Page 128 of Crown of Slumber

I was not Gigi’s sister.

I did not truly belong in the Summer Court.

Tears stung my eyes, and I shook my head in denial. “No,” I said again, my voice thick with emotion.

“We will leave you to process this,” Sapphire said slowly, backing away from me. “When you are ready, call upon us, and we will march into battle for you. Together, we will defeat the Dream Mage.”

“No!” I screamed, balling my hands into fists. “Youdid this to me. You broke me! You think I want you by my side? Leave this place, and never return! I never want to see you again.”

They continued to retreat toward the woods, their expressions full of pity. It only made me want to scream louder. Gradually, they faded into the forest until they finally disappeared from view.

I crumpled, anguished sobs ripping through me. Fenn wrapped his arms around me, stroking my back. He said nothing as he held me. What was there to say?

If this was true, it changed everything. I was dangerous. Deadly. The only reason I was here was because there was a threat I needed to eliminate.

And after this, those wretched witches would bind me once more, erasing me from existence. I would be nothing but a helpless shell of who I once was.

I clung to Fenn’s tunic, weeping openly, unable to comprehend the horrors of this convoluted tale.

Please,I begged the gods.Please don’t let it be true.

From behind me, a cold voice shouted, “Guards! Seize her.”

I whirled, panic rising in my chest. The castle doors were wide open, and Queen Sonara stood on the steps of the courtyard, a cruel, triumphant smile on her face. Behind her stood a squadron of soldiers. At her command, they rushed toward me, swords drawn.

My headstill reeling from the witches’ tale, it took all my remaining strength to keep my hold on Aurelia’s arms as the soldiers surged toward us.

“Mother,no!” I bellowed, stepping in front of Aurelia. “You cannot do this. She is?—”

“She is a monster!” Mother cried, waving her hand toward Aurelia. “You saw the creature she changed into. You heard what the witches said!”

My blood ran cold, and I gaped at her in horror. “How long were you watching?”

Her eyes glinted with triumph, and that was all the confirmation I needed. She had been watching the entire time. Waiting for this particular moment.

How much had she known? Had she figured out who Aurelia really was, even before the fete? I pictured her peering out the window, waiting for Aurelia’s true form to be revealed.

Rage burned within me. “Mother, what the hell did you do?”

“I did what I had to to save my court,” she said. “To save myson.And not a moment too soon, it seems. Imagine if you had married that creature.” Her face twisted with disgust.

A roar of fury burst from my lips, and I reached for my sword, only to remember my belt and weapon had been abandoned in the forest when I’d come chasing after Aurelia. I wasn’t even wearing a shirt.

Mother’s soldiers would cut right through me.

“Gorrick, please,” I said, my eyes landing on mycaptain.

Gorrick’s face sagged with regret from behind his helmet. “I’m sorry, Your Highness. The queen outranks you.”

“Fenn,” Aurelia murmured, her voice eerily calm. “Step away from me.”

I glanced at her. She gazed at my mother with lethal intensity. For a moment, her eyes flashed green, her pupils turning into narrow slits.

I released my hold on her arms as Aurelia’s body began to shift. She hunched over on all fours, her body elongating and sprouting scales and claws. A black tail formed, and she rose in height until she towered over the approaching soldiers.

Gods! She was going to kill them all.

My men. My people.

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