Page 185

Aether's control snapped completely then. His movements grew erratic, desperate, as his own shadows smothered out the rest of the light, glass shattering somewhere beyond as he followed me into that perfect oblivion.

We stayed like that for a long moment, shaking and breathless. When he finally moved, it was to brush the hair from my face. He carefully lowered my legs from his shoulders, his hands gentle now as they massaged the muscles that had been stretched taut.

His fingers trembled slightly against my skin as our breathing slowly steadied. I wondered if he knew that his hands shook, if he realized how much of himself he revealed in these quiet moments. Then he was lying next to me, eyes scanning the room. The destruction around us became apparent—shattered glass from the window scattered across the wooden floor, sheets torn from the bed, furniture askew.

"I didn't mean to..." he started, but I silenced him with a kiss.

"Worth it," I breathed against his lips.

"I think you broke my bed," he murmured beneath a smile.

"Pretty sure that was your doing." I shifted to face him better. "Though I'm not complaining."

His laugh was deep as he pulled me against his chest. "I'll just have to build a stronger one."

"Planning on making this a regular occurrence then?"

"Clearly." He raised an eyebrow. "I take my vows very seriously."

I rolled my eyes as I settled in against him, lulled by the sound of his heartbeat before realizing how late it had gotten.

"We should probably get back to the fortress," I murmured, kissing his chest.

But he held me against him, blocking my movements.

"Tomorrow," he whispered into my hair. "I want one perfect night with you before the world crashes back down around us.”

And with those words, I was already closing my eyes, sleep pulling at me from all directions, blissful and lovely.

Until the dream began.

CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE

The soundof boots echoed through vaulted corridors, a steady rhythm against polished stone. My eyes remained trained on the marble floor, only lifting as we approached an ornate doorway. Beyond it stretched an elaborate throne room, golden light filtering through stained glass windows high above.

The body I inhabited moved with the familiarity of someone who had walked these halls a thousand times before, each step confident. My spine stayed straight as I took position near the throne, turning to face the gathering crowd. Other guards stood at attention around the perimeter, their faces as immobile as the stone walls surrounding us.

I watched as the room bowed in perfect unison, feeling a presence fill the space behind me. The eyes would not turn to look, no matter how I willed them.

"As some of you know, there is a war brewing on our Western Border." A strong female voice echoed through the chamber, each word cutting through the silence like a blade. "The countless casualties have been devastating to the Isle."

Something about that voice tugged at my memory, but I couldn't quite place it.

"But now we find there is a traitor in our midst. Working against our plans for peace. Harboring a hatred for the very ones who offered them sanctuary." She paused, letting fear ripple through the crowd before continuing.

"Her name is Fia Riftborne."

What?

Murmurs erupted, growing louder with each passing second.

"She has joined the enemy, escaping through a tear between worlds, into the realm of monsters, seeking their asylum before we even knew what traps she had laid in her wake."

The voice grew colder with each word. "She has already committed her first act of treason, and one so dark that it's difficult for me to even put into words. One meant to wound us deeply. To annihilate our spirit."

"Traitor!" Someone shouted from the crowd, sparking a wave of angry voices.

"Be vigilant, my friends," the voice purred, "because she has not acted alone."