“You left because you were weak! You might have had the more powerful gift, but your spirit was weak. You couldn’t handle all that came with dreamwalking!”

Selene slashed her blades in front of her. “We were never meant to use our gift in such a perverted way! We were given the gift of dreamwalking to inspire not only our people, but all people. To give them hope, to give them peace. To show them the light.”

“And how’s that going to help our sister?” Amara yelled and dashed forward to strike.

Selene jumped back as she brought her blades before her, catching Amara’s sword between them, then thrusting the weapon aside. In this confined area, it would be hard to dodge Amara’s attacks. And she wasn’t sure what would happen if Amara actually managed to slash her. Or if she caught her sister with one of her own blades.

Amara controlled the middle of the tower, moving in with her sword every chance she got while Selene danced along the perimeter near the wall. She glanced briefly at the surrounding ramparts. Should she fly away? If her sister’s mark was any indication, Amara was not as powerful as she or even Mother, but she still had tremendous power over the dreamscape. Already she had learned how to bring her sword here.

“I only came here to kill Lord Maris,” Amara said, panting as she paused for a moment. “Give him to me, and I will let you go. I will even let you come back to Rook Castle once I am the grand lady.”

“I can’t. I am bonded to him, and he to me.” Selene brought her swords in front of her. “Amara, you will never be head of House Ravenwood.”

Amara’s neck corded beneath her short hair. “Why not?” she yelled across the tower.

“Because I am already the keeper of our house’s secrets.”

“What?” Amara took a step back. Her face drained of color, leaving her looking like a corpse.

“I have surpassed our mother. Our ancient house gift has recognized me as head of Ravenwood.”

“You?” Her arms dropped. “Your gift is that powerful that it overtook Mother’s? I-I don’t even have a chance?” Her blade disappeared. She shook her head, dazed. “How can that be? I’ve worked as hard as you have. I, too, have sacrificed. I’ve done everything Mother has asked of me.” She fell to her knees. “Everything I’ve done, has it been for nothing?”

“Amara,” Selene whispered, her heart twisting at the devastation across her sister’s face. “You don’t have to follow Mother anymore. Join me.” With a snap of her wrists, her blades disappeared, and she crossed the tower. “We were not created to be dreamkillers. That’s not why we were given the gift of dreamwalking. Together, we can change the legacy of Ravenwood, save Ophie, and—”

Amara let out a startled cry and gripped her front.

“Amara?” Selene closed the distance between them and fell to her knees beside her sister. “Amara!”