“Only an hour or so,” Zephyr informed.
I figured the more times I died, the longer I would be wandering between realms before my consciousness found anchor back to this one.
“Dying is really damn taxing,” I said, wanting to lie down so badly.
Zephyr grimaced. “I thoughtInearly died watching him snap your neck so casually. Until he explained that what he’d done put you into, in his words, ‘an effective sleep.’”
I scowled, wishing Nightsdeath were here so I could attempt aneffective sleepon him. Could he be sent back to that veil between life and death? I would damn well try if I got a moment out of these bonds.
I would be at Auster’s mercy for a least a week. Until the next full moon when Eltanin would age, and if the stars were aligned for us, he would choose Nyte as his bonded rider, which would wake him from his curse. When he came for me, together we would figure out how to defeat Nightsdeath now that he was a distinct entity from him. Then Auster. Then we’d hunt down his father. Then defeat the gods.
Our list of enemies was long, but together we would claim and right the world no matter the wreckage we might have to salvage it from.
Peace. We’d be reunited to begin our fight for peace down a path of war and terrors, but I wasn’t afraid. Not of myself, and not if we were together to face it all.
The door behind Zephyr groaned open, and I shivered like it welcomed death inside. It was Auster, and I couldn’t decide if he was the worst of the evils there could have been.
“You’re awake,” he said, with a confusing note of care and surprise.
“Sorry, not truly dead this time.”
That wiped the slipup of emotion from his face as he came closer.
“What is our plan for her?” Zephyr asked him.
I glared at them, needing to keep up a convincing ruse that I despised Zephyr too.
“We need her to tell us where Rainyte is. That’s thething’surgent request, and I can’t deny it would be a huge thorn out of my side once and for all.”
“How can we trust him?” Zephyr asked tightly.
“You can’t,” I sang, gloating in the irony of them allying with the same person they despised. “Nightsdeath will crush you all when he’s done with you. In fact, if you somehow succeed and kill Nyte, I’ll gladly side with Nightsdeath to tear apart the world, and you’ll be the first to burn within it. Your allegiance with him ends in no favor to you.”
“This doesn’t concern you,” Auster seethed at me, hovering closer. His right fist tightened at his side, and I eyed it carefully.
“On the contrary, all of your plans revolve around me.”
“He will take away your memories once again, and you won’t remember your vengeance or grief,” he snapped, marching to me. I didn’t give him the satisfaction of a reaction when he gripped my jaw, forcing me to stare into his brown eyes swirling with humiliation and wrath. “We’ll go to Althenia when Rainyte is taken care of. A new veil will be placed around Althenia, and we will govern the celestials as a sovereign nation. All you’ll know is me and your people, just how it should have been.”
Terror for that possible fate turned me sharp, and before I knew what I was doing I spat in Auster’s face.
He growled, letting my face go before a vicious slap followed, snapping my head to the side. I breathed through the explosion of pain, strands of matted, dirty silver hair dancing through my hard pants of rage.
“You are a tyrant, Auster Nova,” I said glacially, not looking up. “A root of poison I’m going to weed out from this land.”
“You are a spoilt brat I look forward to breaking. Then I’ll take pleasure in watching you fall for me.”
The mere thought of a life robbed of my memories again and manipulated into loving him made me wish for true death if it ever came to that.
I am Astraea Lightborne. I belong with Nyte. I will not break. I will not forget.
I couldn’t let Auster’s vile fantasy crumple my composure. I would get out of here. I would be with Nyte again.
I am the star-maiden. I am Lightsdeath. I will not break. I will not forget.
I would kill Auster Nova.
“I didn’t say you could hurt her without cause.” Nightsdeath’s voice slithered over me like shadows come to life. He could have stood in the back of the room and been near undetectable were it not for the glow of his eyes.
