Page 69 of The Eternal Mirror
His gaze sharpens. “You opened a mirror to Valandria?”
“Yeah, I did.”
“Without traveling through the Chamber?”
I know that’s something only a powerful witch can do. And while it’s giving away a lot about me, it may also be the one thing that might keep me alive. “Of course.”
“Interesting. You are your mother’s daughter. Ravenna had such beautiful power.” He studies me some more. The almost insane rage has faded from his eyes. They’re now filled with speculation and something else. Admiration or more?Ugh. “But you didn’t go yourself?” he asks. “Why?”
Another good question, and here’s where I lure him in. I lick my lips. “Because I heard that Khaosti was on Astrali. That he was with the rebels in the north. So I went to find him...”
“And did you find my son?”
I’ve never been that good an actor, and I’ve always been terrible at lying. But at this moment, I need to be convincing. I think about losing Khaosti, how I would feel if what I was saying was really true, and a wail erupts from my throat as I fall to my knees. “He’s dead. Khaosti is dead.”
I stare at Khronus through the tears. “They killed him. Because of who he is. Because he’syourson.”
“I don’t believe you. If I know one thing about my son, it’s that no rebel would take him. His wolf is a match for a hundred stinking rebels.”
“You don’t know,” I say. “You don’t know about Fury.”
“Know what?”
“My father killed him. He tried to take him from Khaos, and Fury died rather than let go. Khaos has no beast now. Apparently,he fought and killed ten of them, but they took him down in the end. He’s dead.”
A shadow crosses his face—almost too fast to catch. Guilt? Regret? He must have some feelings for his son. Then it’s gone, replaced by cold calculation. “But why come back here? You must know I would be...displeased.”
I force myself to my feet and straighten my shoulders. “I came back because I want revenge. I want the people who killed Khaos dead. I want to see them burn.” I stare straight into his face. “And you’re the only person I know who can help me do that.”
I have no clue whether he believes me. He walks away from me, clearly thinking about it. Then he turns back.
“Take her to the dungeons,” he says.
Not the best outcome, but not a total failure either. I’m still alive. Yay.
They drag me out of the room. I don't resist. I can’t.
Every breath hurts, but I am still breathing.
As they haul me toward the dungeons, I glance once—just once—at the edge of the hall. I can’t see him, but I feel him. Still there. Still silent. Khaosti kept his promise, but I can sense how much it cost him.
And somehow, that hurts worse than the bruises.
I let my head drop forward and go limp in their grip. Not broken. Not yet.
But I let Khronus think I am.
Let him think I’m weak. Let him think he’s won. That’s how this reckoning begins.
Chapter 23
Prison Therapy
By the time we come to a halt in front of a cell door, I’m almost unconscious, hanging limp between the two guards.
Actually, unconscious sounds like a really good idea right now. But I fought it all the way here. I didn’t want to pass out; I was scared I’d end up in that mirror chamber hooked up to the silver vein thing, having my life force sucked dry.
And let me tell you, the whole plan would have been overhauled before I let that happen. But we’re in the main part of the dungeons, not far from the cell with Winter’s brother.
