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CAMI

“ A z!” I screamed, my lungs burning from my lack of air. “Ajax! Melek!”

I couldn’t see them. Couldn’t hear them. Couldn’t feel them.

One moment, we’d been running toward the courtyard and then… chaos .

There was no other word for it. The eerie atmosphere had parted to reveal dozens of fighting Nightmare Fae, all centered around a large crater-like hole.

When I’d spun around to avoid the battle ahead, I’d realized I was alone. Which made no sense. I’d been holding Melek’s hand. My fingertips were still warm from his touch.

Yet he’d vanished.

My eyes narrowed. This has to be some sort of ? —

I ducked as a spiral of flames came straight for my head.

From a dragon’s mouth , I thought as the beast responsible started charging toward me.

Now my eyes narrowed for an entirely different reason. “Well, that was rude,” I told the Nightmare Fae. I assumed this was an Air Dragon since it had just released a torrent of fire from its snout. Or maybe Water Dragons could do that, too.

I didn’t know.

And it didn’t matter.

Because neither creature belonged in the Morpheus Kingdom.

Just like the Naga and Griffin battling a few feet behind the approaching flamethrower.

Another spiral of fire came for me, forcing me to dodge left. The sudden action nearly sent me to the ground, but I managed to balance myself at the last second with an unintended hop.

The fire-breathing creature wavered with the movement, causing me to frown. Because he’d… he’d blinked in and out of existence for a second. Almost like a hologram.

What in the…?

I twirled and tilted my head at the same time, the movement probably making me look absolutely ridiculous, but it caused the Nightmare Fae to flicker again.

I straightened. “It’s a mirage,” I whispered aloud. “Just like the first trial.”

No one heard me. Or, if they did, they didn’t react to me.

Are they even here? I wondered.

They had to be.

But maybe not in this mirage. Maybe they were seeing something completely different.

This was the land of nightmares and dreams. Who knew what was real and what was fake?

Yet something told me this illusion had nothing to do with the Strigoi or the Ghouls of this realm. Because they weren’t the only ones who were fond of manifesting false realities.

Vivaxia excelled at it, too. I’d seen her version of it in the Virtuous Fae Realm when she’d crafted that false utopia.

A utopia I’d seen through, thus revealing the decaying world beneath.

She’d fixed the vision a few times, but I’d caught enough of the truth to realize her version was a lie.

Just like this, I thought as I glanced around again.

The blood splatter was real. I saw it in both visions—the battle facade and what I assumed was reality.

The courtyard appeared to be real, too.

Same with the crater-like hole near the fountain.

So how do I break the mirage? I wondered as I jumped sideways to avoid yet another fireball. While the vision might not be completely real, I didn’t want to test my theory by letting myself be burned.

But I really needed that damn dragon to stop trying to kill me.

Glaring, I focused my siphoning ability on him to see if there was a way to temporarily douse his fire.

And found him covered in Vivaxia’s magic—a magic I recognized, thanks to that spell I’d absorbed in the paradigm. Only this enchantment felt different. It wasn’t compulsion-based like the one I’d felt on the Centaur. This… this felt… heavier. More deeply ingrained.

Frowning, I tugged on the essence and startled as the entire world around me jolted in response.

It feels deeper because it’s tied to this mirage… I yanked on the magical strands once more, causing the entire world to tremble in response.

The dragon roared in annoyance, or maybe that was Vivaxia growling. Regardless, I gave another harsh yank—one that sent the beast tumbling to the side.

I didn’t wait for him to get up or for Vivaxia to think of something new for this little game of visions. Instead, I engaged my inner siphon and started pulling all the energy into my being.

A shriek pierced my ears, the fae before me vibrating in and out of existence. Pain stabbed my heart in the next blink, freezing me in place.

I’m killing them, I realized, my breath stalling in my lungs. Just like in the Netherworld Kingdom .

Is this…? Is this real?

I…

I swallowed, my ability lessening its hold on the magical strands and allowing the visage to exist once more.

The fae seemed to sigh in relief, then all turned toward me at once with hatred burning in their gazes. I’d hurt them, and now they were going to make me pay.

But… but is it real? I wondered as I stumbled backward. Did I get it wrong? Is this not a ? —

The ground shook as the fae started toward me, their combined powers a force that had my eyes widening in alarm. So much anger. So much hate. All directed at me…

It was like a nightmare come to life.

And my feet… my feet refused to move .

I wheeled my arms like that might help my legs, yet I remained glued to the trembling ground below.

A scream lodged in my throat, panic overtaking logic.

I need to run! To fight! To… The thoughts trailed off as the visage shook again, reminding me that this… this wasn’t real. It couldn’t be.

I’d been walking with my mates, searching for Typhos. There was no physical way these creatures had just appeared out of thin air and begun fighting. Not without us having heard them in the distance.

Gritting my teeth, I grabbed hold of the magical strands once more and siphoned the energy.

Shrieks erupted in response, the Nightmare Fae throwing fearful looks my way. Words spilled from their lips, pleas and accusations rending the air.

I closed my eyes, blocking them out and focusing . Because I could feel that this was a mirage. These are not innocent souls. They’re not innocent fae. In fact… I opened my eyes once more, my brow furrowing. “There are no souls,” I whispered to myself.

They possessed neither light nor dark auras, confirming my analysis.

“You’re not real,” I told them. That didn’t make me any less remorseful to watch them disappear, though. Because a small part of me kept wondering, What if?

