52. Tori

Ithought it might be difficult to find sleep, my mind swirling over what little we knew about the Torr. But sleep found me, like a spectral hand pulled me under into that familiar darkness. I drifted in the space between thought and nothingness until a harsh voice sounded in my ear.

"Hello, thief." QueenSoraya swirled around me, unformed, but I felt the chill of cold fingers sliding around my neck. I wondered if I would ever get a good night's rest again.

"Hello, YourMajesty. I thought that the spiders might have finished you off."

Shehissed a laugh, and it sounded like the thick ice over a cracking lake. "You cannot kill what is already dead, child."

"And yet you linger here?"

"Yes, I was never able to master Death, but we came to an arrangement of sorts. Now, where is my gem?"

Ishrugged my shoulders and tried for my best impersonation of Avlyn. "Dunno."

Airpushed out of the gaping shadow that was her mouth in a high-pitched whine.

"Foolish girl. How can you expect to slaughter your enemies when you cannot even hold on to the strongest weapon in your arsenal. You will need every tool at your disposal to keep your enemies away once the people turn on you."

Ibared my teeth back at her. "I protect my people, care for them. I am not hated as you were."

Tomy surprise, her wicked grin grew wider. "Your people? And who is that, I wonder? The people of the DragonKingdom? OfNiata? So many left out from your protection. So many enemies left to fear you."

Isaid nothing.

"Don't worry, little beast. They will all come to hate you, friend and foe. There is nothing that this world hates more than a woman who will take what she wants. I did and look what they did to me."

"I think there were a few other things you did that they hated as well."

Shegave that grating laugh again. "You will see, child."

Shecoalesced before me, those depthless shadows forming her face. She was beautiful, but it had been distorted into something beyond softness long ago. She was beautiful, like the endless void that welcomed all things beyond imagining. Her full lips pulled into a frown. "Where is your brother?"

"What do you want with Jun?"

Herbrows furrowed. "It was not often that I dreamed without my brother at my side. And yet, you dream without yours. Perhaps, you are not as strong as I thought."

"Myrelationship with my brother is not the same as yours."

Herfrown turned wicked. "I wouldn't be so sure, my pet. My brother and I shared a soul, just as you and your brother do. We shared our bodies as well; it was the natural next step."

Igagged. Her frown deepened.

"You were kept apart as younglings?" she asked.

"They tried."

"But something has happened, you are no longer connected."

Myfists tightened. Yes, Jun and I were further apart than ever. I didn't let it show on my face, but she saw the truth.

"You must correct this."

"Forgive me if I don't feel like taking advice from you."

Suddenly, I was choking. Shadows flowed down my throat and twisted around my neck. I clawed at them reflexively, but it did nothing.

"Hear me, you impudent child. Should you wish to reshape this world, you will need your brother. Separated, you are weak, but together, you are stronger than you can possibly imagine."

Blackstole into my vision, so I fought it. Dragonfire erupted from my skin, and I heard her scream. It was so high-pitched it might have broken glass, and she continued on without breath, but my fire grew and grew until her shadows melted away and there was nothing but the woman left.

Myflames swirled around her as she cowered. It was the most human she had ever looked. Her pale skin was tainted with swaths of black and a crown of thorns sat upon her dark, stringy hair.

Shelooked up at me as I approached her, and her eyes were pitch black. I saw fear, but then I saw elation in them.

"Yes, yes how you've grown. You are nearly there. But you will need him. You will need them all."

"Get out of my head, witch." Her shrieks erupted as I consumed her in flames, and they pierced the very fabric of reality.

I woke to Abraxas sleeping beside me, his arm wrapped around my waist. Sweat dripped down my neck, but there were no burns or damage. I snapped my fingers, and dragonfire swirled around my hand, controlled and calm. I was getting much better at this.

"Are you trying to excite me, little bird?" Abraxas' voice was rough with sleep, but he rolled his body into mine, and a shiver rolled down my spine. I turned over and placed a kiss on his cheek.

"Go back to sleep, YourMajesty. I have a few things I need to work out." He gave a disappointed groan but relaxed and almost immediately fell back asleep. This place was taking a toll on him, even with him keeping his distance.

Myfeet silently hit the floor, and I padded barefoot into the light of the early dawn. I found Avlyn at the edge of our encampment, coordinating the switching of the guard.

"Any news from the front?"

Theysighed, "Not much, fortunately. The defeat at Xyr has crippled Hadeon's army for now, but he gathers reinforcements at the edge of the kingdom. We should be able to hold them but…" But at what cost. How many lives would be lost trying to buy us time? Too many.

Inodded to Avlyn and let them retreat to their tent for some much-needed rest. I let my feet guide me, and soon enough, I found myself at Jun's side, sitting out in the grassy field in front of the Torr.

"What did you dream about?" he asked me right away. No avoiding it.

"QueenSoraya. And you?"

"KingSoractes." His eyes were hard.

"What did he say?"

"ThatI need to fix this rift that has grown between us." Why did Jun voicing this truth, which I knew all too well, make my heart shatter?

"QueenSoraya said the same. Amongst some other things." Silence stretched between us, horrible and infinite.

"You're going into the Torr today?" he questioned, not looking at me.

"Yes."

"I'm going with you."

"Jun, I don't think that's a good—"

"I'm going with you." He could not lie, and so it was true. He stood and walked back into camp. "I'll be ready before the sun hits the Torr."