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Contents ( 56)
  1. Cover
  2. Half Title Page
  3. Books by Morgan L. Busse
  4. Title Page
  5. Copyright Page
  6. Dedication
  7. Contents
  8. The Dominia Empire (Map)
  9. Character List
  10. 1
  11. 2
  12. 3
  13. 4
  14. 5
  15. 6
  16. 7
  17. 8
  18. 9
  19. 10
  20. 11
  21. 12
  22. 13
  23. 14
  24. 15
  25. 16
  26. 17
  27. 18
  28. 19
  29. 20
  30. 21
  31. 22
  32. 23
  33. 24
  34. 25
  35. 26
  36. 27
  37. 28
  38. 29
  39. 30
  40. 31
  41. 32
  42. 33
  43. 34
  44. 35
  45. 36
  46. 37
  47. 38
  48. 39
  49. 40
  50. 41
  51. 42
  52. 43
  53. 44
  54. About the Author
  55. Back Ads
  56. Back Cover

24

Little raven,” a cold voice whispered.

Selene stood in the entryway to Northwind Castle. The air was hazy and dim, with that dreamscape-feel. Down the corridor, a light disappeared around the corner, leaving the area in shadows.

“Selene,” the voice rasped, using her name for the first time.

She closed her eyes, ignoring the sudden chill, and pressed against the dreamscape with her power, pushing out with her mind until her hands shook at her sides. Change, change!

A cold breath blew across her cheek, filling her nostrils with the smell of rotting flesh. “There you are, little raven.”

Selene gasped and her eyes flew open. She flung herself away from the Dark Lady. “Get away from me!”

“I cannot,” the shadow whispered. “For you are mine.”

Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted two people, pale and translucent like spirits, standing beside the broad doors that led out into the courtyard. Taegis and Sten.

She shook her head, confused. What were they doing here?

Before she could find an answer, the Dark Lady glided toward her. Selene spun around, transformed into a raven, and flew off.

She soared along the hallway, passing more and more translucent people. She clicked her beak. Who were these people? Were they real? Or was her mind filling this dreamscape with her own memories?

She rounded the corner and searched ahead for the light. It appeared at the very end of the corridor. She passed by more people, some vaguely familiar. But she had no time to stop and look at their faces, not if she was going to catch up to the light—

Surprised and terrified shouts filled the air behind her. Selene hovered for a moment and looked back. The Dark Lady drifted along the hall, passing the same people she had flown by moments ago. As she passed them, they collapsed across the floor, lifeless.

A frigid stinging filled her chest. What did the Dark Lady do to those people?

The Dark Lady looked up, and her lips spread in a sinister smile.

Selene spun around, soaring toward the end of the hallway. Dart’an! I can’t let the Dark Lady catch me.

The light disappeared upstairs. Selene flew in pursuit. The light seemed to slow down along the corridor with the windows that overlooked the sea. Selene sucked in a breath of air and winced at the stitch in her side. Not only did the light seem slower, it appeared more brilliant, overtaking the darkness of the hallway.

She stretched out her body and pumped her wings. I’m almost there. I can reach it. Maybe if I touch it, this nightmare—and the Dark Lady—will disappear.

But the light swerved around the corner and vanished.

Selene rounded the corner in surprise. What happened? Where did the light go—?

Hands grabbed her feathered body. Selene cawed and fought back with her wings and talons.

“You are mine, little raven,” the Dark Lady hissed. “You always will be.”

“Never! Damien, help me!”