Therys looked sharply at Juno as Gorm rose suddenly out of the lake, water pouring from his slimy body.

“What have you done?” Therys demanded.

“Please Therys, don’t make this harder for me.” Juno couldn’t meet his gaze. Her grip was still strong on his arm but her body was trembling.

“This is truly your will my Queen?”

“It is. I mean, it’s the only way to save the gardens.”

Therys nodded. “Then so be it.” He pulled free of her and walked towards Gorm. When he reached the water’s edge he simply kept on walking across the surface of the lake. He stopped in front of Gorm and looked up at the serpent.

“Therys!” Juno yelled.

“Get it over with,” Therys snapped.

“With pleasure.” Gorm lunged, swallowing the court wizard in one awful gulp. He reared up and screamed his triumph to the sky. Then he turned his beady eyes on Juno.

“Now who will protect you?” he hissed.

Juno took a step back but a vine coiled around her ankle and yanked her to the ground. She realised with horror what she had done.