My brow rose, and I stifled my laugh. The piece of shit was going to drug her.
I moved beside him, watching him stir her drink, the powder disappearing into nothing, when he opened a drawer on the cart and pulled out a dagger. My lips thinned, anger making it harder to stay hidden within the veil.
When Bramwell turned to face the female, I pounced, letting my shadows burst from me in a cloud, blocking her from what I was about to do with this piece of shit.
I stood in front of Bramwell, his eyes widening. The female screamed, calling out his name while she stumbled in the darkness. His body trembled as he took me in, fear drawing the color from his face. Dropping the glasses to the floor, he took astep back, breathing out ano. Tilting my head, I smiled, feeling my claws lengthen by my side.
“No, please,” Bramwell begged, falling to his knees. “Please spare me.”
I laughed, the sound so cruel, and stepped to him, crouching down until we were eye to eye. I brought my hand to his face, my fingers swiping across his cheek, my claws cutting deep into his skin as they went. Bramwell whimpered from the pain, from the blood pouring down his face. Bringing my hand before me, I pressed my fingers together, eyeing the crimson coating them, feeling the slick heat of his blood. My tongue darted out, licking up the metallic liquid coating them, the taste awakening the darker part of my soul.
My eyes cut to Bramwell, his throat bobbing. The smell of urine filled the air before I lunged.
I screamed,struggling against the limbs that held me down. My heart thrashed wildly in my chest, and each breath I took felt razor sharp. I heard my name, the deep voices frantically begging me to calm down, but I fought against their hold. Forcing myself to the edge of the bed, I vomited on the floor, my skin feeling cold and sticky.
The dream happened again, the smell of blood still filling my nose.
I heaved again, and hands gathered the hair from my face while rubbing calming circles on my back. Sitting back on the bed, I let my vision clear, then turned to face Kieran and Samian, their faces pale.
Samian had joined us sometime during the night, slipping under the blanket, pulling me to him while he pushed Kieranaway. Kieran grumbled, but he moved closer, wrapping his arm around my waist. Now, Kieran was sitting on his heels, unsure of what was happening, though Samian’s chest rose rapidly.
“What was that?” Samian rasped, his voice hoarse, but I couldn’t answer him. My eyes burned, fear tightening my throat, my panic quickly rising. Samian crawled to me, pulling me to his chest to hold me tight as I fought against the tremors wracking my body. Kieran moved closer, his body wrapping around us, his deep voice muttering calming words.
We stayed like that until my breathing evened out and my body stopped shaking. Eventually, Kieran and Samian untangled themselves from me, their faces set in a grim resolve. Closing my eyes, I swallowed down the nausea that rose. I knew I was eventually going to come clean about the dreams and my conversation with Queen Cassia. I even told Ivara that I would tell them, though the past few days hadn’t given me the chance to. But it seemed today my hesitancy would have to come to an end.
“Sybil,” Samian breathed. “Tell us. Please tell us. What was that? It didn’t feel like a dream. It felt real, like we were there.”
“I-I don’t think it was a dream,” I stammered. “This is the second time it’s happened.”
“The second time, what has happened?” Kieran asked carefully, glancing between Samian and me.
“A dream of me killing someone,” I whispered, swallowing back the bile that rose.
“The first time was in Thanlyl, wasn’t it?” Samian asked, his brows furrowing. “That was the fear I felt from you that night. You said it was a nightmare, but the nightmare was of you killing Lord Lowell.”
“It was,” I said, nodding my head. I breathed in a shaky breath, my hands rigidly gripping the hem of my shirt.
“I don’t understand,” Kieran said. “You were here with us the whole night. You couldn’t have killed any?—”
Kieran paused when movement flickered in the corner of the room, and Salem sat, cleaning his face with his paw.
“It’s the shadow creature,” Samian swallowed, his eyes glued to Salem. “Your connection to the creature is allowing you to see its actions.” Samian turned back toward me, his eyes hard. “What are you keeping from us?”
I released a tight breath, my gaze bouncing between them. “The rest of the conversation I had with Queen Cassia.”
Chapter 21
Kieran
What the fuck.
“So, not only do you have a third mate, but the queen said that your fate is to die?” I breathed, my mind reeling. My heart dropped, and my body shook as Sybil explained her talk with the queen. Each breath I took felt short and hollow. My hands twitched, wanting to move, to find something to throw, to hurt. Samian was unusually quiet; his eyes were unfocused while he watched Sybil’s hands twist in her lap. “Did she say if there was any way to stop it?”
“No,” Sybil murmured, her face pinching. “She told me it was between my mates and me, and that I needed to follow my heart.”
“Then let it be us,” I growled, my voice rising. “I will not lose you. I justfoundyou.”
“Cassia made it seem like there was something that would happen after. She wouldn’t explain what it was, though.”
