Chapter 20
It was part of a plot, that dress.
That beautiful, stardust-bright dress in a room draped in black and gold.
I see it now for what it was—
A beacon.
A target.
The thoughts echo in my mind again and again, like a nightmare I’m trapped in. No way out. No way forward. No way back … I try to open my eyes, but they refuse. My ears strain, trying to make sense of the chaos around me. I don’t know what’s happening.
Something is going on.
All I hear is shouting.
Lucas. Atticus. Kieran.
Others.
Too many voices. Too far away. Too close.
But my eyes are heavy. My limbs heavier, paralyzed.
Then slowly, everything starts to feel lighter—the pain, the noises, even my own body.
Like floating.
It’s nice.
Peaceful.
I’m just going to sleep … just for a while.
“Cass! Cassandra!” someone shouts, shaking me, causing my pain to roar back. “You need to stay awake!”
Why can’t they just let me be?
It’s nice over here.
“Move!” another voice barks, urgent, commanding—followed by chaos, other voices clashing like waves I don’t understand.
I feel light as feather.
Like someone’s carrying me through a meadow—warm, dreamy, bright as day.
“Kieran, what are you—”
A swoosh.
Then a cold gust slams into me. The air is damp. My stomach flips. I try to open my eyes, but all I see is a blur—lights, darkness, figures.
Something slams.
More panic. More shouting.
“Save her!” a voice yells. “I said, save her!”
Gods … they’re so loud.
Too loud.
I need to sleep.
I just … need to rest.
Just for a little while …