Selene watched the moonlight flicker across the waves. If she chose to follow the Light, would her soul look the same? Would her dreamscape become a place of peace and light?

Or was she too far gone, despite what Damien had said?

Could a person like her ever step into the light?

34

Damien still looked pale days after he had lowered the water-wall. Selene cast another sidelong glance his way as she stood by the rail and watched the waves. His mannerisms were the same: he would smile and speak with the sailors, exercise with Taegis or herself, and practice his gift early in the morning at the back of the ship, but Selene could tell something had changed. He ate less than he did back at Northwind Castle, and there was a hint of forcefulness behind his smiles, a small difference that hardly anyone seemed to notice. But she saw it. And when he came to bed, he barely said a word before he rolled on his side and went to sleep.

Yes, something was definitely different.

Selene sighed, leaned over the railing, and watched the blue water ripple along the side of the ship. Perhaps she should have entered his dreams afterward and made sure his old memories didn’t haunt him.

No. She gripped the railing. She would not dreamwalk again. Not if she could help it. The cost was too high, and too many people were involved. I’m tired of people getting hurt because of me, because of my gift.

Selene squeezed her eyes shut. She remembered the way Damien spoke to the Light when he raised the water, and when he went down on one knee in her dream. She hesitated, then whispered, “I don’t know if I can pray to you, or if you even hear me. But I ask for you to watch over Renata if she is still alive. And that woman at the castle. Perhaps even heal them. And watch over my sisters as well.”

She slowly opened her eyes. If the power of the Light could drive back the Dark Lady from her dreams, then he could protect her loved ones, right? She wasn’t worthy of asking for anything on her behalf. But perhaps the Light would listen if she interceded for others.

Footsteps alerted her that someone was approaching.

“We should reach the port of Lux Casta by noon,” Damien said as he came to stand beside her.

Selene drew back into the real world. “Did you visit Lux Casta often?”

“Yes. House Maris and House Luceras have been close for years, partly because of our borders, partly because of the sea, and partly because both of our houses follow the Old Ways.”

“You mean the Light.”

“Yes.”

“What is Lux Casta like? And House Luceras?”

Damien smiled—genuinely smiled—for the first time in days as he leaned across the railing and looked out over the sea. “You will never meet a place more devoted to the Light anywhere this side of the continent. Pilgrims come from all lands and nations to visit the Temple of Splendor and pay homage to the Light.”