He offered a hand. The woman looked at it for a moment, and then back at him.
“What can I do to get you to talk? Do you want me to undo your block?”
The woman, at last, nodded. At least they were getting somewhere.
“Do you promise not to attack me? Will you at least talk to me, tell me who you are? No one can survive alone out here.”
After some hesitation, she nodded. Lucian supposed it could all be a trick, but he was the one who had decided to save her, after all. It was only fair he assumed the risk of unblocking her. With the Orb of Psionics at his disposal, he could recreate the block in an instant if he needed to.
At least, that was what he hoped.
Before he could second-guess himself, he unraveled the block. It was gone in an instant.
The woman blinked a few times, a small smile coming to her face. “Thank you. Although perhaps I shouldn’t be thanking you. Death would have probably been a kinder fate.”
Her accent was hard to place. The words were smooth, almost melting into one another. It reminded him somewhat of the way the Queen spoke, as well as the nobles at the soiree. She was someone among Dara’s upper classes, then, further evidenced by her magical ability. From her age, she was likely born and raised here, too.
“What’s your name?”
She watched him closely, carefully. “Selene de Mordred.”
“Do you mind telling me what happened, Selene de Mordred?”
Her expression became grave and pale. “Just call me Selene. It’s easier.”
“Selene, then.” After a moment of silence, Lucian realized he would be asking all the questions. “What do you remember?”
She shook her head. “I don’t want to talk about it. I don’t trust you.”
“I suppose that’s fair. I don’t really trust you, either, which is why I’m trying to talk to you.”
“Is . . . she dead?”
Lucian shook his head. “Unfortunately, no. I was only able to drive her out of your mind.”
She nodded, as if she had expected that answer. “That’s what I thought you said. I was hoping I misinterpreted.” She looked around. “And where is this?”
“We’re in the Burning Sands. Under the Eye of Cupid.”
She laughed bitterly. “I . . . was afraid of that. I’ve just been staring at that planet above, thinking I’m in a nightmare. But after hearing it from you, I think it might have been better to die.”
“Why do you say that?”
She looked at him as if he were stupid. “Because we’re in the Burning Sands, with no way out.”
Yes, that was a good point. “We’re working on that. How are you associated with the Queen?”
Her lips curled in distaste, and the action didn’t seem to be forced. That was a good sign. She clearly hated the Queen, and that made her a potential ally.
“I’m the Psion of the Atomicist, Nostra. Other than that, no association at all. We’ve barely spoken. At least until . . .” She trailed off.
So, Selene was someone in Queen Ansaldra’s circle, if only on the periphery. Perhaps she even had quarters in the palace.
“How did the Queen take control of you?”
“Must we go over this? I barely even know you.”
“I saved your life. Don’t I deserve some answers?”
“Perhaps my life wasn’t yours to save.”
Was she serious? “Most would be grateful to have their life saved.”
“Not if you’ve just given me a worse fate.” She shook her head. “You should’ve just killed me along with the Queen. At least my life would’ve meant something, then.”
Her, too? It was hard not to throw up his hands in frustration. Or to even agree with her.
“Whatever the case, this is where we stand. It’s the four of us now. You probably noticed we had to bury our friend back there. Unless you were sleeping through that.”
She nodded, seeming to look down her nose at him the entire time she did so. She seemed stuck up, but maybe that was to be expected of a noblewoman. “I saw.”
“And you probably can’t go back to Dara, seeing as the Queen would probably just want to take control of you again.”
“Yes, I surmised as much. I don’t need you to explain things to me as if I were a child. You can’t be much older than me, anyway, and I’m probably better educated.”
Lucian had to swallow his first response. “Just trying to help.”
“Then stop. I don’t need a rescuer. However, I am willing to work with you in order to get out of this mess. If such a thing is even possible.”
That was something, at least. “We would be grateful.”
“Well, you can’t get out of here alive unless you or your friends understand basic Atomicism. Which most mages don’t.” She sighed. “Even if I did get out of here, is there any point? Every option that matters has been taken from me.”
“Don’t you have family somewhere?”
She shook her head. “Dead.”
That might have made her a target of the Queen. And if she were the Psion of an Atomicist, she must have had enough potential for the Queen’s Focus transferal to work. And of course, Selene was exceptionally beautiful. If the Queen had to pick someone to possess, beauty would have been requisite. Beauty was power, especially when power backed that beauty.
“Look,” Lucian said. “Atomicism is the only Aspect I have no experience with. And it probably means you’re a fair Dynamist and Thermalist, too. Those talents will be useful in getting out of here. Fergus is a Radiant, and Serah a Gravitist.”
“Which would make you a Psionic,” she said, with a secretive smile that said she knew more than he thought. “And a damn good one at that, to challenge the Queen.”
Lucian decided a change of subject was in order. He wasn’t ready to tell her about the Orb of Psionics, though if she knew anything about Arian’s prophecy, then she might figure it out, anyway. “I have a potential way of getting off Psyche for good. If
