Page 102 of The Dragon Queen

But...

Myheadaches,thedullthrobgrowingsharp.

"ThisisEmber,"Brynnsupplies. "WeweresummonedtoameetingintheThroneRoom."

Iblink,soconfused. "Wewere?"

"Oh."Storm'smouthflexes,hisnoseflaring,andIfeellikeevenmoreofaninsignificantspeck. "You."

ButheknowswhoIam.Hedoes--heknowstheveryheartofme.

Whatthefuckisgoingon?

"I--"

"Giveitup,"anothervoicesays,andit'shardandcruel,butIrecognizeit.

Iturnaround,andsomehowwe'reinKingZephyr'sThroneRoom.Myheartbeatsoutofmychest,panicstartingtoclawatme,becausethisismorethansleepdeprivation.I'mnotdrunkorhigh--notpassingoutbetweenonebreathandthenext,onlytowakeupsomeplaceelse.

Withsomeoneelse.

Themanstandingovermenowistallandgorgeous,withdeepumberskinandimperiousbrowsandbrilliant,aquamarinetattoos,tracingarchinglinesoverhisarms.

"Iwillnotrepeatmyself,"themansays. "Surrenderit.Now."

"Youknowyoudon'tdeserveit,"anothermansays.Thisoneissuddenlystandingbesidethefirst.Asian,withbuzzedshorthairandblackeyesandanimperiouslooktohimthatIknow.

"Malik,"Ibreathe,glancingbetweenthefirstmanandthesecond. "Jianyu."

Myheartiscratering,avast,blackpitgapingwithinme.

"Itoldyou,"Storminterrupts,hisvoiceharderthanI'veeverhearditbefore. "Youaddressroyaltybytheirtitle."

"Maybesheneedstobetaughtalesson."

Iwhiparound,andthere'sanotherman--burlyandbeautiful,withflameredhairandeyesthatcouldseeintotheverysoulofme.

Ifonlytheycouldbebotheredtolook.

Andthere--

Behindhim--

Aflashofblackandgrayandpurple.Theoldwomanfromearlier--she'sthereandthenshe'snot,flittinginandoutofmyvisionlikesomesortofapparition.

AmIlosingmymind?

Ilaugh,hysterical,tearsforminginmyeyes.

I'mfallingapart.

Theoldwoman'swarningfloatsbacktome.Theywon'trememberyou.Yourmates.

Becausethat'swhattheyare--whattheywere.Inanotherlife.Maybeinadream.

Oranightmare.

Iflinch,realitydissolvingforasplit-second.AllIseeisblackrockandpurpleflamesandthatawful,hideous,rotting-fleshedface,andthenI'mbackinthethroneroom,butthereareglowing,violetfissuresinthewalls.

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