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“Wait,” I called, racing after it.

Torvo’s heavy steps thudded against the thick carpet behind me, letting me know he was still with me as promised. I grasped handfuls of my ivory skirts so I wouldn’t trip and sped around several corners in pursuit of the falling sparkles. Finally, I spotted the parchment sitting on the edge of a shelf, point touching the spine of an old leather book.

Skidding to a halt, I reached for the short, fat volume, covering my mouth with my other hand when another cloud of dust burst forth. It was so old the binding threatened to fall apart in my grip, and the pages were yellowed with age.

“Magic of the Gods,” I read the title aloud.

“Do you think the answer could be in there?” Torvo whispered as I carefully turned the pages.

“I don’t know. I’m surprised it’s even in here. I would have thought my father would have confiscated it.”

Torvo smiled again and ran a hand down my arm. He seemed unable to stop touching me, and I didn’t mind it one bit.

“Libraries are run with Elven magic, Princess. The book you’re holding may not have been in this library to begin with. If it fits your request, it materializes from whatever library it’s in unless it’s been checked out by someone. See how the pages and cover are fairly free of dust?”

I turned the volume over, inspecting it. The cloud had been caused by dragging it through the dust on the shelf, not the book itself. My heart soared, and I hugged it to my chest.

“Let’s go back to my rooms and see if we can find what we need.”

Twelve

Nyah

Swinging my sword was second nature, and opening my sight to the glowing threads of the ether was getting close. I’d conjured the night forest for practice this time and had willed wild vines the width of the enormous trees surrounding me to spring from the ground like tentacles. Each time one struck out at me, I dispatched it with a slice of my weapon or a burst of flame.

Increase the pace, I willed, not satisfied. It wasn’t enough. It might never be if what I really wanted was to burn off the pain and frustration of being trapped in Leuruna’s mind.

One ripped through the cluster of roots before me with enough force to send me stumbling back. I cleaved it in two, conjuring a dagger from the ether in my free hand and spinning, with every intention of severing the top of the one I sensed moving behind me to slow it down.

I stopped, barely able to maintain my grip on the hilt when I realized it wasn’t a vine sneaking up on me but rather my sister approaching.

“Rune!” I dropped the dagger and sword, shifting the entire world around us to the Astridonian forest instead.

She smiled, but I knew her too well. This wasn’t happiness. This was a front like she’d put on for Balram or others in the court. My stomach curdled as I met her and pulled her into a hug.

Sinking into my embrace, she sighed.

“What is it?” I asked, still not letting her go.

“I’ve been trying to find a spell to let you out again.”

I stood, holding her at arm’s length. “That’s wonderful!”

Big, fat tears rolled down her cheeks, and I sucked in my lower lip, trying to stop from peppering her with questions. She shook her head and held out a hand where a book manifested. It looked like it was ready to disintegrate.

“It has a whole section of creating shadow hands,” she offered meekly.

I reached for it, but it disappeared.

“Don’t waste your time. All it says is that it’s impossible. That even the gods can’t create life, and that illusion magic can be amazing, but no illusion has the power of free will.”

My throat dried up to the point where I couldn’t have said anything if I’d wanted to. I backed up a couple paces, hoping to gain some space from my sister’s suddenly suffocating presence.

“Nye?” she stopped short when she tried to move toward me, and I startled. She held out her arm instead. “It’s not true. You have free will, just look at you. I just meant the answer wasn’t in this book, and⁠—”

“And it doesn’t exist in a book because no one else has ever done it,” I croaked. “Rune the answer is in you. It has to be. You just have to want it enough.”

She recoiled, her pale face stunned. “I do want it!”