Page 115 of Lady of the Nightmares

“You can. There’s no way to know if the castle will even still stand tomorrow. Don’t wait around to serve masters who may not return.”

And would not wait for you, I added silently.

I thanked the Source that I hadn’t worn the high-heeled boots today and that Iola didn’t put up much more of an argument about switching shoes. Hers were too small on me, but it didn’t matter. If she didn’t want to wear mine, she could sell them and buy others, and I was used to uncomfortable clothing.

“I’ll give them back when I see you again,” she insisted.

I wanted to say that, of course, I would be along shortly. That of course I would see her again, but it was entirely too close to a lie, and for some reason, I didn’t want to give her the false hope in case I did not come back. So I merely said, “I hope so. Now, go before this corridor crumbles on both of us.”

That was not likely—not yet, at least, but still she smiled and turned away.

I turned as well, dashing back toward the door to the greater castle beyond.

“Lonnie!” Iola screamed after me, her ruined voice cracking at the end.

I looked back, slowing but not stopping to speak to her. “What is it?”

“You’ll have to go to Nevermore for the next hunt. I could meet you, perhaps…”

“No,” I said. “Do not limit yourself like that.”

She wasn’t listening. “Then I’ll wait for you. Only tell me where…I don’t have any family. I don’t have anywhere else to go.”

Her expression was desperate, pleading, and I died a small death hearing her speak the word that I so often thought to myself. No family. No friends. Nowhere to go unless she was kept here as a servant.

I didn’t have anyone either—not really—not anyone except the Everlasts, and most of the time, I was barely convinced that I had them.

“Don’t go to Nevermore.” I inhaled sharply through my nose. I might not come back for her, but I could at least try. “I won’t be traveling there, no matter what happens today.”

“What about the hunts?”

“Fuck the hunts,” I said and was surprised to hear I meant it. “There is nothing about allowing oneself to be beaten and stalked like prey that proves worthiness to rule.”

Iola laughed nervously. “Where, then?”

“Go wait in the stables.” I laughed bitterly. “I have a feeling that the battle will be kept away from there. If I don’t come back for you by tomorrow, make your way to Aftermath.”

“Aftermath?” she said, alarmed. “Isn’t there nothing left of that city?”

I smiled grimly. “I would not saynothing.”

44

LONNIE

THE OBSIDIAN PALACE, THE CITY OF EVERLAST

As soon as I stepped out into the corridor beyond the kitchens, my breath caught in my throat, my lungs screaming for air. It was so much warmer, more stifling, than it was only a door away.

I coughed and covered my mouth, blinking soot from my streaming eyes. The smoke filling the air blinded me, choking me, urging me to turn back.

There was a stairwell to the upper floors on the right, which seemed to be the source of all the smoke. That was a small relief.

The fire was spreading, evidently faster than I’d realized, and while this corridor might not yet be engulfed, I did not have long to find Bael before even shadow walking would not save us.

I turned left, running down the corridor, praying that, as in my dream, breathing would become easier the closer I got to Bael’s room.

If I’d had any hope in the world that I could shadow walk again without wasting precious moments exhausting myself trying to work out how I’d managed it, I might have attempted that, but it was hard enough to walk normally, let alone through spinning darkness.

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