As we part, I face the crowd once more and scream, “My darkness welcomes all to join. I am the Queen of Daramveer, and those who choose to defy me will witness their worst nightmares become realities.”
My breath is uneven as the small grasp I have on humanity disappears. I move my gaze to Thatcher’s one more, but he’s vanished. The others also become mist in the wind.
My eyes crack open, a daze still hanging over my head. “I’m Briar Blackbyrne, and I am in Daramveer,” I say aloud.
The orange light peeking through my heavy curtains tells me that it’s mid-morning and I’ve missed my meeting with Maines. Each dream makes me more desperate to hear the voice calling me. Every time I hear that voice, my nightmares end, and I can’t help but feel like it is growing nearer each day.
My stomach rolls as I launch for the bathing chambers, unable to make it before spilling my stomach onto the floor.
Regaining my strength and wiping the remnants off my mouth, I move fully into the bathing chamber, gripping the ledge of the sink. I look up, not recognizing the face in the mirror, and splash freezing water on my face. A stranger meets my stare in the reflection when I notice my eyes are profanely black.
Launching myself backward, I slam into the firm stone wall, the impact rattling my entire body. When I look back at my reflection, my eyes have returned to their normal autumn shade.
You’re seeing things, Briar.
A knock on the door snaps my attention from my reflection. Shaking off the unnerving feeling, I stumble through my bedroom toward the thick wooden door.
Maines Madden stands, arms crossed, on the other side of the threshold with a smile that could melt the coldest hearts. “Where the hell have you been?” She enters with a huff. “I told my idiot brother to let you know I was coming and when to meet me. Did you oversleep aga—” Breaking off and looking moreclosely at me, she grabs my shoulders. “Are you okay? What’s going on?” She ushers me toward the sitting area, the orange glow from the fire reflecting off her shoulder-length black hair.
“Hi, Maines,” I manage to squeak out before she wraps me in a hug so tight I fear my eyes may burst out of my skull.
She points to my favorite chair and snaps, “Sit down this instant. You look like trash, and you smell like it, too. You better tell me what’s going on right now.”
I take a moment to look at her. Her stunning face gazes at me with an intensity that could intimidate any grown man—a trait shared by the entire Madden family.
Maines’s fair complexion complements her raven hair perfectly, and her ice-blue eyes could haunt your dreams. Coupled with an infectious smile, she is a force of nature—she knows how to get her way, no matter what. Our families have known each other since before I was born so Maines has always been around, even when I wished to be alone. She is the same age as me and was raised by her father and brother for almost her entire life. She lost her mother as a child, which is an unfortunate bond between us.
I start from the beginning, purposefully leaving out my recurring nightmares.
Once I’ve finished the many details of the past twenty-four hours, I’m met with a stare that burns into my very soul.
“What are we going to do?” Maines sighs.
“Well, I don’t really know. How does one prepare for mystery? Barlowe didn’t seem to know what our father’s true plans are either. So, I guess we wait.”
She nods, picking at her lip. “Your father having a plan makes me nervous. There’s no way that Thatcher and my father aren’t in on this. They’ll take any chance they can to kiss your father’s ass,” she snorts.
Scratching the back of my neck, I look out of the large window in my room. Maines grabs my hand. “We will figure this out, Briar, and I’m here for you every step of the way.”
“You promise?”
“I promise.”
She stands, the chair scooting back at the force. “However, one thing we aren’t going to do is mope in your bedroom all day. Let’s go to the kitchen. If I’m hungry, I know you are probably starving.”
Before I can protest, she yanks me up and pulls me out the door. We stroll down the long hallway, hand in hand, as my mind drifts back to when we ran down these halls as children. Now, as adults, we do the same—though neither of us is smiling this time.
We turn the corner into the kitchen to find Lang alone, working on a few dishes. Maines rushes up behind him, poking his side before giggling and dodging his swing. “Shit!” Lang yells as Maines clutches her stomach, laughing. “You’re going to give my old ass a heart attack, you little jokester.”
Maines plops down on the kitchen bench beside me. “I’ve missed you, Lang. I thought that old heart of yours could use a kick start this morning.”
“Where is Rose this morning?” I ask, rolling my eyes at their antics.
“Oh, she went to town. We were running low, so she’s off to gather a few things. Spices and whatnot—nothing crazy,” he replies, returning to his routine.
Maines slings her arm around my shoulder, pulling me in. “Briar, I missed you so much while I was gone. Please travel to Eddris with me one day.”
“I missed you too. I have a few things that need healing since you’re back—starting with this knot on my head.” I reply.
