Contents
6 Meryn
Overview
Meryn is pulled into a shared shadow-dream with Killian, who claims Alistair uses the engagement bracelet to control her magic. Killian easily redirects Meryn’s shadows, asserting dominance, but she rejects him and escapes.
Stark arrives after Anassa senses fear. Meryn confides doubts, commits to learning to rule, keeps the link secret, and learns Saela has awakened.
Summary
Meryn realizes she is in a dreamlike shadow realm with Killian. He insists the space isn’t his doing and that Alistair is absent, then claims Alistair uses blood magic through Meryn’s engagement bracelet to manipulate her powers. Killian begs alliance, framing himself as forced into his role, and asserts she cannot rule without him.
Provoked, Meryn unleashes shadows, but Killian casually wrenches them aside, demonstrating chilling control over her power. He grabs Meryn’s chin and vows never to let her go. Meryn breaks away and flees into darkness, jolting awake in her bed, shaking and in tears.
Stark stands over her, having come when Anassa felt fear through their bond. He checks on Meryn, unconvinced by her claim it was only a bad dream, then leaves. The room feels emptier without him, and Meryn refuses to sleep again, dressing and pacing through the night.
At dawn, Anassa arrives. Meryn recounts the dream and her fear that Killian is right about her unfitness to rule. Anassa bluntly agrees it is hypocritical to accept a crown by blood alone but urges Meryn to earn it, shut Killian out, and focus on becoming a good leader.
Meryn asks Anassa to keep the mental connection with Killian secret from Cratos for now. Anassa agrees, then senses a change: Saela is awake.
Who Appears
- MerynQueen and shadow-wielder; confronted Killian in a shared dream, rejects him, doubts leadership, resolves to learn.
- KillianBetrayer and former lover; claims Alistair uses the bracelet, manipulates Meryn’s shadows, presses for reunion.
- AnassaMeryn’s wolf; senses fear, counsels her to earn the crown, agrees to keep the link secret, senses Saela awakening.
- StarkProtector; rushes to Meryn after Anassa’s alert, offers concern, his presence steadies her.
- AlistairPowerful blood mage; absent but blamed for controlling Meryn’s magic via the engagement bracelet.
- SaelaNewly made Siphon; off-page until final moment when Anassa senses she has awakened.
- CratosAlly; informed by Anassa of Meryn’s fear, kept unaware of the mental link at Meryn’s request.