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The child snuck closer, then stood on tiptoes, trying to peak over the woman's shoulder at the babe.

When the woman noticed him, she recoiled, eyes wide with fear as she pulled the baby to her chest.

"Guards!" she screamed. "I told you to keep thatthingaway from me!"

My chest ached as a dozen guards ran up and roughly grabbed the child, gauntleted hands encircling those small limbs.

I reached out to stop them — to help the poor child, but my hands slipped through their forms.

"As I said, they can't see you, and you can't interact with them."

I ground my teeth, watching as the child cried out, hood falling back to reveal Fae ears and short, cropped black hair.

"Mother, I'm sorry," he cried, tears staining his cheeks. "I just wanted to see her. Just once. I'll be good. I promise —"

The woman's eyes narrowed to a glare, and she clutched the baby tighter to her chest. "Saints," she snapped. "If you cared for her at all, you'd never come near her again,Roain."

Venom dripped from that last word … a word I'd heard before.

A chill ran up my spine.

"Please!" The little boy's shoulders shook and his chin trembled as the guards dragged him away. "Mother, please!! I'm sorry!"

Hells! My chest ached and my eyes burned as I turned to the cloaked man.

"That name —"

He reached a hand towards me. "I'm sorry. It's time to go."

"Wait!" I pleaded. "That name — these aren't my memories, are they?"

"Kaiya?"

I sat up, gulping fresh air as my heart pummeled my ribs, searching the bleak room for the cloaked figure.

Alone.I was alone.It had just been another of those dreams — memories — whatever they were.

My shoulders relaxed, and I drew a long, shaky breath, wiping at tears coating my cheeks trying to bring my mind back to reality.

How had I been in one of Jaiel's memories? I had no doubt that's what it had been. He was the only one I'd ever heard called Roain.

I grabbed my lumpy pillow and squeezed it, wishing it was young-Jaiel that I hugged. I scooped in my blanket, too.

What I wouldn't give to have been there for him — to tell his mother off and whisk him away from all that pain.

But the bedding was just bedding, and I was not in a Fae garden or an Empire ballroom. I was in Dragon's Peak — once again working for Frexin.

A band tightened around my chest, and I resisted the urge to spiral.

Don't think. Don't feel … Just obey.

That was all that mattered.

I forced slow, deep breaths, trying to ground myself in my new surroundings.

I'd been so tired the night before that I hadn't even looked beyond the bed.

But it looked a bit less bleak with the morning light spilling in through the barred window next to my bed.