Horror leeches away my thoughts. Another stream of water hits my throat, but when I try to reach up and brush away the slick dampness, I find myself still bound.
Another splash, right on my throat.
Then another.
My breath comes out as white clouds.
"We warned you, daughter of Aitana. Remember, as you writhe on the floor, that we offered you a way out," Dahlia's voice whispers with a voice that reverberates around the room. "We will return for more when the Giant King calls upon us."
They leave after draping the blanket over my prone form. Warmth instantly returns, but I wish for a flame, for anything to chase away the frozen shadows now taking up space in my heart.
Chapter 6
Azurite
ESTELA
"Velen! A new song. One for me to dance to with my bride,” Teo calls.
The memory takes on its normal path, with Teo drawing me close as Velen, the Enduar Singer with the stone-like face and gods’ gifted voice begins his melody.
Shit, I groan. This was the first time I let myself give into the attraction with my mate, before I knew what we were.
The eyes of the Six are still watching from a distance. I turn my head to look at them, but Teo’s hand gently brushes my back, and regret radiates through my soul as I remember how I punched him in the face when he tried to help me.
This memory only serves to show just how fucking imperfect I am—how many mistakes I’ve made. But it is still precious to me for reasons I don’t have to give to anyone.
No one else needed to know that the memories were shredded—the moments lost to the cold, bitter magic of the Six—were compounding, addling my mind so that the ones left untouched were extraordinary.
I hold my love closer. Savoring the clean smell of his skin,and the way his strength feels supporting me. In a few moments… it will all be gone.
As if on cue, Dream Teo reacts to my deviation from the past. His arms tighten to the point of pain. I look up just in time to see his features twist into a monstrous mask.
I try to pull back, just as a slit appears across his throat. Blood spurts out to the beat of his heart, coating me in the hot, sticky liquid seconds before he stumbles back and falls to the ground.
One of the Enduares screams. Then another shouts, “The human bitch killed the king!”
The room darkens, and the metallic scent of blood is everywhere. I look at my mate dying at my feet as screams fill my ears.
I sink to the ground while the memory takes another turn. Sharp pain rakes through my head as the scene is ripped to shreds before my eyes, simply leaving a bloody scene in front of me. Slamming my eyes shut, I do everything I can to keep myself from touching the memory and ruining one of the only ones I thought I had left.
The screams, the pain, the blood all subside. Leaving me in the present. Blood rushes to my ears and they ring as my brain squeezes. Then the water comes.
Ice, like dozens of needles, goes up my nose and into my mouth. I choke, waiting for the sense of drowning to pass.
Teo isn’t dead.
But you did try to kill him...You deserve the pain.
My heart stutters.
Everything inside and out of my body is raw. Swollen, even, despite how starving I am. I scramble to collect the blanket as soon as my limbs unfreeze, but my legs move slower than I would like.
The snake bites along one leg are clearly on display, asRholker and the Six watch me. Dahlia’s hooded face is turned down toward me, and for a few moments, the silence is piercing. Then, the women turn, and start to leave.
“Well?” Rholker says at last. “Can I touch her?”
Dahlia pauses, a snake now curling around her black, cloaked arm as if it were a long, elaborate armband.
