Page 104 of Of Withering Dreams
“Gideon is one of the Somneia. He reported my mother. He also hasn’t had to undergo the Dormancy since Maya disappeared.”
Letti and I gasped, my hand flying over my mouth, an exclamation trapped behind my fingers. Rage burned through me, consuming the shock. Of course, Father was part of the Elders’ spy network.
My teeth threatened to break as I clenched them. He was safe in Midst Fall every winter—not trapped in the Murk. Spying. Getting other people culled. “That fucking piece of?—”
“It’s time. Let’s go.” Gavrel stood, glancing behind the curtain, the voices passing the back of the house.
Letti and I jumped up, wrapping our arms around each other fiercely. “I love you. Take care of yourself. I’ll be back for you before the next Dormancy.” It was a whispered promise I hoped I wouldn’t have to break.
Letti nodded, her thumb running along my cheek and brushing away a stray tear I hadn’t realized had fallen. “We’ve got this. Now go.” She spun, walking down the hall hastily, her golden curls bouncing behind her.
Gavrel opened the window and climbed out stealthily. I scooped up my rucksack, my ring vibrating against my pointer finger as I slipped through the window just as the rasp of our front door sounded.
Letti chimed, “Welcome home, Father. Who do we have here?”
Gavrel’s strong hands wrapped around my waist, helping me safely to the ground. My body slid down his front, tingles grating along my chest at the contact. He jerked his chin toward the trees as he released me and pulled the window closed swiftly.
Then we ran, the forest enfolding us in its embrace.
36
ASTRA POPPY
The stars twinkled over the meadow. Chalky smudges from the moon dusted the tall, dancing grass and reeds. Shades of deep purple and inky blue painted the spaces in between. A symphony of chirping insects rippled through the field, pausing as we passed, only to hum behind us when the turf settled.
“So, my father is a disgusting excuse for a human, huh? I suppose that isn’t a surprise. I’m so sorry about Hestia.” The crickets silenced abruptly at the sound of my voice.
“Thank you, but it was long ago.” He moved efficiently, his steps never faltering as they whooshed past the long blades of dry grass. “I’m sorry that Gideon is part of the Somneia. Though it’ll offer Letti some protection before you can get back to her.”
I sighed, worry buzzing in the back of my mind. “Where is Kaden, and why are we going to … to the Bogs?”
He stopped, turning to face me and shifting his pack on his shoulder. “You aren’t the only one who dreams, Little Star.”
A rush of air flit atop my chuckle. “Everyone dreams.”
“No, they don’t, or if they do, it’s rare. Do you recall anyone talking about a dream they’ve had lately?”
“That’s a ridic—” My words fizzled as I bit my bottom lip, head tilting in thought. This gave a whole new meaning to Kaden’s favorite idiom. He always said he wouldn’t dream of this or that. And, well, I suppose he wasn’t.
The moonbeams skimmed Gavrel’s forehead, one raised eyebrow peeking out of the shadows. “Exactly. People might mention a dream, but they’re often describing some bizarre fever dream or a nightmare—mild or otherwise.”
I sucked in a breath, my heart speeding. “But … I’ve dreamed over the turns. Especially while in Surrelia.”
“Indeed. But they’re different, aren’t they? Like the voice in the dungeon … a call from the aether. And always during a full moon. It makes sense. Ember is at its most potent during the full moon. Portals between realms at their weakest.”
My eyebrows rose, eyes crinkling before I nodded slowly. My scar tapped eagerly, but I ignored it. Any trust I had in my power had deteriorated, my nerves still raw after the Winnowing.
Gavrel ran his hand through his dark strands, his words spilling freely. “After searching the village unsuccessfully for Kaden, I rested before coming for you. Visions of your father with Akridais plagued me. A reflection trapped within his eyes of my mother’s body exploding into ash. And your image in her place. Your body tearing apart.”
My shoulders contracted into a cringe, and a replay of my dream invaded my mind—the Larkin brothers tumbling into the void beyond the Reverie Weald.
His forehead crumpled as he continued, “I saw Kaden screaming and drowning in the swamp.” Dipping his head, he moved forward again, and I walked briskly beside him. “I’ve often suspected Gideon, doubting his whereabouts and absence from Surrelia during the Dormancy. Over the last several turns, I’ve learned to trust premonitions.”
“You think the Oneiroi are sending us messages?”
“Yes. Them, or perhaps the Fates.”
My mouth dropped, a snort of disbelief falling at my feet. “Well, aren’t we special—dream Ancients taking notice of us. Fates even.”
