Thaddeus. The blood. His lifeless blue-gray eyes staring back at me.
I shuddered, forcing myself to look away—to sit up. Unfortunately, the blanket of discarded leaves was just as much of a reminder.
Steeling myself, I shifted my weight to sit on my heels. Conjuring water, I took a small sip before pressing the sphere of water against my face, sighing in relief as the cool liquid splashed against me.
I’m okay.Weare okay. I just have to get us back to the Summer Court. Artton, Sidrick, and Tarrin are there—safe.
I can do this.
With that thought, I stood and was forced to sidestep as a wave of dizziness washed over me. “Whoa,” I said as one hand darted out to balance myself against a tree, while the other flew to my forehead. Taking a few deep breaths, I realized I couldn’t put off hunting any longer—if that’s what one could call it when your prey can’t move.After the dizziness passed, I’d have to check on Endymion and then find sustenance.
Forced to close my eyes against the spinning sensation threatening to pull me back to the ground, I silently prayed that this wasn’t somehow connected to Lady Time loosening her grip. I had no idea where we were, but if Wymond was freed from her grasp,not far enoughwas our current local—and would be until we were out of this gods-forsaken court.
It took longer than I cared to admit to myself before it felt safe enough to open my eyes, sighing in relief to see the world around as still as a painting.
Unsteadily, I made for Endymion, the leaves crunching under my careful steps as I tried to avoid the root that’d tripped me in the first place.
Kneeling beside him, I dusted off the collection of leaves that’d snagged on his wrap, and frowned as I cleared more from his face. When we’d set off from the Great Hall he’d looked peaceful, younger even, without the pressures of the world resting upon his shoulders. Now, his mouth was pursed, and deep, double lines puckered his brows, making him look more pained than anything.
Taking a thumb, I rubbed it against those lines as if I could erase them. “Endymion?” I whispered. His features softened a fraction before sliding back. “Endymion, it’s me, Nyleeria.”
Nothing this time.
Wondering if he’d somehow been hurt while we traversed autumn, I decided to check him over. With a grunt, I rolled him to one side, then the other coming up empty. Sure, the cloak had seen better days, but it was in remarkable shape considering. Same with the front. Deciding I’d missed something in my haste to get us clear of Wymond, I unwrapped him.
Torso, fine.
Legs, fine.
Head, fine.
Arms—
“What in the world?” I murmured.
A hint of something peeked out from under his left wrist. Gingerly, I turned it palm up and gasped.
“No…”
His left hand in my right, and I leaned over his broad chest, looking between our wrists in disbelief.
The veins of magic denoting the bargain between Wymond and me were now absent from the tender flesh it’d marked on me, but the same could not be said for Endymion. I’d thought it strange when I’d been marked, how it appeared to be missing the outline of a leaf—and now I knew why. Clear as day in his glittering black magic was the unmistakable outline of a maple leaf.
With opposite hand, I went to trace the bold lines that marred his skin, and the second the pad of my finger touched it, I hissed in pain, but before I could react, everything went black.
My pulse raced as my senses returned.
The music. The feel of my clothes. The scent of the air. It was all too familiar; and as my vision cleared, I wasn’t surprised to find myself watching the Summer Solstice reverie from atop the grand staircase.
Descending the opulent stairs, I didn’t dare shift my focus from the middle of the dance floor where Endymion held me close as he led me gracefully across the dancefloor.
Everything was as I remembered it, but I was experiencing it from afar.
The memory of him leaned down to whisper something into my ear; and I knew what his words—my name on his lips—would do to me.
I took in a sharp breath, his words caressing me as though I’d been the one he’d whispered them to, and a strange part of me was irrationally jealous of my mirage.
Realizing there was a very real possibility that both dancers were mere wisps of our past, my eyes darted frantically in hopes I’d find the real Endymion watching from the crowd as Iwas.
