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She would never be able to repay that selfless sacrifice. Nor would she, it seemed, be able to quash the rising tide inside her whenever she thought of him. Not the jolt of pleasure whenever she saw him stride through the temple. Not the fluttering in her chest whenever their gazes met. Not tightening in her throat whenever she contemplated losing him. Not the ache in her heart whenever she reminded herself that he was not for her.

Now that her magic had replenished itself, whenever she had a strong upwelling of emotion, she would get a sense of déjà vu. The few days she’d spent in the temple had been peppered with the uncanny sensation. She was lucky she’d not had another vision, given the tempestuous beast inside her.

“I hope to go home when all of this is done. I have people I need to save.”

“When we succeed, they’ll already be saved, Aurora. Would the people who love you begrudge you a lifetime of happiness in the here and now?”

She liked his optimism. It gave her hope that maybe he was right, that their task was not insurmountable. She’d not showed him what Drakon was capable of, not in the way she had for Theron, but she’d spoken in detail about his abilities. Given how dragons of legend were said to have grown, the Drakon of this time wouldn’t be quite so large. At least, she hoped as much.

If Drakon could be slain, would that save Phaedra and Silvanus in her time? Aurora wanted to hope so. It’s what Hyllus believed. In truth, she tried not to think about it too much. If she saved the future from the horrors of the cycle of calamity, her world might be as foreign to her as this one. Maybe Phaedra wouldn’t even know her. It was impossible to say. But would Phaedra begrudge her happiness, even if it meant they were separated? She didn’t know. She’d never seriously contemplated a life without Phaedra in it, and she suspected the same went for her friend. But if their roles were reversed, would Aurora want Phaedra to find happiness, even if it meant their separation? Yes.

But was there happiness to be found at Theron’s side? That was an altogether different question. Passion, to be sure. Happiness seemed a wild impossibility.

“No, but…he’s a king. He’ll need to find his queen and have heirs eventually. And he’ll be marrying soon, if the flow of history hasn’t already been altered. I don’t…I don’t think I could handle it if I acted on my…my feelings for him, and then had to watch him marry another. It already hurts so much.”

Hyllus took her hand in his and squeezed, his eyes tightening in sympathy.

“I know that pain well. But Aurora? Loving is never a waste. Never.”

He’d hinted at his loss but never spoken openly about it. Not in specific details, at least. She wondered at the woman he’d loved, who had loved him in return, and what had driven her to choose another.

“I wish I had your conviction. And your bravery.”

“Bravery isn’t fearlessness. You’re extremely brave, Aurora. Don’t ever forget it.”

She squeezed his hand back.

When she heard the ominous clack of boots marching through the temple, she turned around. Royal guards were streaming into the temple to the anger of Justice’s servants. The biscuits turned to rocks in her belly as the guards locked their eyes on hers and advanced. Hyllus took a step forward to shield her as the guards came to a stop before her.

“Aurora, you have been summoned to the royal court to face charges of being an agent of chaos and summoning monstrosities to attack the Viridian throne. Please come with me and face the charges.”

Aurora was stunned into silence by the accusation. Her? An agent of chaos? She’d spent days trying to warn people away from the monstrosities, and now she was accused of controlling them.

“Has your queen gone mad? Aurora is innocent!” Hyllus pronounced.

“Then she can defend herself in court.”

“This is an outrage! Is this your attempt to intimidate a victim of the royal guard and the indignities of the guest palace?” Hyllus protested, moving to fully stand before her.

“I am merely a messenger from the royal court, Avatar. And I must insist the accused answer the summons.”

“Then I’ll go as her escort.”

“I was under the impression only a paladin of Justice may accompany her to the palace.”

“You think the avatar of Justice unworthy to stand in place of a paladin?”

“Not at all. I am merely trying to follow the law so that there is no question as to the integrity of the investigations.”

The guard had the right of it. Only a paladin of Justice, famous for their clear-eyed impartiality, was allowed to escort witnesses out of the temple. Any break in custody could call into question the outcome of the investigation. In truth, the paladins protected witnesses from intimidation as much as they watched them for signs of deceit.

