The Mirror in the Mountain (The Mirrored Trilogy #2)

18. Eva

Chapter 18

Eva

I found Tobias in the courtyard, in an open-air garden surrounded by the giant house that had apparently once been my home. Plum trees surrounded us, their leaves a deep, blood red, the ground littered with them in a way that made me picture the aftermath of a battle.

Tobias was under a wooden overhang, partially hidden by a leafy branch. He was breathing deeply, his eyes closed, his feet shoulder-width apart, and his knees slightly bent. Slow and steady, he started to move, gracefully shifting his weight, flowing from one stance to the next. His muscles flexed against the simple white tunic he wore over black leather pants, seemingly unaffected by the chill in the air.

I recognized it immediately. A warm-up form our dad taught us in another realm…in another life. Balance and breathing, intention and movement all coming together to shape a calm I was sorely lacking in at the moment.

Sliding off my shoes, I came up next to my twin, seamlessly flowing into the familiar stances like putting on a second skin. Our breathing matched our movements, matched each other’s even inhales and exhales as we moved purposefully together in an intricate series of footwork and poses.

It took longer than I thought to push away the thoughts trying to devour me. But whether it was the calisthenics, the breathing, or the company, I was able to force them down, burying them under a blanket of brief serenity.

I could feel curious eyes on us from where Bash, Rivan, Yael, and Quinn had silently paired up and started to spar. But neither Tobias nor I said a word to them, or to each other, up until our last breath out together.

We finished the form facing each other, open palms outstretched and reaching. Our eyes met, and we both dropped our hands to our sides. Tobias’s gaze fastened around the familiar dagger I had kept safe for seven long years. His gaze dropped, then he stilled, shock clear on his face as he took in its mate at my side. “How?—”

“Aviel had it,” I said grimly. “He must have taken it the night of the fire.”

I could feel Bash’s eyes on me as I unsheathed it, holding it out so its black diamond gleamed darkly in the light. For a heartbeat, it seemed to emit a soft hum I faintly recognized before I flipped it in my hand with a flick of my wrist. My eyes locked with my brother’s as I caught it.

Somehow, it felt unlike his in a way I couldn’t entirely explain. Like this one was made to be mine.

It feels different than yours , I almost said. But it sounded even stupider on the tip of my tongue.

“So, no need to give yours back,” I added nonchalantly, even as I anxiously continued flipping mine in my hand. “Not that I would have expected you to…though I thought I last saw it being thrown at a certain False King’s head.”

Shadows snaked around the hilt of my dagger, catching it midair before I could. Ah . Bash’s mouth twisted in a small smirk, though he didn’t miss a beat as his practice sword met Quinn’s.

“I can’t believe we’re both back here,” Tobias said in a low voice. “Even if it’s without them. It’s funny how it feels like forever ago our family was whole…and yet no time at all.”

“I—” I stopped abruptly, as I couldn’t seem to say the words without breaking. But his eyes seemed to reflect the words I couldn’t say.

I still miss them so, so much.

“Me too, sis.”

I looked away, blinking the sudden moisture from my eyes as I took in the orange-tinged sky. Tobias followed my gaze, faintly shuddering before seeming to steel himself.

“Eva, I owe you an?—”

“Why didn’t you come back for me sooner?” My voice shook faintly as that betrayal bled through. “Why— why didn’t you tell me you were alive?”

Tobias tensed at the accusation in my voice, his lips tightening. My eyes narrowed. Then I raised my hands in a fighting stance, my elbows bent, one foot slightly forward. He copied me by habit, matching my sideways steps as we started circling each other.

The clash of metal from where Rivan and Yael had been sparring like their lives depended on it seemed to pause. Bash’s eyes met mine over Tobias’s shoulder where he and Quinn had been doing the same. He nodded at Quinn to keep going, but I could feel his gaze on me.

“I should have,” Tobias said quietly, a hint of pleading in his voice.

I lunged forward, nimbly sweeping out a foot to knock him off balance. But he was ready, already spinning away, his arm reaching for my leg. I knocked it aside, before the blur of his kick nearly hit me in my stomach, his speed still impressive. Charging forward, I threw a fist at his face, my frustration breaking through. But Tobias deftly dodged, lashing out as he spun, moving with a lethal grace that made me hold my breath even as I deflected his attack.

As I punched toward his gut, he caught my wrist, the paleness of his skin against mine even more evident in the daylight. I stilled at the silvery scars on his wrists that mirrored mine, now visible with the way his tunic had ridden up his arm.

Tobias released me, then took a deliberate step back, breathing hard. “I thought I could stop him first. Make this realm safe for you before you even had to know about it. Keep you from the same fate as our?—”

I launched myself at him, landing a strike to his chest that had him stumbling. He held up his hands, my blows glancing off his forearms as he backed away.

“And you just thought you’d let me think you were dead until then? Let me grieve for you, on top of Mom and Dad?”

“I thought?—”

“You left me.”

Tobias flinched worse than when I had hit him, looking stricken. I pressed my advantage, sweeping his legs out from under him in a quick twisting movement. Rivan let out a low whistle from somewhere behind us, but Tobias brought me down too, hooking his leg behind my knees. I rolled as he tried to pin me.

He winced as my elbow found his solar plexus but managed to pull me back against him. “By the time I made it here, to Soleara, it had been months . When I figured out how to return, you already thought I was dead. If you knew I wasn’t, you would have wanted to know everything. And I wasn’t about to break the wards keeping you safe, bring you here, and put you in danger. By the time I realized what a fool I’d been, I was trapped in his dungeon.”

