Page 161 of Trials of Dusk and Dreams
Chapter 65
Puck
Istand at the edge of the Court of Dreams box, my fingers curled around the ornate railing covered in botanicals. Gasps and laughs ripple around us. The crowd loves it. They loveme. Below, chaos unfolds in a symphony of screams and clashing weapons. The second trial has begun, and with them, my ascension to power.
“Look at them scramble,”the Hunt whispers, its voice a cold caress in my mind.“Like ants beneath your boot.”
I smile, ignoring the twinge of pain as my lips crack. “Soon, they’ll bemyants.”
Exhibitors battle not just each other but the very fabric of their fears made manifest. At first, I’d been furious about that pilgrimage to Heliodor, but it forced my hand. We ended up with more Terrors than expected, sooner than later.
In the center of it all, that silver-haired witch rallies the others. How quaint.
“She thinks she’s saving them,” I chuckle, absently scratching at my arm. More dust flakes away, but I pay it no mind. “If only she knew.”
My gaze finds Alfie, that eager pawn, as he scans the scroll I planted. Good. Let him think he’s discovered some grandsecret. Let him lead the charge into the Subterranean, straight to Titania’s vulnerable form.
A jolt of excitement courses through me, and for a moment, I swear I can feel the Hunt’s wings lashing beneath my skin. Soon, that power will be mine. Titania’s essence, the very magic that has kept Avorlorna thriving, will flow into me.
“You’re certain?”I ask the Hunt, my thoughts barely a whisper.“When she falls, her power transfers to the next ruler?”
“The land demands a conduit,”it purrs. “You’ve orchestrated this perfectly. Who else but you could be worthy?”
I preen at the praise, even as another piece of me crumbles away. It doesn’t matter. This failing form is merely a chrysalis. Once I have Titania’s power, I’ll be reborn. Perfected.
The fool Larkspur waits in the wings to declare this duel before the gods after the trials. It will be so satisfying to wipe that smile off his face when he realizes I am no longer falling apart.
Below, the first of the Nightmares breaks free. Screams intensify as a twisted creature lashes out, its mismatched limbs a blur of violence. I should feel something—fear, perhaps, or remorse for unleashing such horrors. After all, I was once down there, fighting for my life. Instead, a laugh bubbles up from my chest.
“Your masterpiece,”the Hunt croons.“Watch how they dance to your tune.”
“Lord Goodfellow?” A hesitant voice breaks through my reverie. I turn to see one of the lesser fae nobles, his eyes wide with concern. “Are you . . . well? Your skin, it’s?—”
“Never better,” I cut him off with a wave. Flakes of what was once flesh drifts to the polished floor. “Simply the excitement of the games. You understand.”
He doesn’t, of course. How could he? These simpering courtiers, with their petty intrigues and meaningless titles.Even the Shining Host lacks the truth. They can’t fathom true ambition. True power.
I turn back to the arena, drinking in the carnage. Willow has managed to organize a group, fighting back against the Nightmares. It’s almost admirable, in a futile sort of way.
“She’d make a formidable ally,”the Hunt muses.“Or a satisfying meal.”
“In time,”I reply in my head, my eyes tracking my Shadow as he edges toward the center of the arena.“For now, let her play the hero. It makes the fall all the sweeter.”
A tremor runs through the stadium as something massive stirs beneath. The next phase is beginning. Soon, they’ll be forced into the below. Soon, Titania will fall.
I grip the railing tighter, feeling it crumble slightly beneath my grasp. My body may be failing, but my spirit soars. Let them think me mad. Let them whisper and stare. In mere hours, I’ll hold the power of a god.
“The board is set,” I murmur, a manic grin splitting my deteriorating face. “The pieces are in motion.”
“And the crown,”the Hunt whispers,“is within reach.”
As if in response, a crack echoes through the arena. The ground begins to split, spraying water like a geyser. This spectacle is why I wasted all those wisps. Screams of terror mingle with the Hunt’s laughter in my mind.
I spread my arms wide, welcoming the chaos. “Let the true game begin.”
Chapter 66
Bodin
