For the first time since the visions began, Elurra arrived somewhere other than the dingy Lur Alavian street corner. She recognized that the room around her must’ve been inside the Lur Alavian castle, though she’d never seen it before. The view from the window indicated it was in the right spot to be a room her parents had sealed on the third floor and kept under lock and key.

It was a large chamber. Fur rugs covered the floors, and taxidermy animal heads lined the walls. A large wardrobe stood against the far wall. A crackling fire roared in the fireplace. Nitiri stood by the window. Her red-rimmed eyes focused on her reflection in the frosted glass. A sudden knock made both Nitiri and Elurra jump.

“Your Highness, I bring a message from the king,” someone said, their voice muffled by the barrier.

Nitiri scowled, and her hands balled into fists at her sides. “Leave me. I do not wish to be disturbed.”

Contrary to her orders, the door opened. She spun around, fire flashing in her eyes.

“I said—” She stopped when she saw the messenger. Half his face was in shadow, but Elurra recognized the scar on his chin.

“Cade?” She was too surprised to be angry. "How did you get in here?"

Cade stepped into the light, his green eyes pleading. “I had Crackle pull some strings to get me a uniform because I needed to see you. I couldn’t let it end like that.”

“Get out of my room, or I will have the guards remove you.” She turned back to the window and glared at his reflection, waiting for him to leave.

“Please give me five minutes,” he begged. “You don’t even have to speak to me. I don’t expect your forgiveness, as I don’t deserve it. I only came to apologize.”

Nitiri’s face remained a stony mask, but she nodded curtly.

“I was wrong. I’m not in prison, and neither is Crackle. I must admit I was hoping to get arrested because otherwise it would mean I made the biggest mistake of my life. You asked me before why I wander the streets at night. My older brother disappeared when I was eight. Although I’ve searched the streets for years hoping to find him again, not even a body was found. Doubtlessly, someone kidnapped him and sold him to the slavers. Since then, I don’t trust easily, and I question the motives of those around me.

“The night we met was the anniversary of my brother’s disappearance. I wasn’t myself that evening, and when I saw a beautiful girl lost and alone, I felt the need to protect you from the same fate. When I learned the truth about you, I came to the conclusions I did because I was mad at myself for trusting so blindly. You’ve always been authentic with me, but I was terrified everything we had was a lie,” he whispered as he bashfully ran his fingers through his hair. “I…I’m in love with you, but I thought it was impossible you shared those feelings. You’re a princess. I’m as common as snow. My paranoia made me fabricate other reasons to explain our secret excursions. I know my insecurities aren’t an excuse for what I said. I wish I could take everything back, but what’s done is done. I’ll leave now, Your Majesty. If you decide to punish me for my crimes, I’ll accept it without question. The times I spent with you were the happiest days of my life, and I will always cherish them.”

Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

He turned to leave, but Nitiri stopped him.

“I did not dismiss you,” she said, her voice hard.

Elurra couldn’t read her expression or the tone in her voice. He stopped, his shoulders tense.

“My deepest apologies, mi’lady. May I be dismissed?”

He was still being formal, but a desperate hope glimmered in his eyes.

“No, you may not.”

Cade waited patiently for her to speak again, but the silence stretched for ages before she finally did.

“It was natural for you to question my motives. I hid who I was and gave you no reason to trust me but expected you to trust me completely. I do owe you some act of faith to show I mean what I said. I want to do the transfusion to become part of the Rhai Cudd.”

“Yasmi…Nitiri, you don’t have to prove yourself to me. The transfusion is dangerous.” His voice was tinged with concern.

“Could you ever fully trust me without it? You will always have doubts, wondering if I am a spy for the crown. Look me in the eye and deny it.”

Cade averted his gaze.

“Some die during the process,” he said softly.

“I welcome death if it chooses to take me. Take me to the Rhai Cudd and give me magic of my own.”

“Wake her up,” a voice commanded, distracting Elurra from the scene. The voice sounded like someone calling through a tunnel. Nitiri’s bedroom faded away, leaving Elurra in darkness.

“Elurra!”

Her eyes snapped open, and she sat up. It took a second before her vision sharpened. Her captor and the real Nitiri loomed over her. Elurra took a second to adjust to her after spending so much time in her past.

“Good job, Zek. I wasn’t expecting you to get here so fast. You’ll be rewarded for your speed.”

“Thank you, Yer Highness.” Zek said with a bow as he stepped to the side to give them some privacy. The red-headed regent queen stared down at her darkly, but Elurra held her gaze.

“Hello, Nitiri. I have a question for you,” Elurra said curtly.

“What a coincidence; so do I,” she snapped back. “But unlike you, I am in charge here, so the only one getting answers will be me.”

“What happened to Cade?”

Nitiri’s mouth fell open, and she took an involuntary step away from her niece as the color drained from her face.

“How…” she said shallowly, her voice barely a whisper. Elurra expected Nitiri to compose herself and fly into a rage, but to her surprise, Nitiri covered her mouth, tears pooling in the corners of her eyes, and abruptly left the room. Zek glanced from Elurra to the closing door, a confused look etched on his face.

“That’s somethin’ I neva’ expected ta see. What’s that name again? Korn or Caden or somethin’ like that?”

“That is not a name you want to utter. Using it to your advantage will send her into a fury,” Elurra chided.

She looked after Nitiri, bile rising in her throat. She didn’t want to see the end of the story. She didn’t want to know how the adventure-seeking girl from her visions became a merciless murderer. She closed her eyes, and a tear slipped down her cheek.

“Please do not put me back to sleep. I beg you.”

“I really don’t want to, purdy lady, but I can’t have ya tryin’ ta escape,” Zek said, raising his hand.

The subsequent sleeping dart forced her into unconsciousness once again.