Page 78 of The Eternal Mirror
Down in that dungeon, I craved fresh air, and now, I can’t make myself go inside. I know Khaosti and I have unfinished issues, which we’re really going to have to finish. But not quite yet.
He should stop torturing himself and leave. But what are the chances? I’m guessing somewhere north of zero.
My little rooftop is unoverlooked. Private. I can almost pretend I’m alone. Except if I peer over the low surrounding wall, I can see the city stretched out below me, teeming with people. The last light of day is bleeding out in streaks of crimson and gold. It’s beautiful, in a tragic, soul-splitting kind of way.
I sense him approaching—the bond is getting stronger—and I don’t move when I hear the door open behind me. Or when it closes.
Footsteps. Slow. Sure.
Then he’s there.
I turn slowly to face him. “You shouldn’t be wandering around where anyone can see you,” I say. My fault: I should have made him invisible again before I left, but I wasn’t thinking straight. I just knew that I had to get out of there.
“I was discreet. I know the palace and all its secret places. I can move about unseen.”
He stands in front of me, heat radiating off his body. I avoid looking at him. If I do, I’ll fall.
“Thanks for giving me some space,” I murmur. “I needed to think.”
“Don’t expect any more,” he replies.
I glance at him. That’s a mistake. But at least he’s got some clothes on now. His eyes are on fire. Not literally, but close. The kind of look that strips you down to your bones and makes you like it. My heart stumbles. The bond pulses like it’s alive, like it’s been waiting for this moment to snap tight.
“You should leave here,” I say. It’s worth a chance. “Actually you should never have come. I told you not to.”
He smirks at that. “Since when have I ever done what you tell me to do?”
“Never,” I mutter.
“You can’t make me leave,” he says, stepping closer. “And I won’t walk away. Not from you.”
The strength goes out of me, and I sink to the ground and sit, lean back against the wall, arms hugging my knees. I swallow as I stare up at him. “I know you want to protect me, but I want to protect you too. And you make it so hard.”
He snorts. “Bullshit. You’re protecting yourself.” He leans in, voice low, dangerous. “You’re fucking terrified of your feelings for me. Well, you know what? I’m terrified too.”
He sinks down beside me, long legs stretched out, back against the wall. Reaching out, he grabs my hand. I try and pull it back, but he holds on tight and settles it in his lap. Then exhales.
“Tell me the plan?” he says, his fingers stroking my palm.
“There’s a plan?”
“The one where you save everyone and get out of here without my father laying a single finger on you—because that’s non-negotiable.”
“So you don’t think my idea to seduce him into dropping the wards and then killing him is a good one?”
He stiffens beside me, his hand tightens on mine almost painfully, a low growl rumbling in his throat. I guess that’s a no. I doubt I would be able to pull it off anyway.
“Okay. I’ll give that one a pass then. So, my plan. I’m going to release the witches. Release Winter’s brother. I’m going to smash the creepy cracked mirror. And then we’re all going to escape the palace. I’ll make a mirror and poof...” I frown. “I really want to kill your father before I go poof, but I guess if the seduction thing isn’t happening then neither is me killing him. I can’t get through the wards.”
“The seduction thing is definitely not happening. When?”
“As soon as possible. I don’t trust Khronus not to either force me into marriage or turn nasty again and lock me in the dungeon, hook me up and drain my magic.”
“You could have gotten out if you wanted.”
“True.” I cast him a sideways glance. “So what do you think?”
“About the plan? Total load of crap.”
