The night air was still as you crept through the woods, your hands trembling slightly as you held onto a bundle of herbs, some stones, and a candle. You’d been away from your magick for too long—bound by someone who shouldn’t have had the power to control you. The weight of that separation settled heavy in your chest as you moved quietly, muttering words under your breath, hoping the Witches’ Road would open for you.

You hadn’t told Matt anything about your magick, about who you truly were, figuring it was easier to keep it hidden. But now, without your connection to the earth, you felt like a hollow shell. You couldn’t keep it secret anymore, not if you were going to get your power back.

Behind you, there was a rustle. You spun around, heart pounding, only to find Matt, eyes wide and confused as he took in the scene before him.

“Ma,” he said slowly, taking in the herbs, the stones, the whispered words. “What…what are you doing out here? And…what is all this?”