Page 157 of Trials of Dusk and Dreams
“You saved me,” Becky rasps.
I turn to her and smile. “You saved me first. Thank you for trusting me.”
Wincing, she climbs to her feet and wipes her mouth with her arm. “I figured anyone who protects children is more trustworthy than someone like Puck.”
“He told the truth,” I whisper. “I’m responsible for waking everyone up.”
Her eyes widen. “For real?”
“It’s a long story we don’t have time for. Let’s help up more. I think the more awake, the less power the dreamscape has.”
She stops me by the shoulder as I move. “Are you with Titania or us?”
Red fills my vision. Rage. Death. Revenge.
“She’s dead,” I promise through gritted teeth. I don’t care if all of Avorlorna hears. I’m done hiding.
“Good,” she exhales, then falls to a knee, head lolling, body swaying. “Give my kids a chance.”
“Becky!” I drop and grab her shoulders, holding her up. “What’s wrong? Where are you hurt?”
She groans and spits blood. “Everywhere.”
I start searching her for a wound, but she pushes me off. “It’s inside me.”
“Shit.” I scrub my face. “There’s no triage for this.”
“I know, bitch.” She smiles weakly.
“Then you’ll have to survive,” I fist her collar and shout in her face. “Parents shouldn’t give up on their kids. They shouldn’t stop protecting them. Never! They shouldn’t?—”
My voice cracks. I sob. Tears stream down my face.
Becky whispers, “Is that what happened to you?”
“Yes. No.” I close my eyes and cover my face. “They left me with an evil man so that I would survive. It broke them. It broke me. I can’t even be angry at them. I can’t be angry atanyone.” I bite the inside of my cheek before I reveal something I shouldn’t. But it’s so fucking hard not to feel this now it’s out. “I don’t know if I’ll ever be at peace with the injustice of my life. There’s no one to blame.”
But the gods.
Her sticky hand covers mine and squeezes. “Willow, knowing who to blame won’t give you peace. Believe me.”
“What will?” I ask, opening my eyes.
“I’ll let you know when I find out.” Her sharp laugh erupts into a cough. I watch her with concern, one hand gripping my sword, the other on the steel ball. She can’t die. I won’t let her. When she’s done, she smiles again and says, “Fine. I won’t give up.”
“Good.” I stand.
Her gaze lifts with me but then drifts somewhere over my shoulder. “What the fuck?”
My gaze lifts higher, following Becky’s line of sight. The blood-curdling scream echoes again, sending vibrations through my chest. Perched on the flying buttresses, an army of Nightmares looms. Some of their forms shimmer and twist asif struggling to maintain solidity in our world. Some are flesh. Some are just blood.
“Next,” Becky whispers, “their nightmares will come alive.”
I have to warn Geraldine and Max. My gaze drops, seeking them out. They’re still working on waking that first troop. They don’t see the solitary figure walking around the arena, getting closer by the second.
Only four Shadows were still asleep by the rock when I woke up. One was missing. I should have stopped to work out who. Alfie strolls along, systematically eliminating his sleeping competition, piercing his sword into their chests.
Chapter 64
