Yes, we’d have enough power to do all this.

We’d have entire graveyards of it.

Chapter 15: Kiev

I barely paid attention to the gate Patricia chose to take us through.

I just trusted her to make the right decision as she vanished us from The Shade and we reappeared on top of a snowy mountain peak.

It didn’t take her long to locate a crater in the ground and a few seconds later, we were all leaping through it.

On the other end, we found ourselves in a humid jungle with broad leaves and tree trunks five times the size of any on Earth.

The atmosphere was so heavy it was a struggle to breathe.

Shrieks and growls of wild animals surrounded us.

I didn’t need to look around for more than a few seconds to know where this was: Aviary.

Dark memories of the time I’d spent here came rushing back.

“Let’s keep moving,” I said, gripping Patricia’s shoulder perhaps harder than necessary.

She did as I’d requested and a few moments later, the jungle disappeared in a blur of colors.

When my vision came into focus again, we were standing on a cluster of rocks beneath the shelter of an overhanging rock.

To our right was a beach covered with pristine white sand.

“Well,” Patricia said, “I tried to vanish us within The Sanctuary, but this is as far as I could get… the boundary.” “What happened?” I asked.

“I’ve been out of the place too long.

I’m an outcast now, not much different from you.” I climbed down from the rocks and, ignoring the sun’s rays as I left the shelter of the cliff, I began to run full speed toward a line of trees that marked the beginning of the mainland.

I might as well have just run up against a brick wall.

Just before I reached the trees, I smashed into an invisible barrier and bounced back.

I climbed back up to where the others were still standing on the rocks for shelter.

“So what do you suggest we do?” I panted.

Patricia sank down on the rock and furrowed her brows.

“I think the only way in is to wait for a witch to come out, and then hijack them.” “Hijack?” Abby asked, frowning.

“Yes, hijack.

If you can hold onto a witch and enter with them at the same time, you should be able to gain entrance.

At least, that used to be the case.” “How often do you think witches stray outside the boundary?” Erik asked.

“They don’t have much reason to.

When they want to travel outside, they’d mostly vanish themselves from within The Sanctuary itself.

Most witches actually never leave the place.” “So how are we going to do this?” “I’m not sure that we have any choice but to wait and hope someone will come.” Wait and hope.

Those were the last two words I needed to hear right now.

Chapter 16: Mona

I’d hoped to be able to escape the nightmare I was living in by falling asleep, but I was only met with more.

If anything, the nightmares were worse and more vivid when I shut my eyes.

I woke up shivering in the early-morning hours, and didn’t bother trying to fall asleep again after that.

As breakfast time approached, there was a knock on my bedroom door.

I’d expected to see my maid, but instead it was Brisalia herself carrying a silver tray of food.

She walked inside and set the tray down on my bedside table, then reached for my hand and squeezed it.

She gave me a smile and there was warmth in her eyes as she said, “I’m sorry.” I nodded, averting my eyes to the ground and swallowing hard.

“I know you want to be alone right now, but there are some things Thalia and our council want to discuss with you.” I raised my gaze to her.

I wasn’t sure what they might be, though I could take a good guess.

They knew I’d spent years living with the black witches.

I guessed they wanted to pick my brain for information.

They’d be sorely disappointed, of course.

I’d betrayed Rhys too many times in the past to be trusted with much high-level information.

I was usually only told the basics in order to do my tasks.

Although it was the last thing I wanted, I nodded.

I couldn’t refuse this request after all their hospitality.

“When?” I croaked.

“After breakfast.” I nodded.

“Do you remember where the meeting hall is?” she asked.

I nodded again, dark memories washing over me.

How could I forget that place? It was the room where I’d been sentenced to banishment from The Sanctuary.

The place where all these familiar people who looked on me now with warmth had once glared daggers and hurled insults at me.

“Very well.

I’ll meet you there in half an hour.” With that, she stood up and vanished from the spot.

I cast my eyes toward the breakfast tray.

I couldn’t even think about eating.

I headed straight for the bathroom to shower and get dressed.

Once I was ready, I vanished myself downstairs to the meeting hall.

Thalia sat at the head of a long table, with Hermia and Brisalia on either side, while the rest of the chairs were taken by over a dozen other witches and warlocks.

All members of The Sanctuary’s council.

Shivers ran along my spine as I felt their gaze on me.

It was unsettling the way they were looking at me now, as if the past had never happened.

“Take a seat, Mona.” Thalia’s smooth voice echoed around the hall.