Page 149 of Crown of Slumber

Distantly, I registered Aurelia’s shouts and Rosalina’s sharp demands.

Then, just as suddenly, the pain left me wheezing on the ground, my body aching. Gasping for breath, I staggered to my feet, every ounce of my body throbbing from the lingering pain.

“I swear it,” Aurelia was saying, her voice tainted with tears. “I swear if you leave him be—and my dragon—that I will remain here.”

“Aurelia,” I groaned, struggling to rise. “Don’t… do this…”

She crouched beside me, her warm hands against my cheeks. “You have to go without me. Your kingdom needs you, Fenn.” Her soft lips brushed against mine. “It’s already done. She wantsme.I’m trapped here, but I’m not condemning you and Mal to the same fate.” As my vision cleared, I made out her red-rimmed eyes and pink nose, the tears glistening in those beautiful blue eyes. She blinked rapidly, and more tears spilled down her face.

I tried to pull her toward me, to hold her tightly, but Rosalina barked, “Step away from him, Aurora. Now.”

Aurelia’s breath shuddered as she straightened, stepping obediently toward Rosalina. The back of her dress had slid to one side, revealing the top of the rune etched into her shoulder blade.

I froze, staring at the marking on her skin.

Witch runes.Of course!

If Aurelia’s magic was strong enough to cross realms, then surely it was strong enough to overpower the magic warding this place. The very magic that kept her from accessing her powers.

All she needed was the right rune to unlock it.

“Let me say goodbye,” I said quickly. “Please.”

Rosalina’s expression was stony as she looked at me, not a flicker of sympathy on her face.

“I will go!” I promised. “I’ll leave without a fight. Just please let me say goodbye to her one last time.”

After a long moment, Rosalina offered a stiff nod.

Aurelia slowly turned to face me. Her lower lip quivered, and she took a shuddering breath.

I closed the distance between us, cupping her face in my hands. I pressed a firm kiss to her lips, telling myself it would not be our last.

She could do this, I knew she could.

In a soft whisper, I said, “Remember where your power comes from. Remember the first time it ignited.”

Her brows pinched slightly in confusion. I pulled her to me, wrapping my arms around her and holding the back of her head with one hand. My voice was barely more than a breath as I said in her ear, “The rune you used when Shay died. Remember it.”

Her body went tense in my grasp, but I stroked her hair, shushing her as if trying to soothe her cries. I pressed a kiss to her cheek and withdrew, leveling a significant look at her. Her eyes were wide with realization, and she nodded once.

Around me, Sapphire’s voice rose in volume until it drowned out all other sounds. A fierce wind whipped around me, tousling my hair and sending leaves and dirt flying. I shielded my eyes against the onslaught, shouting for Aurelia.

I hadn’t told her I loved her.

I hadn’t promised to see her again

Gods, it was too soon.Too soon.

“No!” I roared.

Then, the wind dissipated, and I found myself standing in the bedchamber with the spinning wheel. Across from me, Sapphire was gasping for breath, one arm braced on the stone wall as if it were the only thing keeping her upright. Her face was covered in a thin sheen of sweat, and her face was pale.

“Stars, no,” I whispered, rushing over to the spinning wheel.

“Do not touch it,” Sapphire growled. Her voice was hoarse, but it still rang with authority. “If you go back there, I cannot stay linked to you. I have already spent my energy. It is too late, boy.”

I shook my head, whirling to face her. “She can’t use her magic there. The Dream Mage won’t let her go.”

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