What if I’m wrong?

What if they’re real?

What if I’m killing innocents?

But as the scene dissolved completely, reality settled before me.

Or what I assumed was reality, anyway. It could easily be another mirage. However, I didn’t feel Vivaxia’s enchantment lurking in the air anymore. It was deep inside me instead, revolving with power that begged to be released.

Only, I kept it captive, letting it fuel my steps as I wandered into the courtyard. It was littered with dead roses that framed a bloody fountain and the crater beside it.

Truth or fiction? I thought as I tiptoed closer to the massive hole outlined by burnt edges. I’d seen something similar once… in a dream. Or what had felt like a dream, anyway. However, it’d actually been Lucifer’s memory, one Vita had forced me to witness firsthand.

The day of his fall.

I crept forward and peered over the edge into an ominous abyss.

Seems like a good time for a rule, I decided. Hell Fae Queen Rule #2: Don’t Jump.

Gods, I was losing my mind.

This might still be a mirage, too. Which would explain why my mates were nowhere to be seen.

“Az!” I tried yelling. “Ajax! Melek!”

Silence.

Because of course they weren’t here.

It’s another illusion .

Gritting my teeth, I stepped away from the black hole and searched the murky landscape for energy strands. I didn’t have to look far because Vivaxia was everywhere.

In the dead roses.

The fountain.

The blood falling from the sky.

The cobblestone paths.

And especially in that palace, I realized, eyeing the gothic spires of the cathedral-like structure bordering the courtyard. The Strigoi Palace .

Why would Vivaxia’s presence be particularly potent there? Had she bespelled them all to do her bidding? Perhaps they were the cause of these illusionary games.

It would be just like all the other incidents where she’d bespelled the Nightmare Fae to act on her behalf, like a puppet master controlling her minions.

Which suggested that walking into the palace would be a bad idea.

Yet my feet were already moving in that direction because some part of me knew that was where I needed to go. The Hell Fae Source had guided me this far. Why stop relying on my instincts now?

Whatever was going on here, the cause of it was in the palace. I sensed that more and more with each step, the energy seeming to buzz along my skin as though warning me to turn back.

Not a chance.

I wanted this illusion to shatter. And more than that, I wanted my damn mates back.

I hated not feeling them. They were mine . This blocking spell—or whatever the fuck had cut me off from them—needed to be taken down.

Except, I couldn’t sense any enchantments lingering inside me. Well, any new enchantments, anyway. The funnel was still there. Although, it felt quieter now. Less eager. Something that was strange, considering I’d just imbibed a lot of energy.

Maybe all that work Typhos had done this week was paying off.

Or maybe the funnel is no longer needed , I thought, prodding it as I followed the path to the front of the palace. A sense of déjà vu settled over me, like I’d just done this recently. Which was impossible. I’d never been here before.

Yet, I could swear that at some point in my past, I’d seen those doors. That I’d felt the heavy atmosphere around me. That I’d sensed the wrongness of this kingdom.

Frowning, I paused and glanced up at the blood moon. It was clear now, the fog seeming to have lifted. And it was no longer raining.

However, I wondered if what I was seeing now was even real. Because I could feel magic tickling the air, the presence threatening my sanity.

I really miss having you in my head, I thought at my mates. Even you, Melek .

An inappropriate joke would make me feel a lot better about all of this. So would a scoff from Az or a taunt from Ajax.

Alas, nothing.

I couldn’t even sense our bonds. Just like when my mother took me to meet Vivaxia .

My teeth ground together as I started up the stairs, only to jump as the stone in my pocket released a heated sensation against my thigh. I pulled it out, ready to toss it away, but paused as the rock turned cold in my palm.

What in the world…? It’d burned me mere seconds ago. Now it resembled ice. Was it just trying to remind me to use it? Or was it warning me about something?

I’d nearly killed all those Netherworld Fae the last time I’d used this stone. It had amplified my power to a point where I couldn’t control it.

Is it trying to warn me that I might do that again?

If that was the case, then why had Morpheus left it for me in the tunnel?

I frowned down at the stone. Morpheus’s note had said a mutual friend had given it to him to leave for me. I’d assumed he’d meant Zenaida.

Only…I’d never met the Fortune Fae.

So is she really the mutual friend? My eyes widened. Did he actually mean Vivaxia?

My heart stuttered, my hand nearly releasing the stone.

This might all be a trick. I didn’t know Morpheus. We’d never met. Why would he help me?

But none of my mates had thought he meant me harm. Had they suspected that, they wouldn’t have let me keep the stone. And Melek had said he was fond of him, which held a lot of weight.

My jaw clenched again. This is ridiculous. I needed to rely on my instincts, to press forward, to get rid of this damn mirage. And find my mates.

Which meant I had to go through those doors. Because the source of power was emanating from inside the creepy palace.

More like a haunted mansion , I thought, shivering at how barren this place felt. It was as though only ghosts existed here.

A sensation that sent another stroke of familiarity down my spine.

It was the strangest experience, knowing I’d never been here and yet suddenly being aware of exactly what I would find beyond the threshold.

Something—or someone —was guiding me forward.

To the throne room , I thought, blinking as my feet began to move again. I need to go to the throne room.

I didn’t know how I knew that; I just did.

But I wasn’t sure if it was the Source guiding me now… or Vivaxia.

Only one way to find out…