As much as she appreciated Hyllus’ protection, she couldn’t ignore the charges against her. If it escalated, she would not only lose the temple’s protection, but her association with Hyllus would taint him in the eyes of Trisia.

“I’ll go, provided there is a paladin who can escort me.”

“Aurora, there’s no need to dignify these accusations with a response.”

It was in moments like this that she was reminded that Hyllus was younger than she and not versed in courtly machinations. He was all about boldness and righteous action. She had no doubt that on the battlefield, he would be unmatched. But in the halls of the palace, he was as likely to compound the issue as to get himself caught up in it.

“I’m confident that this matter will be cleared up shortly.”

“Then I’ll go with you.”

“I regret to inform you, Avatar, that only those with invitations may enter the palace. Even someone of your status.”

His brows pinched with worry. He knew as well as she that in order to prove her innocence, she would be forced to have another vision. In her current state, it might not even require much prodding on her part. But given all she’d seen thus far were threats and horrors, she was not at all keen to glimpse into the future. Once they knew what she could do, it wouldn’t be long before everyone was demanding she use her magic for their benefit. Aurora had never been overly fond of the spotlight. She suspected what was to come would be deeply unpleasant.

“I won’t let anyone hurt you,” Hyllus assured her.

How she wished he would be able to keep his promise. She gave him as reassuring a smile as she could and allowed the guards to lead her away. A paladin was waiting by the door of the temple and accompanied the guard to the royal court. Once again, she was an animal caught in the palace’s snare.

Aurora felt the hostile stares of the packed court on her like an icy breeze. Despite the darkening sky, the throne room was splendid, done in emerald and silver. But she couldn’t stop to admire the intricate mosaics or the rich tapestries. Waiting for her by the queen’s side was the high priestess Orithyia. Aurora nearly tripped at the sight. A crack of thunder in the distance made her flinch, remembering the crack of the switch carving ruin into her face.

“Greetings to the bounty of Viridis.” Aurora knelt with her head bowed.

“The bounty of Viridis acknowledges you.”

Aurora stood, awaiting the accusation.

“You have been accused of being an agent of chaos and conspiring with the sinister goddesses to bring a hoard of monstrosities to attack the guest palace. Witnesses have come forward to tell that in the days leading up to the attack, you and your lover, the king of Aureum, threatened the attendants of the guest palace with talk of the monstrosities you planned to unleash on them. How do you answer these charges?” Queen Flora asked, though she seemed almost bored with the proceedings.

“I am innocent, Your Majesty. In the days leading up to the attack, I begged the people of the guest palace to heed my warnings that the monstrosities would appear and to absent themselves. Even as the party commenced, I tried to warn the guests and attendants to run,” Aurora said, doing her best to conceal her shaking hands in the fabric of her acolyte’s robes.

“Are you claiming your innocence by asserting that you’re an oracle?” Flora raised a brow.

Snickers whispered through the crowd.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Flora sighed.

“How tedious. Now I must determine whether you’re an agent of chaos or simply mad.”

“I’m not mad, Your Majesty. My wild magic allows me to see into the future.”

“Then why not avoid this trial altogether, hmm?”

Onlookers laughed again. Hot embarrassment crept up her neck.

“I’m not omniscient, Your Majesty.”

“Clearly.” The queen chuckled, giving her a lazy smile. “What are you, girl? Surely, you’re not Trisian-born with that height and those ears.”

Aurora swallowed.

“The blood of fairies runs strongly in my veins,” she answered.

Technically it was a truth. One of the founding races of Trisia, fairies were here before the First Great Sundering but in small numbers. More would come as refugees to the lands she called home. They probably wouldn’t arrive for another several hundred years though, sometime between the second and third cycle of calamity.

