I had to.
I didn’t know why, but I just had to. A force was pulling me, one I couldn’t fight.
As I walked, I realized the clouds had lowered even more. They’d become a dark fog that filled my lungs with every breath, and I could no longer see the glass building.
I blinked, my head spinning.
What the hell was happening?
I drew in a shuddery breath, and I tried to trudge on, my heart racing.
The cloud. That was the problem. I needed to outrun it. The damned thing was too low—terrifyingly low—and it felt like it was pressing down on me.
Every breath made my head spin even more, made me drag my feet ever slower. I sank to my knees, and the darkness pulled me in.
16
Lore
* * *
The dinner passed slowly after Sia left. I watched the crowd for anything suspicious but saw nothing. Her friends returned shortly after delivering her to our chambers, nodding at me as they sat.
When the dancing began, I moved toward the exit. I no longer needed to stay for propriety’s sake. It was only the dinner and the speeches that were expected of me.
As I neared the door, a massive explosion sounded. It was as loud as the train crash had been but came from a distance.
The music immediately stopped, along with the dancing. Confusion flashed on everyone’s faces. I turned to the exit and strode through, hurrying in the direction from which the noise had come.
It had definitely happened outside. I reached the entry hall and exited the palace. As soon as I stepped outside, I saw the rubble of the greenhouse. It had sat in the middle of a field of flowers, and now it was gone.
Adrenaline pumped through me, and I ran toward the debris. What the hell had happened?
As I neared, I caught a hint of Sia’s scent.
Panic exploded inside me.
She hadn’t been in the greenhouse when it had gone up, had she?
The rubble was scattered for over a hundred meters in all directions. Plants and pots and glass and metal. It was a mess.
I strode through the wreckage, searching for her as my heart threatened to break my ribs. Fear like I’d never known shot through me, even worse than what I’d felt when the train had crashed.
Don’t be here.
Please.
If I found her body amongst this rubble, it would crush me.
The thought was pure insanity, but it was true. I couldn’t bear to lose her. Somehow, feelings had snuck up on me.
“Lore?” Dain’s voice sounded at my right.
“Yes?” I turned to him, feeling wild.
“Are you all right? You look…unwell.”
“Sia. Can you smell her?”
He scented the air. “Maybe?”
“Your senses aren’t as strong as mine.”
“No. But you might be projecting. Of course you’re worried about her, but why would she be here?”
“I don’t know. But we need to search.” I tore through the wreckage, lost in a haze of desperate fear.
I couldn’t lose her. I couldn’t.
Worse, I couldn’t bear the thought of her life ending so soon. I couldn’t have her—not in the long run—but I’d do whatever it took to make sure she had a long and happy life.
The fear nearly turned me rabid. By the time I’d searched all the debris and found no sign of her, I was a damned mess.
“She’s not here,” Dain said.
Drawing a deep breath, I looked around. I’d had my gaze on the ground the entire time, searching through the rubble. While I’d been doing that, more fae had arrived. They stared at the ruins with shock.
“It had to have been the witch with the deathly magic,” Dain said. “The clouds are incredibly low.”
I looked up. He was right. They hovered right overhead now. In my panic for Sia, I hadn’t noticed them.
The witch was here. She had to be.
This was her fault.
I looked at the rest of the fae, wondering what they thought. We’d told none of them about the witch that haunted us. If they found out that I was hiding something like this, there would be hell to pay.
I hadn’t expected her to attack the palace itself, else I might have said something.
Soon, I’d have to deal with that. But for this moment, I needed to find Sia. “I’m going to my chambers.”
“You’ll find her there. I’m sure.”
“I pray you’re right.”
Sia
* * *
I woke, disoriented, on the floor of the bedchamber I shared with Lore. Aches twisted through every muscle, and exhaustion pulled at me. After a few moments, I was able to place the location.
High Court Palace.