I struggled against Tobias’s hold, but despite his captivity, he had noticeably spent his time honing his skills. Grunting, I kicked my legs back, using my momentum to fling my feet over my head, somersaulting backwards into a crouch. Tobias stood, eyeing me warily.

“You were a fool,” I spat. “And look where it got us. With Aviel?—”

What, precisely, do you think you can do against me, when all of you put together failed to stop me from getting exactly what I wanted?

A phantom pain swelled where my neck met my collarbone. Where that monster had marked me, as if saying his name had brought up what I had so carefully pushed down. Shakily, I brought my hand up, my fingers trailing under my shirt as I rubbed against the raised wound now scabbed over the old scar. Tobias’s eyes flickered with light, his jaw clenching, and I knew he had put it together.

We would soon be forced to face him in order to end this. I sucked in a measured breath—the thought of seeking Aviel out made my skin crawl.

How could I be High Queen when I was a coward?

I glanced behind us. Bash had gone preternaturally still, like he could read my thoughts instead of just gods knew what I was sending across our bond. The rest of our group was no longer even attempting to pretend they were still training, having long since stopped pretending not to be listening.

Grimacing, I turned away. I couldn’t stand the pity in their eyes. The way Bash’s guilt swept down our bond in a flood of his own self-recrimination.

“I’m sorry,” Tobias rasped. “I was trying to do the right thing and keep you safe from him. By the time I realized I was wrong to keep you in the dark, it was too late. But I did try to get back to you, sis. You don’t know how many times in that cell I kicked myself for not trying to get home to you sooner so we could face this together.”

I nodded stiffly. The light in his eyes flickered as I walked away to gather myself, still panting from our battle. Bash stepped toward me, but Yael got there first, a frown marring her beautiful face.

She tossed me a sword. “My turn.”

I started to shake my head; my throat too tight to speak. But Yael had already raised her sword, her turquoise eyes narrowing. “You’ll need more fight than that if you’re going to survive this war.”

My hands tightened around my sword, even as something inside me flinched at her finding me wanting. “I don’t have to prove myself to you.”

She feinted low. I evaded the swing of her sword, anger boiling in my stomach.

“Not to mention the wallowing.”

My mouth twitched in annoyance. “I’m not?—”

“Prove it.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Rivan hold out a sword to Tobias in invitation. He took it, still watching me closely.

Not wanting to think anymore, I lunged forward in an attack. Yael parried my wild blow, her agile movements and impeccable footwork quickly forcing me to go on the defensive. Her strikes were swift and unrelenting, obviously meant to engage rather than disarm. So quick that all I could focus on was anticipating her next move, the brutal pace giving me an outlet for the pressure still trapped in my chest.

She had baited me on purpose. Offering herself up as a target for my anger. She had known how much I needed to work out my frustration, my fear, before it could break me.

I found myself winded far too soon, my side aching. Holding up a hand, I then pressed it into the stitch in my side, wincing as I pushed against the remnants of a bruise while trying to catch my breath.

Yael stepped back, though her sword was still raised. “If you’re going to be High Queen, the least I can do is help you stay in shape for the fight ahead.”

Lazily lifting my sword, I snorted derisively before I could stop myself. “Some High Queen.”

I felt too raw, too worked up from the hurt still shadowing Tobias’s face to guard what was coming out of my mouth.

Yael shot forward, her sword sweeping low. “What is that supposed to mean?”

I leapt backwards, barely managing to defend myself.

“Exactly what it sounds like,” I snapped, slashing downwards only for her to block me. “What is this, fight therapy day?”

Yael smirked as our swords clanged together once again. “Whatever works, Your Majesty.”

I sighed at the title, lowering my voice along with my sword. “What if the people of Agadot don’t want me? What if the Choosing rejects me, despite my magic?” My voice wavered as my fears tumbled out despite myself. “What if I’m just not good enough?”

Yael didn’t hesitate. “You are. You will be. And the fact that you’re worried about it instead of going straight to the overly entitled presumptiveness of most rulers speaks for itself about your worthiness.” She dropped her blade to her side as she stepped closer. “You may not know this land, but you are kind and smart and brave. And we’ll be here to teach you whatever you can’t learn. Whoever isn’t swayed by the magic of the land choosing you will learn to believe in you when you become the advocate I know you will be. The leader this realm deserves.”

She grabbed my hand, looking over her shoulder to glare at the others, and I heard the clang of swords as they resumed their battling. “Besides, nobody in this bloody band has their lives together, let alone the rest of the realm. So take a breath. You can withstand anything. Including becoming High Queen. Especially with your family by your side.” Her eyes narrowed. “And I’ll fight anyone who says a bad word about you.”

I cocked my head. “Including what I just said about myself?”

She raised her sword threateningly, an amused glint in her eye. “Square up then, let’s go.”

I chuckled quietly, somehow feeling better despite everything. With a smile, I raised my sword.

Yael lunged toward me with a sweeping strike that I barely managed to deflect. Sweat dripped down my back even as I felt a tingle of awareness on the nape of my neck. My blade met Yael’s in a clash of metal as I blatantly ignored the searing weight of my brother’s gaze, losing myself in the rhythm of our movements even as my arms started to shake. Refusing to look his way even as he waved Rivan off, wiping the sweat off his neck with his sleeve as he disappeared into what had once been our home.