“As a na?ve foreigner, perhaps you were unaware of the company you’ve been keeping. King Theron is a blasphemer and a criminal. Initially, I was convinced you were behind the monstrosities in my palace, but perhaps he merely led you astray. If you speak the truth about your lover, you may yet save yourself the humiliation of being proven mad before the court. Did King Theron summon the monstrosities, or did you?”

So this was her ploy—to turn them against each other. The queen was giving her a way out, an olive branch, however rotted. If she did as Flora wished her to do, Theron would take the blame, and she would be freed from scrutiny, never needing to prove her magic before the court and become hunted for it. As the crowd leaned forward in anticipation and Orithyia stared at her with chips of ice in her gaze, Aurora wished she could disappear.

Bravery isn’t fearlessness. You’re extremely brave, Aurora. Don’t ever forget it.

Hyllus was right. She would never be able to live with herself for taking the easy way out, no matter what it cost her. She could be brave for Theron, who had sacrificed himself for her.

“Neither of us summoned the monstrosities, Your Majesty. We’re innocent.” Aurora raised her chin in defiance.

Flora’s glare made her blood freeze. Courtiers conversed in angry whispers.

“Your Majesty, if I may,” Orithyia began, silencing the din with a single tap of her cane on the mosaic floor. “I have brought the tools to prove Aurora’s innocence.”

“Please proceed, Your Holiness.”

Orithyia nodded at Flora and approached Aurora. Two paladins of Knowledge carried an item each on golden pillows in her wake. One she recognised—the minds-eye stone. The other she didn’t. It was a wicked-looking wrist cuff with spikes pointed inward. Aurora swallowed down bile.

“I have brought with me two objects. The first is an ancient artefact used to draw the magic out of a person, no matter if they try to resist. The second is a minds-eye stone, so that we may see what visions her magic conjures. With your permission, I will force a vision from her to prove her innocence and her status as an oracle.”

“I give you my leave, Your Holiness.” Flora waved her on.

Aurora had to will herself not to retreat as Orithyia advanced on her.

“Whatever happens next, remember that you brought it upon yourself,” the high priestess whispered so that only she could hear.

Orithyia took the cuff from her paladin and attached it to Aurora’s wrist. She clenched her fist as the spikes broke the skin with the weight of the cuff. She took Aurora’s palm, prying open her fingers and placed the minds-eye crystal in it, closing it once more. Then she activated the device.

Aurora screamed as the spikes sank into her wrist, piercing deep. Blood flowed from the wounds as she fell to her knees. Her magic rose up like a vicious beast inside her, wholly outside of her control. She tried to resist the pull. She didn’t want to glimpse the future again. Trying to prevent it last time had proved impossible. What if what she saw was another horror she couldn’t prevent? What if it only proved that fate was immutable and Phaedra was gone forever?

But in the end, her resistance did no good.

She was dragged through a void, only to open her eyes in the streets of Boreas. The people were dressed for a celebration. The streets were awash in colour, decorated gaily in the bright afternoon light. Well-wishers sang songs and shouted joyfully, raining flower petals down from the tops of buildings.

Despite the gaiety, her heart was broken. She could feel its ache, a pain that rose like a tide inside her and never relented. Aurora squinted. This vision was less clear than the ones before. As before, the edges were blurred. Even the colours and details in the centre of her vision were dulled by a slight red haze. She looked to her side to find she was carrying a large walking stick with feathers and beads embellishing a slightly bulbous top. Other women were walking at her side, all dressed in red with long veils atop their heads. In the centre of the group, a green and gold palanquin fit for a princess was carried by eight women. Seated inside with the sides open to the crowds, sat another dressed as Aurora seemed to be. Atop her head was a veil, but beneath that gauzy red fabric was the unmistakable glitter of a crown. Beneath the veil, the woman on the palanquin was a princess.

This was an ancient bride-kidnapping ceremony and Aurora had been invited to participate in it.

“Protect the bride!”

