Asher, Violet, and Alaric lay comfortably in bed, all of them asleep after the blissful experience. When suddenly, Asher’s eyes fluttered open, an unnatural purple glow pulsing within his familiar gray orbs.
For a second, they stayed that way. Just watching without blinking. Then, just as suddenly, his eyes closed again like nothing had happened at all.
But sothing had.
Asher Nightshade found himself standing in the dream realm. Sothing was wrong. He had not walked into this shift, rather, had been pulled into it.
The space around him stretched endlessly, a vast, shifting kaleidoscope of colors, like reality itself had been stripped down to its bare bones. The ground beneath his feet existed, but not quite, rippling each ti he moved, unstable and uncertain.
Silence pressed in from all sides as he waited for the culprit to reveal itself.
Then sothing moved, not through the space, but from it.
The landscape itself twisted, shadows folding inward as an apparition began to take shape. Slowly, it gathered, its form thickening until it stood before him.
Asher’s gaze hardened. He knew that face.
Consort Baron.
Anger rushed through his veins. That fucking bastard.
He had warned him the last ti, hadn’t he? That warning had been for Violet, but his mind? For a ntal user, having soone pull a stunt like this, even through a dream, was unforgivable.
Asher moved to lunge at him only for a powerful whisper to echo through his mind. It was soft, soothing, and utterly overwhelming. It didn’t want him to hurt Baron. And to his shock, Asher obeyed.
At the sa ti, Baron stood there, head tilted, studying him. A slow smile curved his lips at what he saw.
"Finally, it’s done," he said, almost beaming, his eyes gleaming with pride.
Asher’s face twisted in horror.
"What have you done to ?"
"Nothing much except putting you where you’re supposed to be, beast." Baron sneered.
He lifted his chin arrogantly, chest puffed out. "Now tell , what are the Queen’s plans? I know you’re preparing for the trial."
Asher glared. "Like hell I would—"
The whisper returned, but this ti, it wasn’t gentle. It hit like a crashing force, slamming into his mind, demanding obedience. Asher tried to fight it, but control was no longer his.
To his horror, the words spilled out of him.
"The Queen knows you’ll strike against her and Violet. That’s why she intends to detain you before the trial and increase security around Violet during it."
Baron frowned. That wasn’t enough. There had to be more.
"What else?" he demanded. "Tell everything. Don’t leave anything out."
Asher groaned, struggling, his stomach twisting violently. It felt like his body would tear itself apart if he resisted any further.
"The Queen is sick," he forced out.
"What?"
"She has Thal’voryn—"
"Shai," Baron finished, eyes widening. "The disease of the bone."
For a mont, he stood frozen.
"How?" he whispered.
"They believe she contracted it after you drained too much of her power."
For a mont, Baron went silent. Then he began to think, seeing the million ways this could turn out for his good. And then he cackled like those famous villains in movies.
"How can this be?" he murmured, eyes gleaming. "The goddess must finally be on my side."
Baron threw his head back, laughing once more.
Then he began to pace, thinking hard.
"All I have to do is drain her again and she’s as good as dead. But not yet, not with Violet Purple around."
His lips curled with annoyance.
"Even if I take the throne, the girl could obliterate , and the entire court. Not that I could bla her...." His smile darkened. "If I can’t have the kingdom, I’d rather see it burn."
He stopped abruptly, turning back to Asher.
"I can’t act until the trial. That’s my only chance to get rid of Violet. But I know Seraphira, she’s not a fool. If she’s dying, then she must have a contingency. Do you know it?"
The answer ca without permission.
"She intends to move her soul."
Baron went still.
"What?"
"The Queen will transfer her soul into another body."
"And then I’ll be dead." Baron muttered, the words falling like a death sentence.
Seraphira might be many things, kind, loving, but not towards him. The only reason he still existed was because their life was linked together. And once she’s no longer tied down by him, she’d give him a swift death.
He knew about soul hopping. More like heard about it. Though it had not been outrightly banished but the knowledge had been hidden away by their ancestors. It would be a chaos if every Fae destined to die started jumping bodies to escape their fate. But of course, Seraphira was queen and decided the rules.
Baron grumbled. That was not going to happen. He couldn’t wait for the trial to co already so he could send mother and daughter to their swift deaths.
He demanded. "Has she found a body?"
Asher said robotically, "Not yet. Zuru the healer and Alaric are working on a device to help locate a compatible body. They should be done with it, today."
At once, Baron got in Asher’s face and snarled. "Now listen to . Find a way, get that device and destroy it. Do you understand it?"
Asher wanted to revolt. He didn’t take orders from the bastard, nor would be destroy the very thing that would give them a chance to destroy him at last. Yet he found himself saying, "Yes, Baron."
And Baron knew this wasn’t just compliance, Asher would do it. The control was complete.
Although he was still rattled, a sense of order settled over him. He had control over Asher now.
"You will return to the waking world," Baron commanded, "and you will forget this conversation ever happened."
"I will," Asher replied.
"Of course you will," Baron smirked. No one ever fought the leecher. They were already dead by then.
The dream realm began to dissolve, and everything faded into nothing.
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