't stand up to an army the size of what the king showed us in Arego. If they were humans, maybe. But witches are a different world—their powers make them prone to destruction and are indestructible at the same time.

In the distance, just over the streaks of sunlight rising from the east, the Oxpea Mountains are visible. Through last night's trek, we weren't able to spot them as the sun set and our camp was made in a safe nestle of trees clothed by darkness.

The summer months are warm; we didn't have to maintain our bodies by a fire and due to that, our journey to Oxpea continued earlier than I was ready for this morning. But the sight of those mountains that we'll reach by sundown is enough to quicken my pace and straighten my spine. I was slouching before, not only from the pack slung over my shoulder but from the exhaustion of this journey.

At my side, Renit carries an identical pack holding our food. It's not much other than cooked fish, fruits, and vegetables sustained by a witch of the gardens. We fill our canteens with water whenever we're out; sweat is already sticking to the back of my sleeveless shirt and the sun hasn't risen fully yet. To be fair, the leather vest buttoned tightly down the middle of my abdomen doesn't help, either. But for extra security and mobility, I must wear it.

Renit and I still haven't discussed seeing Silas that night. He knew I was more than ready to kill the crown prince and would've if it wasn't for him attempting to boil me alive from the inside out.

I send a flick of my power in his direction, tightening on the bond, and his eyes flutter open from where they'd nearly shut themselves once more. Someone had to stay on watch last night. Renit smiles weakly at me and across the river, water splashes against Citlali's bare feet. Apparently, walking became too boring for her. The full river holds more thrill.

"How are you doing?" I ask.

Renit shrugs. "I'm doing fine. But I'm not the one we need to be worried about."

I cock my head to the side and squint. "Who are we supposed to worry about?"

With a pointed arch of his brow, not wanting to state the obvious, my shoulders curve inward in realization. He means me. I haven't received a full night's sleep since losing Celestine; it was hard enough to sleep in another room as her, but to not have her in this world entirely...sleep doesn't come easy. Over these months, I've distanced myself from her—one step after the other. Celestine had always been close by, within walking distance, and I never worried.

I let my distractions get the best of me. I wasn't there for her enough; I didn't do enough for her in the castle or pay enough attention through my training and struggles with Renit to ask how she was doing. She worked in the gardens, yes, but did she consider her life complete? Likely not, our parents were her entire world and working in the gardens was her distraction to forget.

This started because of my power. It'll end that way, too. My entire family is dead at the hands of the power of ground.

To give an answer to Renit's silent question, I state, "I'm fine. Grieving takes time and we go through it in our own way."

"I'm not saying silence isn't the best option. Just know you have more than one supporter on your side." He nudges my arm with his but doesn't protest further. I've heard it enough—not from him. But everyone else. I've received enough looks of sympathy: the drawn-in brows, the pouted lip, the down-turned stare, and the wide, innocent eyes. I scowl any time a rebel walks in my direction.

The only person that hasn't conveyed that expression besides Renit, is Tesha—the only person I can stand to be around. She didn't know Celestine very well, my sister wasn't brute enough for her, but the king's attack put a damper on everyone's mood, even her. I spotted her out at the cliff sides before we left, sitting next to Celestine's grave for Bren's sake. She wasn't speaking a word; she was merely eating her breakfast in silence, but the gesture said enough. The human with more skill than a mortal could hold pays her respects in her own way.

I skip over a large rock in my way, jumping off the other side. When my feet are planted firmly back on the ground and I jog to catch up with Renit, I interlock my arm with his. "What we really need to talk about is Silas. I haven't had the chance to ask you about that," I venture.

"There's nothing to talk about. Silas is under my father's control. He's no longer on our side." Renit speaks as if the loss of his brother is the simplest thing in the world.

"What I'm saying is...what are we going to do about it? Is there anything we can do about it?" Renit squeezes my arm against his side, locked between his arm, and tugs me away from a large rock that I can't jump over without taking him with me.

I know he doesn't want to answer the question I've laid out before him. This is his brother—three hundred years of his life, and it's gone. Silas is gone. We should never waste a life like that, especially not someone whose heart is as big as his, but we're running out of options quicker than I can keep up with. "There's not much we can do about it," Renit finally says after thinking through it. "If we have to, we'll kill him. If there's a way we can get him back...I'd love to try."

