In. Out. In. Out.
My breathing sounded much too loud in my own ears. Or maybe it was just that the preparation chamber was too quiet. Too still. Like the calm before a storm.
Like the peace before a baby's shrill cries.
Okay, that was weird.
In. Out.
I couldn't stop replaying it. The forest. The circle. The hands. The pulling, tearing sensation as they tried to rip my mana from my body.
The snake biting me, the woman laughing and mocking me.
The dark night and—
"Roxanne!"
I jerked, nearly knocking over the glass of water on the side table.
Clarissa stood in front of me, concern etched across her elegant features. Her water-blue eyes studied me with an intensity that made me want to look away. "Hmmm. I need you here, princess Roxanne."
"I'm sorry," I said automatically. "I was just—"
"Zoning out," she finished gently. "You have been staring at that wall for the past five minutes, or maybe more. I lost count."
Had I? I couldn't even remember what I had been looking at.
