Dreamland came to the Queen. She was by the blue-watered fountain again, in a white dress, chasing Johnny in circles along with the fireflies through the humid, summer night. The water roared, blocking out all other sound, even their happy laughter. As she was just about to catch him, a pair of purple eyes flashed off in the distance, mimicking the look of the bugs that danced with them. Nia ignored the other color, but it drew nearer . . . I’m watching you.
Gasping awake, Nia floundered about the bed, confused by her space and time orientation.
“Emelle. It’s Emelle. She’s the one.”
Johnny yanked the white, silk blankets over them both and tucked Nia in close. “I know,” he said. “She’s been off the past few weeks before your awakening. Something happened while you were off with the humans.”
“What? What is it? Tell me?”
“Emelle. I mean, I know she’s in love with me. I can see it; I can feel it, though she has never spoken of it. She’s my third in command or was till tonight. I should have known that she would do this to you.”
“Do what exactly?” Nia sat bolt upright worried.
“You saw her just now?”
“Yes. In my dream. Haunting me.”
“She’s planted on you. You’re hers to command.”
“What? I thought that was impossible as I am Queen.”
“She had First Bite when you were in that awful circle. You were supposed to die—that was your request. But it didn’t happen. So now she has moved you in as her Last Bitten. There’s nothing she can do yet, but as the weeks pass, you will fall to her. I should have stopped them. I should have known you’d change your mind.”
“Then I will kill her,” said Nia.
“We both will,” said Johnny, “otherwise the Emerald Night becomes hers as she becomes Queen.” He took Nia’s hand in his and lifted her delicate hand, kissing her emerald heart.