And that’s no choice at all.
I can’t turn back.
I’m trounced with warring emotions that batter me. Fear for Ranhold and Orea, a bone-deep worry about what Auren might be facing in Annwyn. If they’re invading here, I can’t even imagine what dangers she might be facing.
I wish I could slice through the air and instantly make a rip that would take me to her, but I can’t. So I need to get to her as fast as I can without it.
go go go go
Swinging Argo back around, my gaze pins to the distance. Fires glow in Highbell City, but not the usual flames you see lighting up a city. This is the destructive inferno of a place razed and burnt by an invasion of war. Except most of the city is long past charred.
Now, the flames have caught onto the gigantic trees that border the city. Smoke churns from the Pitching Pines, blowing up in thick streams. I should’ve realized that’s where we’d slept, but I was too fucking spent to make the connection.
No wonder I smelled smoke. Hundreds of trees, maybe even thousands, are already burning, the curtain of flames pulling further out to the forest.
My attention turns from the giant trees to the traveling army, whose dark stream cuts across the snow like a bleeding gash, disappearing into the distance toward Fifth Kingdom. This number of fae soldiers will devastate this world.
My jaw locks, anger making my muscles bunch as determination solidifies through me.
I can’t turn back, but Icanstill help Orea.
Because I can stop this army in their fucking tracks. I will wreak wrath and wield death.
I’ll unleash a fucking dragon.
CHAPTER 13
AUREN TURLEY
Sunlight streaks in from thewindow, painting the floor green like a spread of grass. Sweat drips down my temples, my fingers curling against the stone as if I can actually grip the blades of a lawn instead.
But no, the only real gripping happening is my head between clawed hands. Because she won’t let go. Won’t leave.
Why won’t she leave?
I try to shove her away, this woman with the striped eyes. Una. The one who makes my head pound.
I’m tired. So tired.
“Focus, Auren!”
“No!”
I thrash against her, trying to break free of her grasp, trying to dig my way out.
Holes. So manyholes. They’re swallowing me.Buryingme. But I can’t feel the ground. Only this stone floor.
I don’t know where I am or why I’m being punished. I don’t know lie from truth or dream from wake, but I know that everything feels wrong.
Something in my head twitches, scraping against my skull. Making me shiver and flinch. I hate it.
Hate it hate it hate it—
“Get them out!” My scream is guttural, tearing my vocal cords, my voice coming from the depths of my stomach, my fingers curled like talons. “Get them out of my head!”
Una’s face flares with angry dots upon her cheeks as her grip tightens. “There’s nothing in your head! I am healing you!”
“Liar!”