The hue and cry went up, and the crowd cheered as bare-chested men in pleated kilts of red advanced on the palanquin. Every man that converged on them was covered in an ugly mask, each one more hideous and intimidating than the last. Here were their mock-captors. The groom meant to run off with the bride while the others were to capture her protectors. A ritual that would end when the princess’ intended carried her over the threshold of a temple for the wedding ceremony.

Amidst the masked men, Aurora recognised Theron. His powerful physique and crimson hair were unmistakable. He wore gold jewellery while the other participants in this hunt wore none, and his staff was made of the same shining metal. While the other women fought off the approaching masked men, Aurora was transfixed. With his every step, her heart broke anew. Theron was the princess’ intended. This was their wedding ceremony. Tears blurred her vision further until she could no longer make out any details. She did her part, fought off the masked men, and allowed one to capture her, as per the ritual. She closed her eyes, wishing herself somewhere—anywhere—else.

Aurora gasped with pain as her mind was brought back to the Viridian court. Blood pooled beneath her and tears clouded her vision. Orithyia took the minds-eye stone from her grasp and removed the cuff, its spikes retreating from her flesh, forcing another scream from her lips.

“Your proof, Your Majesty. It seems congratulations will soon be in order. Princess Epicasta is to wed King Theron.”

And now Aurora knew the name of the woman who would take Theron from her. She wished she could curse the princess for her part in breaking Aurora’s heart.

“This is an auspicious day indeed, High Priestess.” Flora snapped her fingers and a healer rushed to Aurora’s side to close her wounds.

She ground her teeth against the agony of her flesh knitting back together.

“Aurora, you have proven your innocence and your magic. In light of your trials and honesty, I will award you a noble title and a position in my court.”

Approving murmurs raced through the crowd as Aurora’s gut sank. So it had already begun. Once hostile faces now smiled, their greed barely repressed.

“The bounty of Viridis is overly generous. I must decline your offer.”

“Nonsense. It is what you deserve. You are welcome to stay in the royal palace,” she said, nodding to the slack-jawed paladin who was only just recovering from his shock, “once the investigation concludes.”

So that she could be Flora’s pet oracle. She’d be lucky not to be wearing Orithyia’s torture device every day for the rest of her short life.

“I cannot accept your offer, Your Majesty. I have come here with a greater purpose. If the High Priestess will allow me to hold the mind’s eye stone, I will show you what it is I seek.”

Let them see Drakon and tremble. Let them know what was coming so that they would put aside their machinations for a single hour. Long enough for her to get back to the temple of Justice while they wallowed in their dread. Long enough so she could find a place to hide and lick her wounds.

Theron would be wed to the princess. Seeing it really had been as gutting as she’d feared. And she’d be expected to participate, to watch him carry the princess over the temple’s threshold and swear a vow of marriage in front of the whole city.

“High Priestess, if you would be so good as to allow Aurora a chance to explain why she rebuffs my generosity?” Flora said, her smile tight.

“Of course, Your Majesty,” Orithyia replied, a censorious look in her gaze.

Aurora ignored it. Orithyia had forgone her chance to help. It was time to take matters into her own hands. Aurora took the stone from Orithyia and closed her eyes, forcing herself to relive the horrors of Drakon’s pursuit once more. The crimson skies, the choking ash, the lightning streaking across the sky to show a great serpent riding on a bank of dark clouds, raining molten boulders and purple fire down from above while monstrosities blanketed the ground below. She relived his taunts, his curses, the madness in his glowing yellow eyes as he promised pain and destruction. She relived it as Drakon obliterated every paladin and guard, until only Phaedra and her paladin remained.

Aurora opened her eyes. The apocalyptic scene ended. Silence held the courtroom in thrall.

“I hunt Drakon, bringer of the cycle of calamity. Together with the avatar of Justice, I will slay him. This is why I must refuse your offers, Queen Flora. If you’ll excuse me, I would be grateful to retire to the temple of Justice in the meantime.”

Perhaps it had been unwise to reveal her part, her fate. The Orithyia from her time had warned that dualists and heretics devoted solely to the sinister goddesses would see her as a grave threat. But she didn’t care. Not right now, when her heart was shattered and bleeding.

