Page 61 of Trials of Dusk and Dreams
“Not you,” I quip.
“Perhaps.”The Hunt’s claws pluck at my mind.“Perhaps you showed me last night what you’re made of. Perhaps I now see great things are ripe for our taking . . . if we work together.”
I allow the page boy to dress me, but as he moves to wipe his brows, I scold him.
“Leave it,” I bark, then soften my tone when he startles. “I wish to be reminded of how well you serve me when I see you today. You may clean the rest of yourself, though.” I grimace at the sand on my legs. “And me. You’ve left dirt everywhere.”
Five minutes later, I am dressed and walking outside the palace to meet with the Court of Dreams Shadow. Something heavy has lifted from my shoulders.
“Alfred,” I greet. “What news from last night?”
Already in his exhibitor uniform, his appearance is pristine and prepared for the day. He gives a slight, reverent bow. The young man reminds me of myself. He has ambition, strength, and a clever mind. When his eyes meet mine again, I catch a flicker of anxiety.
“Did the charm work?” I flick the latest addition I’ve gifted him to his Chaser chain. Having had enough of the secrecy surrounding that feline bitch’s establishment, I took it upon myself to find a workaround. Titania’s private library has many interesting resources with old faerie magics. The more I find, the more I feel I don’t need her assistance.
“It worked.” He scowls. “I remember everything. Not that I think it will matter after last night.”
“Why?” I gesture for us to start walking toward the Nexus.
“Burn After Reading has closed. Permanently.”
I stop. “What? Why?”
The loss gnaws at me. Without it, the delicate balance I’ve maintained threatens to crumble. As we walk, I notice whispers behind cupped hands and darting glances from staff. Are they plotting against me?
“They fear your power,”the dragon hisses.“Show them why.”
I clench my fists, resisting the urge to lash out. Not yet. Soon.
The Shadow sighs and rubs his face. “I don’t know. I asked around, but no one had an answer.”
“Then how do you know?”
His gaze darkens as it swings to the dark spires of Shadowfall Keep peeking over the Ivory Palace walls. “I overheard one ofthemmention it.”
“Them?”
“The Knights.”
“Ah, yes.” Of course. I knew that. “And did you see the Knight Enforcer? The one called Styx?”
“Yes.” He frowns. “He and their . . . Shadow started a brawl, but I failed to glimpse signs of a Nightmare form. Are you sure they’re?—”
“You doubt me, Shadow?”
“No, sir.” His gaze turns inward as it lingers on the dark keep’s spires.
“He’s holding something back,”the Baleful Hunt remarks.“He cannot be trusted.”
“You think no one can be trusted.”
“Often, I am right.”
“Is there something else?” I ask my Shadow. “About last night?”
He hesitates, then says, “If there is no B.A.R., how will we earn charms?”
He has a point. While that establishment was a thorn in my side, without it, Radiants have no way of stacking the odds in their favor to win the tournament. I am sure I will hear about it from the Shining Host. I glare at the overcast sky and continue stalking through the courtyard. The snow has lessened overnight, and the soggy ground has ruined my shoes.
