Eryx’s eyes snap up and meet mine. “Can you do it again?”
I press my hands on the floor and pull on my power.
Eryx inhales sharply. “Chelsea—wait.”
The shadows along the wall twitch, and a strange pressure coils low in my stomach—too heavy, too tight. Not pain. Resistance—firm and unyielding.
Eryx’s hand closes around my wrist. “That’s not just you,” he says, his voice low. “I’ve never felt this before.”
My pulse stutters. “Feel what?”
His jaw tightens. “You pulling. And something pulling back.”
I bite down on my bottom lip. “What does it mean?”
He shakes his head. “We’re about to find out.”
Eryx
After I magic some clothes on and tell Darla to throw away the casserole—which has turned green, by the way—I leave Chelsea in her bedroom to wash up and I head out to find Stave.
He’s in his office—looks up from a stack of paperwork when I knock. “Yes, sir?”
I enter, slide my hands into my pockets. “Helena’s escalating. I want more security in the manor and more men searching for her. Nightmare can’t find her.”
He lifts a brow. “Not at all?”
“She’s masking.”
He nods, understanding. “It’ll be done within the hour.”
I turn to go but stop. “And…if you happen to hear any strange noises—smashing, breaking—coming from the dream room, you can ignore it.”
“Yes, sir.”
I have a feeling whatever happened between Chelsea and I last night is going to be quite disruptive.
I leave Stave and head for my dream room.
Nightmare is waiting for me.
There was no point in talking to it earlier, with Chelsea there. I wanted to be alone, to confirm my suspicions.
Oh, Nightmare. What have you done?
What are you talking about?
Shadows flicker on the wall as I talk. It’s me—my anger bursting out—but it can’t be let loose.
Not now.
Not anymore.
The entire game has changed.
You know exactly what I’m talking about. Her power—our power—it’s connected. You did this! Change it back. Put her back the way she was.
There’s a long pause before—I can’t.
