Erador smoothed the mound with the shovel. He stabbed the tip in the dirt and leaned on the handle. His breaths settled as Hawth pushed leaves and sticks over the top.

  Fireflies blinked through the twilight forest. The crickets chirped. Emera didn’t deserve mourning or ambiance of the forest. She betrayed Lucrethia. He didn’t need to feel guilty over what happened to her. It could’ve been her own doing that led to her death.

  Erador wiped his arm across his sweaty forehead, the motion difficult from the ache in his shoulders. He wished Emera told him something useful before her death. It would’ve made kidnapping her worth it, and maybe he would’ve dumped sunflowers in her grave. Now he only had a dead body under his feet and Shade warning him that he could be next. Exhaustion kept Erador from worrying too much.

  Aminria sat on the ground, legs tucked to her body. Empathy didn’t exude from her wide eyes. Fear manifested on her face from the prospect of her death; likely to Aminria, her name was already carved on a tombstone.

  “Aminria?” Erador said, leaning the shovel against a trunk.

  Her head jerked in his direction. He avoided her eyes, afraid they would display his uncertain future.

  “Are you going to be all right?”

  “I’m... fine.” Her voice lacked emotion. She would’ve convinced him if he were as blind as a shadow, but he could see she was far from fine.

  “So...” Hawth said, brushing dirt from his hands as if he were dismissing the situation. “Can I go?”

  Erador snatched the front of Hawth’s coat and pulled him closer. “Don’t say anything. Not a word.”

  Hawth nodded, stiffly and left through the trees.

  Erador crouched and touched Aminria’s shoulder. “Are you ready?”

  She rubbed her arms, her gaze locked onto the place where Emera’s body lay. It blended with the rest of the forest. But it was like the location had been permanently stamped onto her face. Erador sensed the spot like a magnet was pulling him. But the anxious moment would fade with time, and they would eventually forget where it was.

  “I don’t want to do this anymore.”

  Erador blinked. “Why not?”

  “Look at what happened to her. Her blood...” Aminria looked at her shaking palms. “It was everywhere. What if that happens to us.” She jerked on his arm. “What if we step too far and...”

  “If we don’t do anything, we could still be killed. We should try to stop Yuni before she hurts anyone else.”

  Aminria slouched against the tree. “We’ve found nothing. How much more digging do we have to do?”

  “Emera most likely died by crystal magic, as brutal and quick as her death was. We also know the Raven escaped with one. This has to be connected. Emera must’ve known something.”

  “But she didn’t. No matter what I did, she wouldn’t say anything. You said someone could’ve made her forget intentionally.”

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  “Yes and that someone didn't want her leaking information.”

  “What if they find her body?” Her voice sounded strangled in her raspy breaths. “What if they find out it was us?”

  “Aminria!” Erador shook her shoulder. “She’s buried in the middle of the woods. No one will find her. If they do, they can’t connect her death to us.”

  “But how did they know she was here?”

  “Maybe they didn’t. Maybe this... crystal magic was done before we took her. It would explain why she forgot. Whoever did this didn't trust her. She was nothing more than a prop.”

  Erador tried his best to keep calm despite how his brain rattled with the possibilities of why this happened. It could’ve been chance they ran into her in New Akthelia, but her death was no accident.

  “Oh gods.” Aminria rubbed her face and got up using the trunk. “I can’t go on like this. I’m done.”

  Erador turned away, afraid she would noticed how hard he swallowed. He wanted to tell her she was worthless for giving up. If witch magic could do that, they were done for. Not just his father would die. Eli’s death was the beginning of what would come. Pain coiled in his belly when he envisioned Emera’s corpse. It was a reminder of when his chest had been ripped open by Slen and blood spilled through his fingers. His insides quivered as he tried to slow his breathing.

  “I’m not giving up. I won't sit by and let her hurt my father or anyone else.”

  Aminria took his hand. Her grip was firmer than comfort. He wanted to reject her desperation to try and show that she cared.

  “I’m sorry, Erador.”

  He pulled away from her and squeezed his thumb between his fingers to contain his frustrations. “Don’t worry about it.” His words trembled. “We should get you home.”

  Erador picked up the shovels. He walked briskly to keep distance between them. Aminria lowered her head and trudged behind. He moved hard and fast, as if his steps could shake the earth, but it was his heart that rippled and felt like it would crack apart.

  He lost a person he turned to for help, and now he was alone. Though Loma had been supportive, she hadn’t helped much and Hawth was the last person he wanted to ask after his strange behavior.

  The quick shift in Aminria’s steps unnerved him. “What are you going to do now?” she asked.

  “Watch Yuni.” Erador ducked under a branch. “Maybe go to that bookstore in New Akthelia.”

  “You’re going back there? Someone could’ve seen us take Emera.” She couldn’t obstruct her condescending tone in her whispers. “What if you get caught?”

  He wasn’t fooled by her act. She could patronize him any given day and it wouldn’t change his mind.

  “I’ll take my chances.”

  “Erador.” Aminria tugged his shoulder, but he resisted her pull. She shifted in front of him. Soft lines displayed across her brow. “Be careful.”

  He gave an empty stare. That was her best display yet. Erador pushed past her, hoping to never see her again.

  A guttural cry caused him to drop the shovels. It wasn’t a lurker. He heard this creature two weeks ago, when they were digging up the victim from Odinaty.

  Aminria shifted closer to Erador. “What if it’s that thing that took Emera’s leg?”

  “Maybe it can do me a favor,” Erador said, glaring at Aminria and she let go of his arm.

  “You want me dead?”

  “Someone might.” Erador picked up the shovels. “I wouldn’t get comfortable. Being in denial isn’t going to save you.”

  The creature sounded closer, behind them now and Erador picked up his pace. He wasn’t going to find out what it was, but he felt foolish for being afraid of an animal after what happened to Emera. People weren’t like animals. It made Erador further hate the meaning behind his mark that Harians were equal to animals. If this thing only took Emera’s leg, it was unlikely big enough to hurt them. What was there to be afraid of?