Page 12 of Hidden Kingdoms

Gods, what was wrong with me?

Slowly breathing in and out, my heart beat erratically in my chest as the tugging sensation grew painfully stronger. Curling in on myself in an attempt to control the pain, I sent a prayer to whatever gods were listening, gasping at the strange ebb and flow of magik that had begun to twist within my chest. The wrenching pull on my heart snapped back on itself like an elastic band and even as I felt my body slightly relax, a strange heaviness remained.

I really hope I’m not having a heart attack. It would be inconvenient to wake up dead in the morning.

Burying myself into Titan’s huge, warm form, I tried to focus only on the steady, comforting rhythm of his heart. The throbbing in my head lessened as my heart began to keep pace with his, no longer acting like it would burst from my chest and the need for sleep called to me.

In the darkness, I answered it willingly.

6

CHAPTER SIX

ELODIE

Ifound myself in the circular clearing—the wildflowers, the willow tree, the still pond—all frustratingly familiar. The sky above was calm, clear, and as blue as Nanna’s eyes.

The buzz of magik in my hands matched the rhythm of the bees' wings as they dipped in and out of the flowers that now grew to waist height, so similar to the ones that grew outside my home. My fingers flexed with the energy that ran through them.

The breeze that tousled my unbound hair was soft, white strands swaying in time with the long branches of the willow tree before me. Lazily they swept through the water, not a single ripple dimpled its surface.

Memories of the last time I had been here began to fill my mind and my heart was racing as though it had never settled. I knew what came next as my eyes darted around, searching for that first spark that would set the clearing ablaze.

I waited.

Anticipation hung thick in the air as that unfamiliar tug on my heart started up again, drawing me forward a few steps closer to the pool.

A shift in the energy around me had the world descending into a silence so complete that I could barely hear my own heartbeat. The wind stilled, the heavy air pressing uncomfortably against my skin.

Was this when the fire would start?

I waited.

How long would it take?

The memory of burning flesh had my ears ringing as another sharp tug at my heart made me lurching forward. Rubbing at the ache that had followed me into my dreams, I turned in a slow circle searching for a sign of what was to come, willing myself to wake before the flames erupted, consuming me for a second time.

The thickness of the air made each breath difficult, and I could barely control the panic rising through me.

Wake up!

I tried to scream but no noise escaped my lips. My breath caught as another yank on my heart had magik rushing through my veins in a way I had never felt before. It spread up my arms, stronger than ever, and sparks leapt over my fingertips. The only sound that breached the silence surrounding me.

Oh, fuck no.

I watched, wide-eyed and helpless, as a spark left my fingertip, falling towards the ground. It bounced along the dirt, jumping through the surrounding flowers as it traced a path straight into the trees tightly ringing the meadow. With its first touch, the trunk caught fire with unnatural speed, leaping from tree to tree until every one was ablaze. The flames roared in an angry exhale, their orange tongues licking outwards in search of their next target, spreading in both directions as they raced towards the willow tree as smoke billowed into the once-clear sky.

Elodie.

The whisper echoed across the clearing, somehow carrying above the howl of the flames. With my heart stuttering once more I whirled around, desperate to see who had called my name. The incessant blaze forgotten for a moment.

The clearing was… empty. Just me, the fire, and the bees.

Surely I would know if someone else was in my own dream?

Heat seared the air, the smoke invaded my lungs, my attention turned to the willow tree that was now seconds away from catching on fire.

If someone else was here, they could look after themselves. I had enough to deal with right now—like not burning to death in a dream. The flames tangled together, embracing one another like old friends within the branches of the willow tree. As though knowing exactly where I stood, a path of flames carved itself through the flowers.

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