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Prologue

Aisling

“Aisling…wake up. Come on, Little Star, wake up!”

I suck in a breath as consciousness swims to the surface, panic making my heart thud. Someone is covering my mouth, the room is dark. I can hear rain pattering gently on the roof, the warmth of my bed so, so inviting…

“You have to be quiet,” my mother whispers as I meet her eyes. “We’re leaving.”

She uncovers my mouth and I sit up slowly, my eyes widening as I find the pack waiting on the other side of her. “Leaving?” I whisper.

She nods. “The boat is ready and Jasper is moving on us. There’s no time to waste.”

I nod along with her.

She’s right.

It’s time to go.

I throw the covers back and slide my sneakers on, well-worn and a little small. I had a growth spurt recently and nothing fits anymore, but I guess I’ll need to get new clothes once we get wherever we’re going.

Where that is…I don’t know.

Soon, I’m getting up and following my mother out the door, quiet as a mouse. I can see the vague shapes of other women moving too—keeping low, silent. We converge at the path down to the docks, where my grandmother is leading the way, ushering everyone down the path through the woods.

I run up to her and fling my arms around her, my breath coming too fast.

She rubs my back, soothing me.

“Easy, Aisling,” she whispers. “You’re doing fine…just fine. We’re going to get free of this place.”

I glance toward the entrance to town—at the now decaying sign reading All Are Welcome In the Garden. I look back at Gran and swallow the lump in my throat.

Now is no time for sentimentality or weakness. No time for hesitation.

We’re not leaving because we want to…but because we’re being forced.

“You’re coming with us, right?” I ask.

“Of course,” Gran nods. “I’ll be right at your side the whole time.”

The rain picks up slightly as we move down the path, a group of about thirty women clinging to each other like a lifeline. My hair is dripping by the time we reach the docks, where a small boat sways on the rough water, a few women already aboard as one beckons us forward. I get queasy at the bobbing vessel, knowing it won’t feel good aboard, but knowing we don’t have a choice.

So I steel myself.

“Go on, little star,” my mom says. “Go with your Gran—I need to make sure everyone else gets onboard.”

“I don’t—” I start, wanting to argue, but she shakes her head.

“You listen to me, Aisling Faye,” she chastises. “Go—I promise I’ll be with you in a few minutes.”

The words die in my throat and I take Gran’s hand, letting her guide me to the boat. I know I’m being silly—I’m sixteen, not a child—but this is all too much. Too much for someone my age, or any age, to handle.

Being forced out of your home by men who disapprove of your way of life…who think they should control you.

I step onto the swaying boat, trying to steady myself as the rain pelts down harder, mixing with the tears that I refuse to let fall. Gran squeezes my hand reassuringly, her eyes—blue eyes that look just like mine—shadowed with fear. I’ve always known her as stronger than steel, the High Priestess of our village, but now she’s just a woman.

Somehow, that’s more terrifying than anything else.

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