Her heart raced inside her chest until it felt like it was going to explode. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t speak. Was this . . . was it the Dark Lady?

The finger beckoned again. “Come.”

Selene shook her head, finally free of her paralysis, and took a step back. “No.” She spun around, her power exploding inside of her and transforming her into raven form. With a caw, she flew toward the doors and out of the sanctuary.

The dream morphed again, back to Northwind Castle. A last flicker of light disappeared at the end of the corridor. Selene soared down the hallway toward the light. Just as she reached the corner, the candlelight disappeared around another bend. Glancing back, she spotted the black-robed figure gliding toward her.

She rounded the corner and flew with all her might. Is the Dark Lady pursuing me? In my dreams?

She focused on the area around her as she flew. Yes, this was definitely a dreamscape. She could feel it along the edges of her being. And it was a strong one, connected to a strong mind. Was it really hers?

The rustling of cloth along the stone floor drew closer. She beat her wings harder and took another corner, careening along the shadowed corridor. I need to do something. Anything!

She landed on a windowsill and closed her eyes. She pictured the hallway, then her bedchambers back at Rook Castle. Drawing on the power inside of her, she pressed against the dreamscape, willing it to morph into her room. Harder, harder, until the walls were shuddering under her force. But the moment she let up, they resumed their position.

“Little raven.”

Selene spotted the cloaked figure and lifted from the windowsill, flying in the opposite direction. Only a sliver of the candlelight remained at the end of the next corridor. Why didn’t the dream change? Was it because it was hers? Was she trapped here, like she had been in Damien’s dreamscape?

Could she be wrong? Was this his nightmare?

It couldn’t be. Why would he be dreaming of the patroness of House Ravenwood? He followed the Old Ways. There was no reason he would dream of such a sinister being.

But then who?

Selene continued flying, putting as much distance as she could between herself and the robed figure, all the while chasing after the small glimmer of light that continued to move through the hallways. One thing filled her mind, one emotion kept her going when her wings began to burn and she could barely catch her breath: if she stopped, the Dark Lady would overtake her.

16

Salty wind pulled at Selene’s cloak as she walked along the cliffs overlooking the sea west of Nor Esen days later. The nightmare never came back. She still had no idea whose dream she had visited or what the dream meant—or if that had really been the Dark Lady. Selene shivered and drove the thoughts from her mind. Best not to dwell on them or she might find herself back in that dreamscape.