“You are excused,” Flora replied, her voice hollow.

“Triad bless the bounty of Viridis.” Aurora bowed, turned on her heel, and walked as swiftly as decorum allowed, the paladin trailing after her.

She was grateful her minder had left her in the mire of her own thoughts. It wouldn’t last long. There would be questions about Drakon. Some would be easy to answer. Others would require her listeners to take a leap of faith. It was one thing to be an oracle, another to have come from a far-flung future.

Hyllus greeted her at the doors of the temple. She hadn’t even realised she was wet and shivering until he wrapped her in a warm, dry towel, his eyes roving over her, looking for injury.

“What happened?”

“I wish to be alone.”

She wanted a chance to cry without a witness. To be angry without judgment. To wallow in sorrow without someone else’s pity.

“When you’re ready, I will listen,” Hyllus said, squeezing her shoulder in sympathy.

Even that was too much to bear. Aurora stormed off. The people of the temple gave her a wide berth, their gazes averted. With the driving rain, the only place she could be truly alone was in the courtyard, where even the connected halls were to be avoided. Aurora turned her face towards the sky and bit her lip as hot tears cascaded down her face.

She’d been the greatest fool, to have let him into her heart. Aurora hated him. And she hated the princess even more. Why should she be the one to have him when Aurora could not? She took the drenched towel from around her shoulders and threw it to the ground in rage. It wasn’t fair. None of it. She’d lost everyone she’d ever loved, lost everything she’d ever known, sent to this miserable time in history. Now she would have a front-row seat, forced to watch as the man she’d wanted most in her life married another.

Aurora screamed, howling in rage. It hurt. It hurt too much to bear. She was the greatest fool in Trisia. She’d known all along he wasn’t for her. Thunder cracked and rumbled overhead. She flinched. Unable to put Orithyia’s switch from her mind, she shivered. She closed her eyes, sobbing as she fell to her knees. It was a mess—her heart, her mind, her future—everything.

Weak. Stupid. Failure.

“Aurora!”

She opened her eyes.

Theron.

Not him. Not now .

Would Fate never cease torturing her?

“Aurora, you’ll make yourself sick standing out here.” He helped her to her feet, her acolyte’s robe plastered to her form. “Triad’s tits, you’re cold as ice. Come. There’s something I must warn you about.”

He pulled on her. Aurora stood her ground.

“No.”

“Aurora, don’t be stubborn about this. I don’t know what I’ve done to earn your displeasure these past few days, but we have important matters to discuss.”

“I saw you get married to Princess Epicasta.”

He stilled, horror and rage sweeping over his features.

“I won’t let that happen.”

“I had a vision. Orithyia forced it out of me in front of the whole royal court.”

What did it matter if either of them strived against it now? Flora had seen a future she wanted. Aurora suspected all who opposed it would pay in blood, and she was tired of hurting.

“No,” he said, his vehemence palpable. His magic washed over her, coiling around her in threat.

“I suppose congratulations are in order,” she hissed. How dare he be angry with her—threaten her—when he was the one in the wrong?

“Walk away now, Aurora. While I still have some self-control,” he growled.

“No, you walk away! All your fucking attempts to seduce me, all your bluster about how much you hate her, and you’re still going to marry her!” Aurora shouted back. It didn’t matter that it wasn’t a fair accusation. She wanted to scour him from her heart, rid thoughts of him from her mind—she wanted to be free of him and all the pain. And if he was going to hurt her, she would show him her fangs.

He rounded on her, gripping her upper arms in an unbreakable hold.

“I would rather be dead than marry that vile bitch!”

“Liar! I hate you! I hope you’re miserable for the rest of your fucking life!”

Just like she would be.

“Unfeeling vermin!” he hissed.

“Loathsome snake!”

“You are the most ungrateful wench in the whole of Trisia! How many times have I saved your life?!” he yelled.

“All so you could use and trap me! You have no honour!”

“I sacrificed my life to save you from humiliation!” he shook her.

