Queen of Dreams (Bound to Fire and Steel) by Kit Rocha

Author:Kit Rocha [Rocha, Kit]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Montlake
Published: 2024-08-06T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

WITCHING MOON

Week Two, Day Eight

Year 3000

Zanya dreamt of Sachi.

It wasn’t surprising. It had been several nights since Sachi had visited their dreams and told them she wasn’t coming back. Every time Zanya closed her eyes, she whispered a prayer to the Everlasting Dream—let me see her.

Perhaps the Dream didn’t answer prayers sent aloft by the manifestation of the Endless Void. Or perhaps her own gift of nightmares had taken control. Sachi appeared in the darkness each night, but it wasn’t Sachi.

Every night, Zanya raced through dark mazes, chasing the scent of Witchwood roses. She caught glimpses of golden hair swirling through the mist. Sachi’s voice called out to her, but no matter how fast Zanya ran, she could never find the source. It was as if Sachi were trapped behind whatever wall had barred Zanya from the Empire, and even her own mind couldn’t conjure a gentle dream that bridged the gap.

So when Sachi finally appeared before her, Zanya braced herself for another agonizing night spent chasing a specter she could never catch.

“Zan.” Nervous fingers curled into the image’s gauzy white nightgown. “It’s good to see you.”

Zanya’s heart leapt. “Sachi?” She took a step forward, then another. The figure didn’t vanish into smoke. “Is it really you?”

She nodded, her breathing unsteady. “I—I thought I should check in.”

Zanya lunged, dragging her lover close. “Tell me you’re okay. If you need us to come—”

“I’m fine,” Sachi whispered. “I just . . .”

The words were a lie, but if Zanya pressed, then Sachi would only be forced to fight two battles—whatever fight she’d left behind that had her looking so pale and drawn, and the fight to keep Zanya from overriding her will. So she choked back the need to save Sachi and simply held her. “It’s hard. What you do is so hard.”

“It’s a softer life than most.” But Sachi’s voice broke on the last word.

Suddenly Ash was there in the darkness, spinning wildly until his gaze landed on them. “Sachi!”

He was at their side in a heartbeat, his chest pressed to Sachi’s back as he wrapped his arms around them. He buried his face in Sachi’s hair and dragged in a shuddering breath. “Thank you.”

Sachi grasped his arm, clung to them both until her breathing began to even out and her trembling stilled. All the while, she whispered over and over that everything was fine, and that she was okay.

It could have been days, but it felt like mere moments until she pulled back. “I brought news. I think I have an ally in the Empire.”

Zanya twined her fingers with Sachi’s, refusing to let her go. “Who?”

“One of the gods who helps rule Sorin’s kingdoms. Her name is Gwynira.”

Ash’s brow furrowed. “Did you get a sense of how strong she is? Or what her powers are?”

She shook her head. “They call her the Ice Queen. I don’t know how literal that is, but I suspect very.” She held out her hand. “She gave me this.”

A dagger materialized on her palm, painfully simple in design, but redolent with magic.

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