More images flashed through my mind, and a new vision appeared. I could see the desire in Kai’s eyes as he stalked me. He twirled the dagger in his grasp like it was a game. We circled each other and I could see my mouth moving, but I couldn’t hear what I was saying. I watched in horror as we fought against one another.
There were many others around, but they were blurred. Although, I could tell they were fighting. It was my people against the Shadow fae. Kai was strong and relentless in his attacks. He kicked my legs out from under me and I fell to the floor, staring up at him with his iron dagger at my chest. Heart racing, I waited to see what happened, but my mind went black.
I awoke with a gasp, thinking I would see Kai above me with his dagger, but it was just him holding onto my arms, concern etched on his face.
“Ella, what’s wrong?”
My heart pounded as I tried to get the thoughts of him plunging his dagger into my chest out of my mind but failed miserably.
“I had another vision,” I said, sliding out from under him. I got out of bed and moved over to the window to look out at the frozen lake.
“What did you see?”
“I saw you,” I said, glancing at him over my shoulder.
Even now, I could see the danger in his stormy gray eyes, but in my vision, he glared at me with such disdain that I barely recognized him. What would make him go over the edge like that?
Kai slipped out of bed and slowly walked over to me. “What was I doing in the vision, Ella?”
I turned around and he stopped in front of me.
“We were fighting, and then you had your iron dagger at my chest. I woke up after that.”
Clenching his jaw, he looked away. “Fuck. That’s not what I wanted to hear.”
“Believe me, it’s not what I wanted to see. But it’s going to happen. There were others there too. Shadow fae and my people. I couldn’t see where we were, but I know it’s somewhere in the mortal realm.”
Kai spun away from me, running his hands angrily through his hair. “What the hell am I going to do? I don’t want to hurt you.” He turned and faced me again. “But I can’t let you go either.”
“There’s someone who might be able to help me,” I offered. “I just have to go see her. She’ll be in the Hereafter.”
Kai nodded. “Then go. We need to know what’s going on.”
Once dressed, I summoned my magic and appeared in the Hereafter by the lake. I didn’t have to search for Lailah because she was already waiting for me. But, unfortunately, there was no smile on her angelic face or a welcome greeting, just a look of sorrow.
“Did you know I was coming?”
Lailah nodded. “Yes. I saw it. You had a vision. Plus, I heard what’s been going on in your court. Apparently, your enemy is now your lover.” She didn’t seem surprised.
“You knew that was going to happen, didn’t you?”
“Not at first,” she replied, regarding me sadly. “But here, recently, I’ve been having more visions. If you didn’t come to me today, I was going to find my way to you.”
There was a sinking feeling in my gut that made chills run down my spine. “What happens, Lailah? I know there’s a fight and I’m up against Kai. The last thing I saw was him with his iron dagger at my heart.”
Lailah stepped forward and sighed. “Yes, I know. I don’t know if you’re ready to hear the outcome, but I do think you need to know why you and Kai are connected the way you are.”
“Yes,” I breathed, “tell me.”
Lailah took my hand and led me over to the lake. She waved a hand over the water and pulled me closer.
“I’m going toshowyou what happened.”
The next instant, the reflection changed and I could see my mother. She had my dagger in her hand, plunging it into the dark sorcerer. There was a massive blast of energy, both light and dark. It tore through the land, ridding it of Alasdair’s dark magic. What used to be the Black Forest was no more. There was just a vacant outstretch of land, and right in the middle of it all was my mother, dying on the ground.
Tears clouded my vision as I stared at her, all alone. Yes, she survived, but it was heartbreaking having to watch it.
“Why are you showing me this?” I asked Lailah.