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Sheshouldbe afraid.

“They’re coming for you,” she gasps out. “I’m giving you a warning so you can fight.”

My laugh is cold, and ice forms on her skin. But if I am to do what needs to be done, I don’t have time to kill her. Not now.

But I will.

“Calysian!” I blink my eyes open, staring at pale blue streaked with white.

“Where am I?”

A bird appears, azure wings blocking out the sky.

“They’re attracted to fear and misery!” Eamonn flaps his wings close enough to my face to force me to focus. “They’ll trap you here and feed until you die unless you do something!”

Another bite. I stare at my arm, uncomprehending.

I gaze down at the books in my hands, stomach roiling. How can I do this? How can I sacrifice any chance to—

No. This is the only way. Either I do this, or my vicious siblings take these memories, and I’ll never find—

“They’ll kill her,” Eamonn slashes at me with his beak. “That one has seen more terror and despair in her short life than most would see over centuries. The flies will glut themselves on her pain, Calysian.”

“Who?”

“Madinia.”

“No.” The word is hoarse, and I stumble to my feet, moving toward her crumpled body. The mare nudges at her, clearly unaffected by the flies.

They feed on fear and misery?

Then I’ll focus on the woman at my feet.

Madinia, who came to me last night with her soft hands and her eager mouth. Madinia, who allowed me to lose myself in her body, even as she lost herself in mine. Madinia, who looks at me with that befuddling mixture of innocence and wickedness.

The woman infuriates me until I want to wrap my hands around her pretty little neck. And she fascinates me until I want to force her to tell me all of her thoughts and secrets.

“Calysian?” Her voice trembles, and I haul her into my arms.

“Focus on somethinggood, sweetheart. They can’t hurt you if you focus on the good.”

Her eyes fill with tears, and another fly bites her. She lets out a choked sob, lost in the agony of her worst moments.

And she has hadso manybad moments.

I slap at the fly that bites my neck, falling to my knees with a roar. Seeing this woman in pain gives true meaning to the worddespair.

I hit my knees, tightening my grip around her as I clench my teeth.

“Everything you love is gone. We took it. Perhaps now you’ll show some respect.”

“Tronin…” another voice says. “There are no memories here. He’s already done away with them. And his power.”

A vicious roar.

“You think you can find those memories again? Then you can wander the mortal lands until you do. But don’t worry, brother. We won’t make you wander alone.”

Another slash of claws, blood running down my cheek. But it’s enough to bring me back to myself, and I stumble to my feet.