Page 128 of The Storm of the Empire

Finally, we were allowed to leave, and Hazel grabbed me, half shoving me into an alcove.

“Is that how the day is going?”

She glared but wore a hint of a smirk. “Where did you find that?”

“In the library. I could show you instead of going to lunch.”

“Why would you need to show me?” she asked.

“It’s empty and quiet.” I dropped my gaze down her curves.

“You’re incorrigible!” But her tone told me she liked it. “Twice this morning wasn’t enough?”

“I think we could set a record here. Go for five. I’m willing to give it a go if you are.” I took a step back, curling a finger at her.

“We have a full day.”

“No one needs us. We can skip?—”

Blackness ate at my vision, and my feet lifted off the stone, sending me floating towards a being of light I couldn’t understand. It wasn’t one being, though; it was two. Two females. They were saying something to me, and I willed myself closer to hear.

One smiled as she saw me, the light dimming a little so I could see her face. She looked like me but not in features. In a way I couldn’t describe. I needed to know what she was saying more than I needed anything before.

She reached her hand out for me, and I tried to take it?—

Someone called my name, pulling me away from the female. I clung to the vision, trying to stay there, to hear what she needed to tell me.

A warm hand cupped my face, snapping me back to the ground. “Luka.”

I pressed my eyes closed, biting back a scream of frustration. My breathing was like I’d run a marathon, and as it slowed, the frustration bled out of me. I kissed Hazel’s hand. “How long was I gone?”

“Five minutes maybe?”

“Did I say anything?” I whispered into her hand.

“No. You were reaching, I thought it was for me. I tried to pull you back, but you wouldn’t come. Not until I touched you.”

I nodded because it was all I could do as I tried to make the vision stick so I could write it down later.

“Where did you go?”

“A female was trying to tell me something.”

“Who?”

“I don’t know her, but she needed to say something. I need to get back to her.” I felt like I’d left a part of me in the vision. Maybe more control wasn’t good if remembering meant littering pieces of myself in unknown realms.

“You can’t do it here.” she said, glancing around.

“I won’t stay. I promise.”

“What if you do? Kiera found accounts. The ones before you—that’s how they were lost. They cling to other futures and live there in their minds.”

“What if I don’t? And what if this saves more fae? We got Alora’s egg, didn’t we?”

“You can’t keep making yourself worse to heal other wrongs. You have to fix yourself first before you can help anyone else, or you’ll crash and burn, and no one will be saved.”

“I know.” I clung to her. “But why does it have to be so painful?”

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