Page 15 of This Vicious Dream

I pull my leggings and shirt on, unwilling to sleep naked.

Someone pounds on the door and I freeze.

“Open,” Calysian orders.

I crack the door open and he nods at me. “Switch rooms.” His voice is low, and I frown.

“Why?”

“Because you draw attention.” His eyes linger on my face. “Several people were listening to the innkeeper’s chatter, which means they know you’re alone in this room. If I were Kyldare, I’d send soldiers after you tonight, before you can get too far. Switch rooms and if anyone tries to break in, they’ll get a nasty surprise.” He flashes his teeth.

His reasoning is sound. In fact…he seems determined to protect me. Wariness wars with gratitude. Wariness wins.

“Why do you care?”

He rolls his eyes. “I didn’t rescue you only to watch you be dragged away kicking and screaming.”

I let out a hiss. “Once again, youdid notrescue me.”

He gives me a patronizing look that makes me want to hit him. “Move,” he says. “I’m tired.”

Leaning down, I scoop up the soldier’s jacket. The chains clank, and Calysian raises one eyebrow. I ignore him.

His room is a twin to mine, and within a few minutes, I’m curled in the bed. He must have briefly laid down, because the pillow holds his scent. It’s strangely comforting, and I let my eyes drift closed.

It’s my first night of freedom in three years.

My chest aches, my eyes burn, and yet I don’t cry. Ican’t.

“No one is coming for you.” Kyldare’s voice is a soft croon, attempting to lull me into compliance. “The pirates you traveled with? We went back and killed them all.”

No. No, we had adeal.

Kyldare angles his head. “You didn’t think we would allow such filth to live? Our queen does not allow piracy in her waters.”

Despair swamps me. His words have the opposite effect he intended. I block him out, focusing only on Daharak, on Carosa, on Edorn. I no longer hear Kyldare’s voice. Instead, I hear Addie, muttering to herself as she stirs something in a big pot. I hear Lonn’s belly laugh as he scrapes coins across the table with a smug grin, pointing to his cards. I hear Neil’s grunts as he trains me in hand-to-hand.

“This is useless.” I catch Kyldare’s disgusted words. He leans over me, and I instinctively struggle, heavy chains clanking around my wrists. “Perhaps you need some time alone to contemplate your life choices.”

A woman begins chanting, her voice making the hair stand up on the back of my neck. I thrash desperately, but my limbs are turning heavy. Leaden.

Kyldare pulls me into his arms, and I’m suddenly limp. Horror engulfs me as he smiles. “I’ll see you soon, Madinia Farrow.”

He places me gently on the bed. The chains fall from my wrists and Kyldare lets out a low hum. “We don’t need these anymore, do we?” My eyes drift shut, but I don’t dream. I’m trapped in my own body, unable to even open my eyes.

Oh gods, oh gods, oh gods.

I attempt to thrash, but I can’t even tense my muscles. How long will he leave me here?

I was supposed to die with a sword in my hand and a smirk on my face. Not alone and trapped, forgotten and abandoned.

Kyldare’s words repeat on a loop. “I’ll see you soon, Madinia Farrow.”

Madinia Farrow.

I fought in a war. I saved a continent. I will not break here.

I will protect it with my life.

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