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“I’m not a dream stalker.”
“Then why are you here?”
“Because you called to me in my dreams, and I answered. You need me here.”
“Sounds like something a dream stalker might say.”
“You’ve met a lot of dream stalkers?” he asked sarcastically. "I told you I'm a friend."
It didn’t make sense still, but maybe he didn’t know anything either. Neither of us had answers to this.
"Well, friend, why do you think you're here with me?"
He didn't answer at first, and I thought maybe he wouldn't at all. "Maybe the Gods saw two lonely souls and didn't want either of them to be so alone anymore."
My heart raced at his words. His hand reached out and smoothed my braid over my shoulder. The touch was unexpected, like he couldn’t help himself. Just as quickly as he touched me, he pulled back his hand. His golden eyes swirled with black, and I was so tangled in their beauty that I didn’t register that he was upset.
“It’s time to wake up, Little Viper. Something is wrong.”
“What do…”
?????
I was pulled out of my dream before I asked my question. Screaming consumed the normally silent night. Outside, fae were in utter chaos. Anxiety shot through me, and I jumped up from the bed and hurried to find Sybil. She and the twins had blocked the doors and huddled together in the small living space. Relief spread through me when I saw the twins here safely with us.
“What’s happening?”
“There are strange men here. We don’t know who they are, but they’re killing anyone they come across and setting fire to buildings,” Kaz explained between breaths as if he had run over here.
“How are they here? There’s a boundary.”
“We don’t know.” Kai frowned. “Do you think the king sent them to deliver a message?”
It made sense, but the king had never done that before, so once again we had to ask ourselves why now? I could hear blood-curdling screams and headed for the door. Kaz gripped my hand and pulled me back. Fear laced his features as he held me close to him.
“No.” He gripped my hand tightly. “We aren’t going to lose you today. Stay here with us. If they come in, we will fight.”
He was right. I didn’t know what I was up against or who these men were. Squeezing his hand back I nodded in agreement. Kaz and Kai both let out a relieved breath that I wouldn’t argue.
I grabbed weapons and made sure everyone was armed. We stood in the small space ready to fight. Smoke from burning buildings seeped through the crack of our door, but no one tried to enter. My eyes burned from the smoke and my mouth felt parched.
My heart beat erratically in my chest. I would never let them hurt Sybil or the twins. I would die if I needed to. The handle jiggled, and I pulled back my bowstring. I was ready, physically and mentally, to kill whoever stepped inside, but the jiggling abruptly stopped, and so did the screams of chaos. Uneasiness coiled deep inside of my stomach. Was everyone else dead? Why was it so quiet and where did the bad guys go? I lowered my bow and arrow and listened closely. There were still fae crying outside but the chaotic, terrified screams had evaporated into thin air.
“Are they gone?” I whispered.
“It has to be a trap, right?” Sybil asked. She might be right. They could be trying to lure out everyone who had locked themselves indoors.
“Let’s wait a while before we check,” I suggested. "It might be a trick to get us outside."
None of us spoke or made any noise. It was as if time stood still, and blood-curdling screams rang through the air. The cries were dying down and smoke no longer seeped in. It had been hours since I woke up and yet it only seemed like minutes had passed. Sybil seated herself at the table and busied herself by concocting medicines. The twins and I stayed alert watching the only entrance into the home. The screaming rang in my ears even though no one was screaming. The haunting cries of fae being murdered would haunt me for a lifetime.
Why did the king do this now? Was it because I crossed the boundary, or did he know someone had used elite magic on the other side? Grief gnawed at me over the thought that this could be my fault.
Sybil cut bread for each of us, but I didn’t touch mine. I couldn’t stomach it right now. What would be waiting on the other side of the door when we opened it? Would there be anything or anyone left? An urgency filled my chest. I needed to know.
I hurried to the door and started moving things.
“Thea, we should wait until tomorrow,” Kai pleaded.
