Trial by Fire

“Why?” he asked, suddenly angry. “Why do you want to be trained?”


“So I can control my reactions.”

“You’re lying,” he said dismissively.

“I’m not.”

“You’re not telling me the whole truth, Lily. I can hear it in your voice.”

“I want to control my reactions, and I want to go home!” she shouted. “Do you have any idea how I can do that? Do you know how to send me back to my universe?”

His eyes narrowed, warning her against using too much sarcasm. “It’s never been done by anyone but Lillian.”

“That means I have two options. I can beg Lillian to send me back—which I know she won’t—or I can learn how to do it myself. If she figured it out, why can’t I?”

“It’s not that simple, Lily. You seem to have all her potential, but crucibles start their training when they’re six years old. You have no idea how much you’ll need to learn to get to the point she’s at right now.”

“I don’t care what I have to do. Please, Rowan, I need to go back. My mother—”

Lily broke off, a wave of fear making her voice weak. She’d been so concerned with keeping herself alive the past few days she hadn’t had any worry left in her to spare for her mother. The worry came back as Rowan searched her eyes. Lily got that feeling again—the feeling that there was a secret language the two of them spoke that she’d forgotten.

“And if I train you,” he said softly. “How do I know you won’t end up exactly like her?”

“Because I’m nothing like her,” Lily replied, throwing up her hands like it was self-evident.

“Really?”

“Yes, really,” Lily said, offended. “How could you even think that about me?”

Rowan looked away, his hands planted on his hips. “This isn’t my decision, anyway. The sachem wants you trained.”

“And you don’t think I should be?”

“I think there are going to be a lot of people who are going to try to use you, whether I train you or not.”

He turned and started walking again, his brow furrowed in thought. Lily followed him cautiously. She knew not to push him to explain anymore.

“How is she? Your Samantha?” Rowan finally asked after a long silence.

“She’s sick, but still alive. I think, anyway.” Lily watched Rowan’s face. “You knew Samantha here?”

“Of course.” His voice sounded like it was coming from far away. “We were very close.”

“What happened to her?”

Rowan didn’t answer right away. “About a year ago, Lillian disappeared for three weeks.” He stopped again and swallowed hard. “Samantha said that Lillian was in front of us, inches away but beyond our reach. She said that Lillian was being destroyed from the inside out. We didn’t understand. Samantha decided that she had to go get Lillian on her own. She went to the pyre even thought she knew she wasn’t a firewalker. It killed her.”

Lily moved closer to Rowan until their shoulders were nearly touching.

“What’s a firewalker?” she asked cautiously.

“It’s the final level of witchcraft. Very few attempt it. Most die.”

They continued along at a stroll, both of them slowed by the thought of loosing Samantha.

“I’ve disappeared from my world just like Lillian did,” Lily whispered. “I have to go back, Rowan.”

He sighed and nodded. “I know.”





chapter 7



The temperature started dropping even before the sun went down. Frost fell, lining the leaf litter underfoot with flaky, white ice. Even Lily felt chilled. Rowan stuffed his hands under his arms as they walked, trying to stay warm.

“Come here,” Lily said, putting her arm around his waist. Rowan startled at her touch, but when she didn’t let go, he wrapped an arm over her shoulder and hugged her to his chest. His whole body was trembling.

“We need shelter tonight,” he said through chattering teeth.