Page 148 of Crown of Slumber

No.No! I tried again, my fists quivering as I strained and pushed, but still, nothing happened.

My magic was gone.

Oh gods.My eyes closed against the onslaught of grief and despair. She’d won. She hadwon.

And I couldn’t stop her.

I had never metthe Dream Mage before—I only knew Rosalina from how Marek had described her.

But it seemed Aureliadidknow her.

It also seemed she had gotten her witch memories back.

I wasn’t sure how I felt about this. On the one hand, I was grateful she knew more about her past and her abilities. But on the other hand, did this mean she was a different person? Did her past memories, her pastlife,affect her future? Would she rejoin the witches of the Star Court?

The entire time she was conversing with Rosalina, I was digging into my well of power, trying to summon any bit of fae magic I could manage. But Rosalina seemed to be telling the truth; I could not access my powers in this realm.

Which meant we were powerless.

“Fenn and the dragon have nothing to do with this,” Aurelia was saying. Her voice was firm, her posture rigid as if preparing for battle. I could detect the hint of a tremor in her voice that betrayed her fear, but only because I knew her so well. “Please let them leave, and then you can keep me here as your prisoner.”

I stepped forward, grabbing her arm. “Aurelia, no.”

“You are my prisoner either way,” Rosalina said, eyes narrowing. “I will not relinquish the leverage I have to keep you in line. Should you make a move against me, I can use these delightful pets of yours to coerce you into behaving.” She smiled at Mal, then stroked her hand along his snout. Mal shuddered, burying his face deeper beneathhis wing.

“Don’t touch him!” Aurelia roared, surging forward. Before she could reach Rosalina, the Dream Mage flexed her hand toward Mal, who stiffened, wings going rigid as he began marching back and forth across the clearing.

Aurelia froze, and Rosalina’s expression turned smug.

“Don’t come any closer or I’ll have him claw out his other eye,” Rosalina said.

Aurelia’s shoulders shook, her hands curling into tight fists. “You monster,” she hissed.

Rosalina’s smile only grew. “I do what I must to protect myself.”

Strange whispers filled the air, brushing against my ears. I frowned, glancing around, wondering where the sound was coming from. The words were unintelligible to me, as if they were a foreign language.

“What are you doing?” I asked Rosalina sharply.

She cocked her head at me, her brows knitting together. “I’m doing nothing toyou, prince. Although I could, if you want me to.” Her voice turned sultry.

The whispers grew more intense, swelling around me, hissing with intensity. The hair on my arms stood on end. “I—I hear something. Don’t you hear that?”

Aurelia and Rosalina were silent. But the whispers had increased in volume, now forming a low murmur. It was chanting, not unlike the chanting of the ogres when they had tried to sacrifice Aurelia.

Rosalina’s eyes widened. “You are tethered to an anchor.”

I stilled, remaining completely silent, watching as comprehension spread across her features.

“Ah, it all makes sense now.” Rosalina sighed, dropping her arm. Mal stopped his marching and immediately covered his head once more, his body trembling. “That’s why you seemed so unaffected by my dreamscape.” She shook her head, clicking her tongue. “Dear Aurora, it seems you’ll be getting your wish after all. The strength of the prince’s anchor is fading.”

My blood ran cold. Only then did I notice that the murmurs surrounding me sounded like Sapphire’s voice. She was chanting, trying to keep up the spell that linked us together.

But the spell was failing. I was out of time.

“No.No!” I drew closer to Aurelia, taking her wrist and lacing my fingers with hers. “Aurelia, you can come with me. Please.”

Sudden pain took hold of me, making me crumple. My back arched, my legs failing me as I sank to the ground. Fire erupted in my blood, coursing through me with swift agony. My scream was lost in the chaotic torment that had taken over my body.

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