He shakes his head. “No. It was dark, as if a shadowy hand was constantly resting on her shoulder. When it was there—I won't lie, Briar—I was afraid to even touch her.”
A shiver runs up my spine. “Have you asked her about it?”
He turns, facing the door where Maines rests. “Before this happened, no, I never did, and I regret it. But, now isn’t the right time to push her. Resting is her main priority.”
I fidget with the ends of my hair and press my back against the wooden windowsill to look toward her room, too. “Do you remember when you first felt it?”
He stills, and his blinking slows. “Yes.”
I angle my head toward him and await his answer.
“It was right after Malachi killed Yara.”
I remain steady, even as I fight the urge to let my legs wobble. I think back to that night—the pain, the suffering, and the blood that filled the room like a rushing red river. Malachi’s words, promises, and threats echo in my mind. I brace my hands against the ledge and glance at Oak. His eyes stay fixated on the closed door where Maines sleeps peacefully, unaware of the terror I feel right now.
“Do you want me to stay with you until Silas gets done speaking with Fen?” Oak looks at me.
“No, you go check on Maines and get some rest. Tomorrow, we can make a plan and see if Silas knows anything about this darkness.”
He moves toward the door. “You should rest too, Briar.”
I smile as he exits, closing the door behind him. I wait for a few moments before striding across the room to the bathing chambers, taking Oak’s advice. I splash some water on my exhausted face and remove my worn clothes. I slip into something lighter and more comfortable before moving back toward the large, dark bed in the room. The silk sheets are cold and so soft that I can barely feel them as I slide under the thick duvet. A soft groan leaves my lips as I settle my head against the feathery pillow.
With the sun behind the horizon, the moon shines into the room as I extinguish all the candles, wrapping the space in darkness. I pull the covers high and feel myself slipping into the nothingness that sleep has recently graced me with. Out of the corner of my eye, I see a spot deep in the curve of the room that somehow looks darker than the black of the room, but my eyes are too heavy to stop me from drifting to sleep. I tell myself that Silas will be back soon, and my eyes close.
The world around me is dark and familiar, yet not home. My eyes adjust to the suffocating darkness, and through the smog, I see the city center of Andorwood. This time, though, there are no bustling civilians, no vendors, no scents of cooked food or delicious spices, and none of the pleasant chatter of people discussing their daily lives.
The center of Andorwood lies in ruin, and ash falls from the sky like dusty gray rain. I turn my head in all directions, but I’m alone. Fear creeps over me, and I force myself to look down each dark alleyway, each leading only to despair and misfortune. The chilled breeze whips my hair about, and my surroundings are bleak. The air is thick and reeks of the burning memories of what this kingdom once was. The bodies of the civilians lie in a scattered mess around me.
Growls in the distance snap me to attention, and I rush toward a building that is barely standing from the destruction. I press my back against the cold stone and steady my trembling hands.
This isn’t real.
This isn’t real.
The growling intensifies, and the sound of barely audible footsteps sends a wave of terror through my veins. My shadows pulse, and something within me screams to run, but I don’t know where to go.
An angelic voice sounds through the air and into my mind, “My sweet Briar. Where are you?”
I slap my hand over my mouth to muffle the sob that escapes my throat.
No.
Gods, no.
“You were exhausted tonight. Oh, so exhausted. It was quite easy to come forward when your guard is low.” Her voice floats into my mind like a disease. “Do you know where we are?”
I move my hands to cover my ears and crouch down, my back scraping down the stone building.
“Briar, I wanted to show you this, and you willingly followed me here—a realm where Andorwood loses the battle that’s ahead. This is what you will bring to those people. This kingdom will cease to exist.”
“Get out of my head,” I scream into the open air.
A haunting laugh that holds only threats reverberates around the fallen stones.
“I’m not in your head, sweet girl. I’m here, and I’m very much real. You know your present realm is the only one I can’t travel to—without your help, of course. Let me take over, and I can save them. Let me travel back with you, and you can end this faster than it will begin.”
I rise slowly, my legs still trembling from fear. “And after it’s over, what then?”
