Chapter 527

Natalia's POV

I had strange dreams that night.

I dreamt that I was walking through a grotto. The walls were made of smooth stone that was damp and cool to the touch. Water dripped from somewhere overhead, the sound echoing in the quiet air. Above me, the full moon hung impossibly large and bright, casting pale silver beams through an opening in the rock.

The air smelled clean. Fresh. Like rain and wildflowers and something that I couldn't put my finger on. It was the kind of scent that gave you nostalgia for your childhood, but you could never discern the source of it or the memories it elicited.

It was... comforting.

I kept walking, my bare feet splashing through shallow pools of cool, glistening water. I didn't know where I was going, but I felt drawn forward. Like something was pulling me deeper into the grotto.

Then I saw her.

She was kneeling at the edge of a pool, washing her hair. It was long and white, cascading down her back like a waterfall of moonlight. Her skin was so pale it was almost silver in itself. She was nude.

I stopped walking. I wasn't sure if I should approach or if I should leave, but either way, my feet wouldn't move.

The woman continued washing her hair, running her fingers through the strands. The water around her shimmered, reflecting the moonlight overhead. Then, she froze. Her fingers stilled in her hair.

Suddenly, she whipped her head around to look at me.

Her eyes met mine. They were silver, like liquid mercury. No irises, no scleras. Infinite pools of silver and moonlight. Beautiful and terrifying at the same time. "Finally," she whispered. Her voice came from nowhere and everywhere at once, soft yet powerful, one voice and yet a thousand all at the same time. It was dizzying in its intensity, but it also made me feel oddly comforted.

"You can see me... My chosen one."

Chosen one?

I woke with a gasp.

My heart was pounding. I blinked a few times, trying to orient myself. I was in my bed. In Ashmoor. The sun was just starting to filter through the curtains, painting the room in soft morning light.

I sat up slowly., careful not to wake the twins, who were still resting on the bed. Jane must have crawled in with Max and I in the middle of the night. My limbs were still heavy, but better than yesterday. I could move a little more easily now.

For a long moment, that strange dream lingered in my mind. The grotto. The white- haired woman. Her silver eyes. But it was just that: a dream.

I'd had stranger ones before. Especially after everything that happened with the Winter King. This one was far sweeter than all the others, though. For once, I woke up without fear or pain.

I pushed the dream aside and

focused on getting out of bed. It took more effort than I would have liked, but managed to swing my legs over the side and stand Never shuffled to the bathroom, where f brushed my teeth, then splashed some water on my face.

I looked at myself in the mirror and sighed. I looked like hell. I had dark circles under my eyes, and the rope burns were still visible on my wrists. There were a few small cuts on mỹ, neck from where Isaac had pressed the knife, although my wolf had mostly healed those.

When I emerged from the bathroom, Grace was already in my room with a tray of food. Eggs, toast, fruit. And coffee Goddess, heeded coffee The twins were still resting. She set the food down on the small table under the window and we both sat.

"You're up,” she said, settling down opposite me and pouring us both some coffee. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I got hit by a truck." I smiled wryly and took a sip of the warm drink. “Thank you for this."