And if this was the same dream, had the night sky been trying to reach me all this time, unable to connect with me over the years I dreamt? How in the Otherworld did the darkness of the night sky havefeelings?
I gasped as the absurd thought woke me up. I knew I was dreaming this time. I’d never once experienced a dream where I’d actually recognized it as such. Why was this dream so different?
I shook my head. These were absurd thoughts to have. The night sky didn’t have feelings, and it wasn’t trying to reach me. And I certainly didn’t have hands made of light. Only the rare Fae who could command light itself could claim such things, and they always wielded sunlight, not starlight.
My dreams always found me in the freedom offered by the sky, and this was no different. I’d often join the stars among the darkness and dance. But the darkness never touched me even asI twirled within it. Instead, the moon would dance with me. It would unfurl from its balled up sleeping form and stretch out, revealing a dragon that lived and breathed. The sun was the same during the times I dreamed of daylight. The two dragons often kept me company in my dreams. An old fable making its way into my subconscious, clearly.
Luna, the Moon Dragon, short for Lunathaire, was playful and fun. She’d dance around with me, her glowing scales brushing against my fingers. The Sun Dragon, Zhulong, or Zhu as I called him, would tease me with his tail. He’d whip that tail at me, but only a teasing brush along my skin would connect. I felt more at home in those moments than anywhere in my waking life.
I’d played with them in my dreams for as long as I could remember. I was too often all alone as a child and my dreams gave me solace and friends to play with. I’d always struggled with making friends, even before I grew ice around my heart to protect it. Before the girl’s jealousy turned into tormenting me.
I often felt peculiar as a child, like a stranger in my own skin, I constantly felt like it was too tight for my body, and I didn’t belong. Not to mention, I’d frequently look to my side, like I expected someone to be there with me, only to discover I was as alone as always. Why I seemed to expect someone, I had no idea. But those things set me apart and made it hard to become friends with other children.
As a result, I would often make up stories in my head to pass the time, even while I was awake. I’d play out grand adventures, where the heroine was free and able to fight and fly. Where she could do whatever she wanted. It gave me a way to escape my reality and take me to a place where that kind of freedom was a sweet dream.
I sighed as I fought off my blankets that had somehow twisted up around my legs in my sleep. Strange dreams or not, I had to prepare myself for today. Cyrus had barely said a handful ofwords to me after the attack yesterday. Beyond snapping at me, he’d dropped me in my room and commanded me to stay—like a dog. He was gone the rest of the day, but I had to hope his order didn’t remain in place for today.
I knew he was angry about the Night Kingdom’s attack, but I was more confused than anything. After my run in with that soldier, I wasn’t sure what to think. The soldier was too much—of everything. Too alluring, too dangerous, and too intoxicating. When he had me up against the wall, half of me yearned to press closer, while my mind told me to run as far away as possible. The echo of his words, claiming that he wasn’t the real monster, only confused me more. How could that be possible when he was capturing and killing humans?
The attack on the Dusk Kingdom proved they were indeed randomly attacking other kingdoms. So, I supposed there was only one real question to answer.Why? I kicked myself for not asking when I had the chance.
I knew deep in my bones that I was missing a key clue to this mystery. Not everything was as it seemed, and I could feel the increasing tension that filled the air around me, like the land itself was revolting against something…a fanciful notion, really. But I knew there had to be a deeper reason behind these attacks. There must be. I refused to believe the Night Kingdom had orders to randomly slaughter all those in sight. However it seemed from the outside, the words the Fae soldier spoke certainly didn’t make it seem like that was the case.
I was only shaken out of my contemplation when Priscilla came to prepare me for the day. We made small talk as she worked, and our time together was just as enjoyable as always. I rarely got to speak with others outside of Cyrus and Priscilla on a day-to-day basis, the only exception being Emmie, and even more rarely Eris, in the hallways as we passed one another. And now I had another reason to be happy to see Priscilla.
“How did Princess Daneiris react to the attack?” I inquired, leaning my chin on my hand as I looked at her through the mirror.
“Her ladies were all tittering about it when I got her ready.” Priscilla looked at my reflection and smiled wryly. “The princess, however, looked more contemplative. She responded to one of her lady’s inane comments by saying that her brothers were clearly inept and unable to defend their kingdom.” She paused for effect. “Treasonous words.”
We shared a smirk.
“Did she happen to mention what she wanted to do?” I asked, my brows furrowing.
“No.” Priscilla shook her head. “She only said they must look into other ways to handle the situation.” I hummed in response, turning that thought over in my mind. What was the princess planning?
“I’ll see if I can drop any comments later today and bring the conversation around where we want.” Priscilla told me with a sly smile.
“Hopefully, we find something.” I replied, pursing my lips in contemplation. “I don’t like all these people plotting around us. Not when we’re unaware of how their schemes may affect us.”
“Humans do always seem to draw the short end of the stick in these matters.” Priscilla nodded in agreement, leaning over to grab bits of my hair to tie up.
Once she finished getting me ready, we moved from the vanity to the wardrobe and the dressing screen arranged beside it. I raised an eyebrow at Priscilla when I saw the dress picked out for me, noting that it was more elaborate than normal. The top was corseted with a scooped neckline and had exquisite detail in the pink embroidery across it, flowing from the corset and down over the skirt. The pink color of the embroidery shifted from light to dark as it fell to the floor.
Cyrus did love keeping with the pink and gray colors of Dusk. Any opportunity to show off his royal station, he took it. And my wardrobe was an exquisite showcase of that fact. Whether it came from his vanity or his insecurity, I still hadn’t figured out. Maybe a combination of both.
I honestly wasn’t sure that either of Dusk’s signature hues were really my colors. Nonetheless, I ran my hand down the full skirt of the gown, appreciating the details.
“What’s with the fancy dress?” I raised a brow at Priscilla, and received a sympathetic smile in return that I knew meant I wouldn’t like what came next.
“Court has been called to discuss yesterday’s attack.” Priscilla replied smoothly. “You’ll be required to attend at Prince Cyrus’s side.”
“Fabulous.” I sighed heavily at her explanation. Prince Cyrus had only required my presence before the courtiers a few times, primarily at dinners with the royal family.
This would be my first time attending a full court session. I suppose my luck finally ran out. Though, this could be an opportunity too. Where better to learn about the politics and plots of the court than at court itself?
Less than an hour later, I took a deep breath, staring at Cyrus’s back and trying not to panic. I had no idea what to expect from a formal court session, but had no time to truly worry before servants threw open the doors and Cyrus began to strut inside.
I kept my eyes lowered a fraction as I walked three steps behind the crown prince. I could feel eyes on me—those wondering about the prince’s new favored slave, his whore, as was the rumor according to the Night Kingdom soldier. I forced myself not to visibly bristle at the thought.
