Page 60 of Dreams and Dragon Wings
Everything.
Darkness sweeps through me, eclipsing all else as something sharp pierces me straight through. Like talons hooking into my soul. A veil sweeps from my eyes, letting me see the world in a completely different way.
That there are now two phantom Benes shimmering before me alongside the true Bene, the physical Bene, the Bene whose fingers subtly twitch as he stares at me through Velda’s shield. Eyes red. Body shaking.
One apparition is the Bene I know and love. Down on his knees, bound in chains, he screams like a tortured man. Tears stain his cheeks as he writhes in pain. So much pain.
It breaks my heart to see it.
And then there is theOther. The shadow Bene—the Shade—who stands with his body crushed against mine, wreathed in darkness, with eyes like twin blood moons.
“Selira feyra,”the Shade whispers just a hair’s breadth from my mouth as a long, clawed finger tips my chin upward, tempting me with the kiss I have always wanted. But not fromhim.
Not likethis.
I try to scream, to call out to Velda for help, but no sound emerges.
The Shade’s sharp laughter clatters through my thoughts like shards of glass, mocking me. It was I who flung open the door. I who let the monster in.
And now it is going to consume me.
“Naei!”my Bene screams, his voice burning away the darkness overwhelming my thoughts like the rising dawn. Finally, I see it—the glittering web of Mind he has been weaving around my consciousness this whole while.
But I don’t have time to question its purpose before he hoarsely whispers,“Forgive me,”within my thoughts and pulls those threads taut, pitching me into darkness.
Forcing me to faint once more.
Chapter 18
Benevolence
Now
“Therya’kai!” Velda cries out when Aurelia’s eyes suddenly roll back in her head and her body crumples for a second time tonight. “What happened?”
“Move,” I gasp, shaking as I fling a cord of Air around Velda’s shield and towardNa’theryato scoop her up before her head can crack against the stone floor. “It must have been too much for her,” I lie through my teeth.
But I dare not let Velda know how close I came to being seduced by my Shade. How I let it distract me so thoroughly with those visions of kissing Aurelia it conjured into being.
Bitterness churns in my stomach.
I know better. The Shade always knows what we desire most. It lies to slip its foot through the door. And once we start to listen, it becomes all the easier for it to lead us down the dark path.
At least now, with Aurelia unconscious, only one of us must bear this pain.
And Iwillbear this for her until I can bear it no longer.
Friedemar’s noxious scent wafts toward me again, reminding me that he is drawing near. We have wasted too much time here already. He will be upon us any moment.
Andsomehowhe has come to possess aTheryn’Crae—a Kingslayer. That Jewel-forged blade is one of the few that can kill a Dragon King. And I refuse to let him use it to kill me. Not until I have taken Aurelia from this place.
Not until she is safe.
“Come,” I urge Velda, my dear godmother, who stares at me with such concern as I stagger down the corridor toward the waiting door. My legs threaten to give out as I bind Aurelia in more strands of Air, keeping her afloat in front of me. A sheen of sweat mists my brow.
I cannot do this. I will not make it out before my Shade claims me.
Please, I pray, gritting my teeth, forcing myself onward one step at a time.Lend me Your strength.