“And then you broke my heart, you monster! I should have let the monstrosities eat you!” she stomped on his foot.

He swore, crushing her to him and lifting her off her feet. She pushed at him, beating her fists against his chest as he laughed at her pitiful attempts to hurt him. Her magic roared to life.

“I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!”

“That’s right, you vicious little beast. Let me see you angry!”

“Disgusting pervert!”

His grin was feral.

Theron pulled her head towards his, lips a hairsbreadth from hers. His hot breath made little clouds in the cold rain, warming her lips. She gasped. His golden eyes sparkled with lust, capturing her gaze and holding her captive.

“I’ll take every last year from you,” she threatened, her heart hammering in her chest.

His hand slid up her thighs, a warm brand on her backside as he squeezed. She fought a groan. His thumb swept lazily against her, pressing against her hip.

Theron smiled—a look promising passion and torment in equal measure.

“Then I’ll die a happy man.”

He captured her bottom lip between his and nibbled, his eyes never leaving hers.

Aurora shuddered as a thrill of pleasure shot through her.

Her resistance crumbled in the face of her need. She broke, her arms circling his neck, her fingers digging into his scalp. Aurora slanted her mouth over his, welcoming his thick, hot tongue. Mindless and needy, she pressed herself fully against him. He took his hand from the back of her head and hitched up the sopping skirt of her gown. Pushing aside her underclothes, he slid his fingers along her molten core.

“So wet for me,” he rumbled against her skin as he kissed her neck and nibbled on her sensitive ear.

She moaned, regretting the loss of his mouth on hers. Aurora gripped him by his hair, taking pleasure in his groan of pain, and forced him back to her lips.

“I’m not done kissing you yet.”

His eyes flashed with approval. Theron’s next kiss was rougher than the last, his fingers pressing harder against her wet heat. Cold and rain forgotten, she burned for him, for his touch, for his tongue on hers, for the press of their bodies. Her head swam as the world around her faded to nothing. All that remained was Theron, his wicked mouth and his teasing fingers. It was bliss. In that moment he was hers alone, and she was his.

His finger breached her, stroking her inner walls. She broke from their kiss as her breath left her in a rush. His lips were on her neck again, unerringly finding the spots that made her shiver.

“My little fairy is so tight. I can’t wait to ruin you,” he growled in her ear.

Yes, she wanted him inside her, wanted to follow this bliss into oblivion and never surface. She would make him hers, brand him with her body and never let him go. And she would turn any who stood in her way to bones and dust.

He sank his teeth into her neck as he slipped another finger inside her. She cried out, stretched tight and aching for more.

“Everyone will know who you belong to when I’m done with you,” he growled, easing the sting of his teeth with kisses.

As she leaned in to give him a matching mark she froze. Dark red hair plastered his neck. Red, like the princess’ wedding veil.

Theron wasn’t hers. He never had been, and he never would be. This was pure folly. The dreamy haze of passion was torn away in an instant.

“Put me down. We’re done here,” she said, her voice flat.

He blinked in surprise, withdrawing his fingers as if burned.

“Did I hurt you? Did I do something you didn’t like?” he asked, setting her on her unsteady feet as he searched her face for the answer.

“Soon, you’ll be married to someone who isn’t me. I think it would be best if we stopped here.”

His eyes darkened with anger.

“Where is your fire? Your determination? Do you plan on rolling over and accepting your vision without a fight?”

“I wasn’t able to stop the last one! Why would I be able to stop this one?!” she shouted back.

Especially when this one was more than just foreseen, it was the history she knew, recorded in ancient times by the king’s own biographers. There was no escaping the fact that he would wed another. And she didn’t think she had it in her to fight against the full weight of both prophecy and history only to fail.

He gripped her chin in his hand and glared daggers at her.

“And yet I survived. You don’t see everything,” he hissed.

“I see enough,” she whispered, her voice cracking.

Theron released her in a huff and stormed off, leaving her to her misery and the pouring rain.