“Mommy, I don’t want to leave you and daddy,” I plead as she runs through the forest, carrying me in her arms. I don’t know where my dad is, but when my mom and I ran away from the house, I heard him scream. It has me worried. And scared.

“You have to, Elora. It’s the only way you’ll ever be safe.” When we reach the center of the forest, she slams to a stop and whirls around. “Star, are you here?”

A girl with long, blonde hair emerges from the trees. She looks around my age, maybe a few years older. But unlike me, she appears sedated and calm.

“Are you sure the Common Realm is the safest place for her?” my mother asks, now clutching my hand.

The girl nods. “It’s the last place any creature would look for her.”

“Are you taking her there?” my mom asks Star, frantically glancing around the trees.

Star nods again, not a drop of emotion in her eyes. “I have a few connections at the portal who will assure her safe passage into the human realm. But you’ll want to erase her memories. If any creature finds her, it’s best if she doesn’t remember what she is.”

“I know that.”

Tears well in my eyes.

“Thank you for helping me, Star. I know you’re risking your life to be here.”

“I’m more than happy to do it. The king may have forced the answers out of me, but I won’t let him achieve what his heart desires.” She steps toward me. “When the time is right, when I’ve found the other nature energy creatures, I’ll track down Elora in the Common Realm.”

My mom nods, her hand tightening around mine. “Thank you. Knowing that will make this easier.”

“I’m going to the Common Realm?” I peer up at my mom with tears in my eyes.

My mom crouches down so she’s eye level with me. “You have to, sweetheart.”

“Are you coming with me?” I ask as the scent of fading moonlight and dirt taints the air.

She shakes her head sadly. “If your father and I go with you, he’ll be able to track our scent. But he can’t smell your scent.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m going to use all my power to mask it.”

“Will it ever return?” I really like my scent.

She tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “Maybe one day.”

I think she might be lying.

I open my mouth to say more, but heat stabs in the center of my brain and sears away everything that makes me Elora until I am nothing but a confused, scared, little girl.

“I love you,” a lady whispers. “Your father and I will always love you.”

I blink at her. “Who are you?”

The lady lets out a sob as she shoves me toward a girl with blonde hair.

“Who are you?” I ask, blinking at her.

“I’m no one.” She snags ahold of my hand and drags me into the bushes.

“Where are we going?” I ask as the sound of howls cut sharply through the air.

“Shh …” she whispers as we hunker down in the bushes. “Close your eyes. I’m going to take you away from here.”

I do as I’m told, feeling magic surround me, whisking me away into the sky, away from the forest.

Just before we soar through the last of the branches, I catch a glimpse of the sobbing woman. She’s kneeling on the ground as a beast of a man stands before her, a sword raised above his crown of violets sitting on his head.

“Where is she!” he shouts as giant wolves creep out from the trees.

“I’ll never tell you!” the woman yells as the wolves circle her.

“Then you shall die a painful death.” He lowers the sword then steps back. “Attack.”

The wolves bare their fangs, closing in on the woman before tearing at her flesh.

Her screams spear the dwindling night.

It’s the last noise I hear before blackness overtakes me.