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This is how it shall be and no other way. I can survive. And I will. For the sake of my people, I will sacrifice my happiness and my own chance at freedom to give them theirs.
    The front door opens, driving me further into shadow, eyes narrowing, suspicion returning with the reawakening of my training. I don’t want to see anyone at this point, but I do need to get home. A conundrum I must solve somehow. The very last person I wish to see will only crack my newly returned walls of protection. Syd will see right through me and undo what I’ve done here in the dark of her driveway. I cannot allow her to tear me down again, not when so much is at stake.
    I have to risk it. It’s a long walk home to Ukraine and I don’t have the means to travel through the veil. It’s a major frustration of mine, an irritation I wish I could rectify. It just adds to our lack of status as a species, being forced to request witches or sorcerers to taxi us to our destinations. Perhaps I will make that my focus—my magic is strong. Surely I can figure out a way to free my people from this last indignity.
    With a quick, steadying breath I stride with confidence to the door. A pair of witches scuttle by, smiles of greeting fading as I walk past and I realize I must be further into my old persona than is good for me right now. But dialing back my resolve could mean the difference between breaking down and making it home in one mental piece.
    Quaid’s concern I can handle. Miriam’s, even. Shenka, the coven’s second, I’m sure she won’t be an issue. But please, please. Just let me not see Syd.
    I almost exhale in relief as Shenka turns and smiles at me from the middle of the bright kitchen as I enter, Ethpeal and Demetrius looking up from their conversation with her. I see the sudden concern in Ethpeal’s face, the frown of curiosity creasing her partner’s brow. But Shenka’s warm, worried smile is far worse than I expected.
    She tries to hug me, but I dodge her embrace. “I hate to impose,” I say to Ethpeal, “but I need to go home.” I don’t tag on “now”, but I put urgency in my stare. Glare, actually.
    “Of course,” Ethpeal says, light and emotionless, as though I didn’t just come to the brink of insult. “We were just waiting for you.”
    Shenka’s arms drop, sorrow on her face. “We didn’t get a chance to talk.”
    I nod, no longer meeting her gaze, turning from her. “Next time, perhaps.”
    I’ve hurt her, slapped her with my words. But it doesn’t matter. There won’t be a next time. I can’t keep coming here if I’m to succeed in my plan. The very love and caring they taught to me, this family offered me, is the weakness I need to shed if I’m to be a queen.
    I leave in silence with the two sorcerers, this time stepping first into the black tunnel at the end of the driveway. I embrace the cold darkness, welcome it, hope it will go further to cool the heat all my softness created in me. Anger and dispassion for everything else. I have to remember who I used to be and forget who I was becoming.
    Ethpeal and Demetrius don’t offer hugs as they exit the tunnel with me.
    “Thank you.” I bow to them, turning away before they can comment, and head for the line of trees. I should check in with my grandfather immediately, but I can’t face him yet, nor does tossing and turning appeal to me. Not with the last of the new, loving, shiny me still glimmering, begging for more life. I feel the pair of sorcerers depart as I reach the edge of the forest, shedding my clothing down to my underwear before forcing my body into were shape.
    It hurts, much more than returning to human form, but I welcome the pain, speed the transformation until I’m gasping, and begin to run. The wolf pack appears almost immediately, the white and her alpha keeping pace with me. They are welcome, a part of who I am.
    I was wrong, I know that now, as I race through the familiar trees. I don’t need to return to who I used to be, just