Rosalina
Cold water rushes over me as I collapse into the lake. I plunge my head under again and again,
scrubbing at my eyes, and gulping down the water to clear my throat.
With a gasp, I surge upward and look around. My brain is foggy, but my vision is clear.
That fucking flower...
A growl rips from me as I stare at the purple flowers under the willow tree. Shooting my wrist
out, thorns erupt, crashing under the roots of the plants, then smothering them. I won’t chance getting
blasted with that pollen again.
An anguished cry sounds, and I spot Ezryn pacing in circles, clawing at his breastplate. “It was an
accident! An accident!”
I need to get him in the water and get that pollen out of his face.
Heaving my soaking dress up into my arms, I sprint over to him. “Ez, listen to me. It’s Rosie.
Come on, I’ll help you.” I touch his arm.
He staggers away. “Get away from me! I can’t control it!”
“You’re not hurting me,” I say calmly. “I’m not in danger. See? I’m okay. Come with me.”
“Stop, Kai, stop, I’m sorry, I’m sorry...” He slams a hand against his helm. “Get out of my fucking
head!”
Shit, I didn’t want to do it this way, but I might have to. I twitch my wrists, feeling for the briars at
my command. “Ez, forgive me for this—”
The tearing of earth sounds, and I jump. At the edge of the willow tree, my thorns shoot up,
growing and writhing. Someone is using them.
My chest heaves, and a strange smile appears on my face.
Caspian.
I should feel afraid, but instead I’m relieved. He’ll help me save Ezryn. I know he will.
The briars fall away to reveal a figure.
Not Caspian.
A masked woman. Someone I’ve seen only once before in the Below.
The Nightingale.