Janelle
The forest held its breath around us.
I pressed my back against the rough bark of an ancient oak, my heart hammering against my ribs as Princess Sophia's perfect smile cut through me like a blade. Her golden hair caught the morning sunlight filtering through the trees, making her look like some vengeful goddess descended from the heavens to destroy my world.
"Well?" she said sweetly, her voice carrying the same tone she'd used when threatening my brother. "Are you going to surrender peacefully, or shall my guards drag you back in chains?"
My magic stirred in response to the threat, silver fire building behind my ribs. I could feel the ancient trees around us responding to my distress, their branches creaking ominously. This was my forest now. These were my woods. And Princess Sophia had made a terrible mistake coming here.
"Janelle, don't," Adrian said quietly beside me, somehow sensing my rising power. "Not yet."
