Chapter Nineteen
The Bound
My eyes flash open, the bright sunshine streaming through the open windows. My breathing is ragged, sweat beading on my hairline. I take a second before I move, letting my racing pulse calm down.
I had the weirdest dream. I saw a star-filled sky and endless trees. It started raining, but it wasn’t water dripping down from the cloudless sky.
It was blood.
I take a deep breath and sit up. My pulse skips as I look around and find that I am not in my room, but Elaenor’s.
Or what will be Elaenor’s once she arrives.
I don’t remember coming in here last night.
The last thing I remember is drinking in the library with Enzo and Erik, another evening filled with planning and preparing for the day we bring home the queen.
Nausea burns my stomach and I have the weird sense something is wrong. Something is pushing on my head, on my mind.Something telling me to run.
I slide off the bed quickly and step out into the hallway. Enzo is yawning, walking out of his room, his short hair disheveled and his clothing wrinkled. A slight glance behind him and I see Scarlett still asleep in his bed, blankets wrapped around her like a tourniquet.
“Something is wrong.” My voice comes out hoarse, rushed.
“What?” He says between another yawn. He looks over at me sleepily, his eyes bloodshot.
“Something feels wrong.” I repeat. He rubs his eyes and glances around as if he’s expecting to see something.
“I don’t feel anything besides hungover.” He mutters.
“What is that?” I jump as Laenie speaks up behind me. I spin around, her dressing gown is tightly wrapped around her. Chestnut hair is messily pulled up into a knot.
“What do you feel?” Someone has to be feeling the same thing. This isn’t just me.
“It feels like something is pounding on my head. Like pressure.” Emery’s door opens and she’s rubbing her face.
“Gods, why do I feel hungover?” She grumbles, leaning into the doorjamb and glancing around at us.
“I feel fine.” Enzo shrugs.
“It’s her.” Kassius is breathless as he crests the top of the stairs, with a tiny Mal right behind him, her strawberry hair in messy braids. “It’s her. Something is wrong.”