A flash of silver, rot, and ruin.
A castle of writhing, living darkness.
The pull on my skin dwindled, dissolving like smoke, just as the fog in my ears faded into Elliot’s snores and the buzz of an insect under our dresser. I groaned in disgust, fully awake and aware of my traitorous body, and settled back into my pillows. Pressing my palms into my eyes, I focused on their weight instead of something rising sickly sour from the pit of my stomach. I had allowed the dreams to coax me under. Willingly let them twist and seduce me like a fool.
And maybe I was.
Because, at this rate, the Shadow Bringer would surely devour my soul by sunrise.
One more Corrupt to the holding cells.
A traitorous girl with a monstrous heart.
Good for her to die so that her family might finally be free.
I turned to my side, dragging my hands down my face as I tried to quiet the voices of every Norhavellian who would surely condemn me if they knew the truth of what I’d done to Eden. Elliot slept heavily in the bed next to mine, chest rising and falling at rhythmic intervals. His face was mostly relaxed—though an eyebrow was slightly scrunched—and the threadbare leg of Chester the cow, his favorite keepsake from toddlerhood, peeked out from underneath an elbow. Lumpy wool stuffing threatened to spill from Chester’s seams, and his once-bright button eyes were now a bit dull, but Elliot still treasured him.
Crskkk. Crskkk.
I stilled.
A misshapen form scraped at our half-open window, clawing at the glass in jagged swipes. I jolted out of bed, stubbing my toe on a wooden board.
“Maker, that hurt,” I grumbled.
I took a deep breath, trying to snap free from my negative thoughts. I needed to ground myself in reality, not lose myself in another fantasy. The shadow was merely a branch. Abranch, for Maker’s sake.
“Esmer?”
Elliot peered at me through the shadows. His hair, as dark and wild as mine probably looked, curled around his ears in a disheveled halo. He appeared small and possibly too warm under his heap of blankets, but the pile helped him feel safe, veiled from the prying eyes of monsters and humans alike.
“Sorry, Elliot. I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“It’s all right. Better you than a demon,” he said half-heartedly, trying his best to lighten the mood and defuse our fears. He pulled at his blankets, positioning them strategically around his slimshoulders as he let out a yawn. “But now you owe me a chocolate. Maybe even two.”
My mouth lifted into a smile. “I’m sure Istralla will have plenty of chocolate for us.”
“We’ll have chocolate every day,” he said, returning my grin. We both knew we didn’t have the gold needed for regular indulgences, but it was fun to bask in the possibility. Decadent confections, clothes that weren’t thinning from too much wear, a comfortable home by the sea, fresh seafood, bottles of elixir—it seemed like an unreachable dream. A beautiful, unreachable dream. His smile faltered as his attention shifted to our window, where a leafy branch was still scuffling against the glass. “Need to keep that shut. Don’t want birds flying in and taking my eyes.”
“That’s a strange thing to say. Are you having dreams, too?” I instinctively bit down on my tongue. He couldn’t know I was having dreams.No onecould know.
Elliot squinted at me. For a moment, I thought he registered my confession.
“No, I’m not having dreams. Though it’s nice of you to worry about me,” he said with another yawn, covertly pulling Chester into a hug. “I’m going back to sleep. Busy day tomorrow. Especially if chocolate is to be involved.”
“Are you certain you’re fine?”
“I’m certain,” he mumbled, reaching for the elixir at his nightstand. He tilted it to his mouth, but no liquid came out. “Hmm. Thought I had some left.”
“Here.” I handed him my vial, which still contained a dreg of the amber liquid. “I should check on Father first and see if he needs anything. He’s probably still sitting on the porch and watching the woods.”
“You think he’ll be out there all night?”
I nodded. “He always keeps watch when the season is drawing to a close.” I wrapped my dark red cloak around my shoulders, covering my nightgown, and tied it loosely under my chin. It was a modest, plain garment despite its velvet fabric—as were all my clothes—but it wouldprovide some comfort against the midnight chill. “Be glad it’s only for one more night.”
“The Corrupt really are getting bad. You don’t think…” He paused, chewing his lip. “You really think we’ll be able to leave? Won’t the villagers be mad? What if a Corrupt finds us before we can—”
“No,” I said firmly. Convincingly. “They can’t hurt us. Not with Father watching.”
