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A tendril of shadow spills from my hand, skirting across the floor and up the chair to the woman’s hand. It coils around each finger, preparing to break them until Oren gets what he wants.
“With your hands, not your shadows. I want you to feel each snap of their bones as you do my bidding.” I glare at Oren, who smirks back, knowing he’s won. I recall my shadows and step closer to the woman. “I’m sorry,” I whisper as I wrap my hand around her index finger before breaking it. The cracking of her bones radiates through my hand, and I wince. Her screams pierce my ears, and I fight to not cover them. With each snap and break of their bones, every drop of their blood that splatters their home, a piece of my soul cracks off and falls away.
I jerk awake, heart racing. Just a nightmare. I look around, trying to steady myself.
I’m not still trapped in that damn cell.
I close my eyes, taking a deep breath. Nyx is safe. Theo is safe. I open my eyes.
I need to keep it that way.
A faint glow beams through one of my windows. The sun is rising. I crawl out of bed and make my way to the bathing chamber. I strip off my undergarments and step into my shower. I allow the chilly water to wash away my worries and ground me in the present.
I dry and slip into a long, flowy dress of deep-purple. There will be no training today. I will spend my day strategizing with Nyx.
Using my towel, I squeeze out the excess water in my hair, leaving beautiful curls as it dries. As I slide my black dagger into place on my right thigh, I smile, feeling better about revealing my secrets to my best friend. But my heart breaks remembering Tobias.
I’ll never understand the secret quest he and Oren went on in Fati. I wish he had taken me with him. Maybe I could have protected him like he tried for me. Oren was running on borrowed time, anyway. Monsters can only lurk in the shadows for so long before enacting their revenge.
I step out my door into the quiet halls of The Keep. A whistle sounds, and I look over my shoulder to find Nyx striding toward me. It appears sleep escaped him as well.
His muscled arms wrap around me and squeeze me tight to his chest.
“You couldn’t sleep either?” I ask, smiling up at him.
He simply shakes his head.
“Any nightmares after everything yesterday?” he asks with concern furrowing his brow.
I bite the inside of my cheek. But I promised no more secrets. I tell him all about my nightmare from my first ordered kills, and he stiffens. His fists clench at his sides, and I take one in my hand.
I look into his metal-gray eyes and take a deep breath. Nyx holds my hand and does the same. No words required.
“Ready to go to the apothecary?” I ask, ready to change the subject.
He nods, and we walk the short distance down the hall.
We find Loma at the counter; she appears to be waiting for us. Her smile is broad as we enter the shop. The scent of medicinal herbs and spices welcomes us.
“Our fearless leaders,” she says, walking around the counter with arms stretched wide, pulling us both into her warm embrace.
We laugh as she releases us.
“What brings you both to see me this fine morning?” she asks, far too cheery for the time.
I glance at Nyx before looking back into Loma’s gentle, hazel eyes.
“Have you ever heard of an elixir that blocks memories of a specific person? I know about rowanberry, but this would target one person and veil images of them only,” I ask nervously.
She looks at me, puzzled, and shifts uneasily on her feet.
“I have, but it’s an ancient and rare mixture. If I remember correctly, the ingredients were volatile and unpredictable. Why would you need such an elixir, Lily?” she questions.
I breathe a sigh of relief. I knew she could help. She’s one of the best healers in the realm, and her knowledge is unparalleled.
“I don’t need the elixir. I need the antidote. A way to unveil the memories and restore them,” I answer.
Loma’s mouth pinches tight as her eyes dart around the shop, seeming to look for something.
