I withdrew my hand with a cry, cradling it to my chest.
“Ren?” Harkin drew closer, movements slow. “Are you alright? We have to go.”
“I’m… I don’t know. I—” I could not tear my gaze from the woman. Her eyes narrowed as she regarded me in turn.
“The clock is ticking, Aranti.”
He scowled in her direction. “I know, Safiya. Claudian knows of our approach—my betrayal. If we intend to save the king and my family, we’ll need to hurry. I know that. Just give me a minute.”
“Apologies,mercenary,” Safiya grumbled. She drew a blade, flipping it between her fingers impatiently.
“Seren, talk to me. What’s going on?” His brown eyes bored into mine, splitting my focus.
I sucked in a deep, rattling breath. “I have seen her before. I havebeen herebefore. But it… it wasn’t real. It wasn’t supposed to be real.”
Harkin took my hand, drew it between the warmth of his palms. “Tell me.”
“I thought they were dreams. All along, I thought they were dreams.” I turned to Safiya, pushing past the heavy stone in my stomach. “You entered the palace through this window. You were so angry because they had taken so much from you. Someone you loved. But you found love again. With Ayla.”
“How do you know that?” Safiya snarled, stalking forward with her blade raised in distrust.
“The dreams,” I whispered. “For months, I have been dreaming of this place, this palace, these people… I didn’t know it was real. I thought… I don’t know what I thought, but you are flesh and blood. Fuck.”
A sharp inhale cut through the silence. “It must be part of your Moonkissed mágik, Ren. The moon is tied to dreams. It makes sense.”
“No, it doesn’t! How can I dream of people I have never met? See into their memories? It’s impossible.” Tears slipped down my cheeks, catching in my lashes.
“I’m starting to believe anything is possible,” Harkin murmured, drying my face with each slow swipe of his thumbs.
Safiya huffed, a sound both amused and exasperated. “I see why you stopped responding to Claudian’s letters.”
“Not the time, Saf.”
“I think it’s exactly the time! We’re about to face Claudian—to risk absolutely everything—because you got yourself in too deep with her. And Moonkissed? Seriously?” Safiya laughed, long andlow. “No wonder Claudian wants her. You should have let him have her.”
My laughter echoed hers, wild and loose. “You’re right. He should have.”
“No!” Harkin thundered, brows knit and lips tilted in a frown. “No. You deserve your life, Ren, and you deserve happiness. We end this. Tonight.”
“Then let us go. Follow me.” Safiya closed the glass pane behind us and led us through the winding hallways of the Acsillan Palace. I recognized them from my dream. I had followed Safiya then too, but soon we took a turn I was unfamiliar with, and my pulse skittered on.
“We’ll cut through the ballroom,” Safiya explained in a low voice. “There is a hidden passage that will take us to the royal chambers. From there it shouldn’t be hard to locate the prince and do what must be done.”
I didn’t know if Safiya meant to imprison him or end his life. Neither did she clarify, nor did I ask. I cut her a glance through the din, but her expression was carefully composed.
Voices sounded up ahead, accompanied by the shuffle of boots on carpeted stone. Safiya and Harkin reached for me, fingers pressing hard into each of my arms, and the three of us tumbled through a doorway on the left.
We stumbled into the music room. Instruments lined the walls—violins and flutes on ornate stands—and a large piano rested in the center of the room. The shine of polished metal and the gleam of oiled wood still glimmered beneath the dust which covered them in a thick blanket. It was the little fiddle on the desk that caught my eye. It reminded me of my childhood. The festivals I would attendwith my family, alight with lively music. It was another reminder that my life before was but a lost memory, but this time the ache was duller—not quite gnawing at my ribs.
“I thought I heard something,” came a muffled voice from beyond the door.
“Find them,” another hissed. “Prince Claudian wants them brought to him alive.”
I held my breath, shooting alarmed looks at each of my companions.
Harkin shook his head, a tight movement. Safiya only looked to the ceiling above, as if in silent prayer.
The door pressed open, wood scuffing on stone.
