“So what’s your plan?” Alaric asked as they both squinted up at the dragon circling far above in the sky. 
“I add dragonslayer to my resumé, and you go back down in the cellar and make sure our klepto doesn’t pocket anything else.” 
“Like hell.”
Hope turned quickly. “Then tell me how I’m supposed to explain to your daughters that all that’s left of you is hot ash. They already hate me enough.”
“The Dad card?” Alaric raised his eyebrows. “That’s a low blow.”
“Did it work?”
Alaric weighed his options. “Just this once.”
As soon as he was out of sight, Hope pulled the spell out of her pocket. She took her time unfolding the soft page, the dragon still circling lazily above. As Hope started to read the words, black veins crept up her wrists. They wound up her arms as she chanted, wrapping around her throat and choking her voice.
She had caught the dragon’s attention now. Her eyes watered as she spoke against the pressure around her neck, darkness creeping up her face. When it reached her eyes, they snapped shut and she crumpled to the ground.
“Hope!” Alaric shook her awake, panic filling his voice. “Hope!”
She slowly came to, blinking around at the bright forest. “I’m fine,” she grumbled, sitting up. “Where is it? Where’s the dragon?”
Alaric motioned to an unmoving woman lying on the other side of the clearing. 
“What is this?” Alaric held up the folded piece of paper.
Hope swallowed heavily, avoiding his eyes. “It’s a spell.”
“It’s dark magic.”
“It worked." Hope snatched the spell back and finally met his glare. "She’s dead, isn’t she?” She held her head high. 
“I don’t care!” Alaric threw his arms out. “We don’t allow black magic! It gets inside your heart, and it poisons your mind. You know that.”
“But I-”
“You’re the reason we have this rule in the first place!” Alaric dropped his arms and the volume of his voice, the momentary anger gone and replaced with a sullen disappointment. “I can’t believe you’d do this.”
Hope blinked back tears. "I'm sorry."
Alaric had to look away. “Bury her.”