What I had hoped would be a dreamless sleep was anything but.

I dreamt of what my future could hold for me. I dreamt of a life in my manor alone. I had refused to let my family come back home to live with me. Their lives were so much more important to me than my own. I wouldn't risk them that way. I had Sebastian go by to check on them often, and I would call them when I had a free moment to do so. I was living my life in fear. I'd made my choice, but people still wanted to kill me. I wasn't going to change my mind.

Then the dream changed, and I was sitting on a stone throne, wearing a long black gown and a silver tiara. Sebastian approached suddenly, and I stood and allowed him to sit, then crawled into his lap and lay my head on his chest as he held me. We weren't alone. Guards lined the sides of the rooms, but I was happy. I wasn't scared. I was strong.

When I awoke, all I could think about was the dream. It consumed my thoughts so much that it took me a few minutes to notice the arms wrapped around me.

I finally blinked several times and let the images move to the back of my mind as I turned my head. Sebastian was there, holding me, just as he'd said he would be.

"Good morning, My Love," he smiled.

I smiled back. "Good morning," I replied as I snuggled closer to him. "How long was I asleep for this time?"

His expression changed to one I couldn't quite read. "About a day and a half. Are you feeling better?"

I nodded. "Physically, yes," I replied, "but I had a weird dream."

He clasped my hand in his. "A dream, or a vision?" he asked carefully.

I shrugged, feeling sadness and confusion wash over me. "Honestly, I'm not sure."

He stared at me solemnly. "Do you wish to talk about it?"

I hesitated, then nodded and sat up. I then slowly and quietly recounted the events of my dream to Sebastian, trying my best to keep my composure. If they were just dreams, they meant nothing. But if they were visions…

Sebastian said nothing as I spoke. He listened intently, and his expression never changed as I went from one part of the dream to the other. When I was finished, we were both silent for a long moment, and I began to worry he knew something I didn't until he finally spoke up.

"I cannot ease your worries and tell you they were merely dreams, I'm afraid," he began. "Although, because of what Lisa told you about before you went to sleep, it is likely. However, in your position and with your abilities, it is likely you saw two different futures for yourself."

I felt my shoulders slump. "So if they were visions, I don't think I have much of a choice in which choice I make."

He stared at me for a moment, thinking, then leaned down to look into my eyes. "I swear to you what I told Lisa was true. You will choose your own path, and I will be by your side no matter what you choose."

"I know you will. But what about you?" I asked. "What do you think about this future? Do you want to be king?"

His expression softened and he smiled. He sat on the bed beside me and wrapped his arms around me. "I will do as my queen commands, and if that means becoming a king, then so be it."

Sebastian and I were in the kitchen when the others came back. I was eating a bowl of cereal for breakfast as Lisa and Evan came into view. James, I noticed, was not with them.

"He's torn," Lisa explained as she noticed my staring at the closed door. "He wants to forgive you, but he's a human. We're lucky all of the other officers left with the other people living here when we had them evacuated, or else he may have had to report the three of you."

My frown deepened, but I understood. I still hadn't forgiven myself for what I had done, either.

"But that's besides the point," Evan said quickly, clearly agitated. "You have to tell them."

Lisa sighed, and I looked back to her, my heart beginning to pound in my chest. Tell us what? What happened?

When her gaze met mine, she forced a smile. "Dear, I have reason to believe your trials are nearly finished."

I turned to her completely, my breakfast forgotten. "What? Really?"

She nodded. "I know you want this to be over, but please do not get your hopes up too high. This is purely speculation, but from what I've seen, the time might be coming."

"Why do you think so, then?" I asked.

Lisa looked behind me to Sebastian, and her expression told me he was giving her one I was glad I couldn't see. She then turned to Evan, who nodded to her, giving her the "go ahead."

"When you both were attacked several days ago, Evan and I had time to figure out what was going on exactly," she began. "Those humans were only partially being controlled. They were mostly attacking of their own free will."

I stared at her, confused. "But why? Why would humans come after me? And how were they only being partly controlled?"

Evan answered, "They were humans who followed a demon because they wanted to. They agreed with the demon's motives for tracking you down and volunteered to take you out themselves. They were only being controlled slightly so that the demon could guide them here and watch through their eyes what was happening."

"He knows now what lengths you'll go to to survive. He knows what you are capable of," Lisa continued.

"If he saw the fight…" I started.

"He knows of her new ability," I heard Sebastian finish.

Evan and Lisa both nodded.

"We have to assume so, at least," Lisa added. "There's a chance he didn't see it, but we can't be dependent on her ability as a secret weapon or anything when the time comes."

"Not like I know how to control it anyway," I muttered.

I felt Sebastian place his hand comfortingly on my shoulder, and I felt myself relax slightly. I then thought of a new question.

"Wait, you all keep referring to this demon as "he." How do you know it's a man? Do you know who it is?"

Lisa and Evan exchanged a look.

"You do know. How powerful is he? I need to know."

"No, you don't. We're moving you to a safe location. He won't find you. Not yet."

I sat still for a moment, Lisa's words sinking in. Suddenly, I felt angry. I stood from my seat, the chair falling over behind me.

"No. I'm not hiding anymore. I can't protect anyone by hiding. I want to end all of this. If you know how powerful this man is, then tell me. Train me." My dream flashed through my mind, images of me sitting alone and scared. I wasn't going to live my life like that. This was the decision I had to make to prevent that. I could feel it. "I'm done running. I'm ready to fight."