"You speak so easily about the death of your brother." I slide my arm out of his and Renit has the audacity to appear offended. Our touches are too few and far in between, apparently. "A life that long does not belong to us."

"It does if he's killing us." Renit stares at the side of my face, waiting for me to meet his eye, but I don't. I gaze straight ahead at the looming trees, the tall green grass, and the Oxpea Mountains in the distance. They're not getting any closer. "I...I love my brother, but he wouldn't want this to happen. If it were up to him, he'd wish for us to end his life so we're spared."

I shake my head. "Silas has sacrificed too much already. It'd be a shame if he has to sacrifice his life, too."

Through the exasperation of little to no sleep, Renit sighs deeply. "Not all of us are gifted second chances. This one may be too substantial to wait out."

"And you're fine with that?" Now it's my turn to arch a brow at him. Any enjoyment Renit displayed before is completely gone now. He's not in the mood for conversation, especially not this one. He'd rather talk about Celestine and how I'm getting through it. "I couldn't imagine sending my sibling off to die."

In a way, I did. But that fact is best saved for later.

"It all comes down to what is best for the kingdom. If we don't have Silas and we don't have me, I want the throne to end here with the Marron bloodline. Maybe that's the change the kingdom needs."

To soothe the rage curdling within his abdomen, I lock my arm with his again. He leads me over a small heap of grass and a stump tall enough for us to reach equal height. "That's bold," I mutter.

Renit's first response is a nod. "You've altered my views, spitfire. I am not the kingdom; therefore, there are other options for leaders on the throne. More capable witches." He drapes an arm over my shoulder and tugs me into his side, pressing a kiss to my aching temple.

The familiar sound of splashing returns to me and both of us turn in Citlali's direction. She's climbing up the riverbank, her bottom half soaked and dripping wet. The witch of ground is more dog than human, apparently.

I'm partly jealous of the soothing chill of the river water. Then again, I don't want to wade so deep that I ruin my only change of clothes before we've even reached Lona. With no horses and no way to pack anything other than what we can carry, we couldn't bring more than one change of clothes. If we're lucky, we'll find someone in Lona to wash our clothes for us.

That's another trouble—we have no money. A few copper coins are all we own and our only chance of gathering more is if one of us jumps in the fighting pits and gathers enough money for all three of us and Arego.

It occurs to me that not only are we visiting Lona again, but we may come face to face with Rex Fletcher. I visibly grimace at the reminder of him living there, kissing a Lord's ass, but also his close association with Citlali. He trained her and it's possible their association goes beyond that—so far that Citlali may seek him out while we're there.

Possibly not, considering he may be on the other side of alliance. The last thing we need is Rex Fletcher, but he's also a decent opportunity to strengthen our forces. His mortality doesn't help matters.

"Feel better?" Renit calls out as she approaches.

"What do you mean? All I was doing was giving you two a second of privacy. The last thing I want to do is wade through the water," she mocks. Her already plump cheeks perk up when she grins at the two of us.

I snort. "Considering you were within sight, we didn't receive much privacy."

"Careful, spitfire." She boggles her eyes at the nickname Renit gifted me when I arrived at the castle. "You're starting to sound like him."

Before I can shove her, she slinks out of the way and skips forward, leaving Renit and me behind. If there's any sense of privacy, it won't be out here in the middle of nowhere. It'll be in Lona...where rickety beds wait. I'll search for a better inn compared to the one we stayed in last time. Renit and I need at least one distraction from these last few days.

Once Citlali is out of hearing distance, I mumble, "We're not starting to sound like each other."

Renit tips his head back and laughs. "You sound offended at the assumption."

"Well, foolish prince, you are cranky half the time." I pinch his side underneath my fingers. With a sigh, I add, "It's because you're old."

I don't get the chance to catch sight of Renit's gape. He lifts me off the ground, tossing me over his shoulder, and no matter how much I protest, he carries me that way. Although I don't feel ready to laugh, I do so as I slam my palms into his lower back and urge for him to put me down. Jokes on him; now I don't have to walk.