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

25. Eva

Chapter 25

Eva

I followed Bash down the strangely familiar wooden staircase, déjà vu ingrained in each step. He didn’t turn around, but his hand reached behind him, a curl of worry flashing across our bond. I didn’t hesitate before taking it, letting my fingers intertwine with his, Bash’s larger hand nearly swallowing mine. A flicker of shadows wisped across the top of my hand, like they too needed to hold onto me.

Bash had hardly stopped finding ways to touch me since last night—like he knew better than to let me go. As usual, his instincts weren’t far off.

He gave me a tentative smile as we reached the main floor, and I returned it, letting my resolution flow down our bond. I almost winced at the intensity of his relief.

Because I knew what I had to do.

I had to unlearn what the sprite had told me. Bury it so deep that Bash wouldn’t suspect anything was amiss more than he already did…and so he wouldn’t know to stop me if it came down to it. Keep the secret until I was certain there was no other choice. Because I would find a way to defeat Aviel without resorting to that awful option—even if, deep down, I feared that fate wouldn’t be so easily outmaneuvered.

There was time, after all, before this war began in earnest. Before others died because I was too much of a coward to give up my life for the greater good.

I wasn’t ready to lose this life. I couldn’t, especially not with the way Bash was looking at me, his love an endless current down our bond.

But I also wasn’t going to rule it out as a last resort, a fallback if all else failed. I knew that Bash would only try to dissuade me if he knew and telling him would only make it harder to go through with it if the time came. And I couldn’t bear the thought of speaking it aloud. Of triggering the same helplessness and rage I had felt from him ever since our bond had reanimated only magnified.

There was no point in telling him. In worrying him. Because I would find another way.

I had to.

My heart pounded against my ribcage as if in agreement. Bash lifted our joined hands, pressing a kiss against the back of mine before he let it go to pull back my chair, our friends and family already eating. I tried to tell myself their inquiring eyes were just my imagination as I softly said hello while loading my plate from the food set on large platters along the table. Each was covered with fresh baked rolls, sliced meats and cheeses, tiny quiches, yogurts, fruit, and a tray of circular buns that I immediately reached for as the smell of cinnamon tickled my nose.

A kettle sang from the stovetop and Bash jumped up, returning with two mugs of black tea sweetened with honey. I shot him a grateful look, and he raised his cup in response.

I took a careful sip before toying with a piece of apple. Bash’s hand cupped mine, bringing it and the apple to my lips. I took a bite before he moved my hand to his mouth, finishing the rest. Something inside me went molten as I felt his tongue flick over my fingertips, his gaze never leaving mine.

Yael set down her mug with a thunk. But she was smiling when I looked her way, a blush rising to my cheeks as I remembered we had an audience. “Are we still flirting or are we going to get to it?”

Bash rolled his eyes, opening his mouth to respond, but I cut him off. “Shouldn’t we head north? Reach Adronix first so we can get through the Seeing Mirror before…” Aviel’s name died on my tongue, as I added lamely, “…before anyone else?”

When I break you, when you learn you are mine…we will remake this world together.

Bash’s eyes filled with shadow, and I realized my hand had gone to my throat, my fingertips brushing the bite mark now fully scarred. I deliberately placed my hand back on the table, letting it flatten slowly along its wooden grains. Bash’s hand immediately came on top of mine, wisps of shadow lacing around our fingers.

Yael looked at Rivan. “Has there been any word of the False King?”

“Aviel’s still in Morehaven,” Rivan replied before turning to me. “Putting that band on him was ingenious. It seems it took some time to remove.”

Good. I hoped he had suffered in the process.

“Though his return to the Source will mean he’s drained more power,” Tobias added quietly.

“His army could begin their journey to Adronix any day now,” Rivan said grimly. “Our rangers are readying to travel through the mirror to Soleara as we speak, so we should be able to head them off. And Queen Sariyah sent word that she and her forces have begun their journey east.”

I caught my brother’s gaze, my nails digging into my scarred palm as I asked, “How often did Aviel have to draw from you?”

A flicker of a wince crossed Tobias’s face, and I cringed at my bluntness.

“I just mean…he needs my magic to trick the Seeing Mirror. Will it fade if he doesn’t use it?”

Tobias’s light sparked in his eyes as if he were reliving all the times the same had been done to him, though his expression remained carefully blank. “I can’t be sure, but from what I gathered, I think it has to do with if, and how much, he uses it—expenditure, not time.” A muscle tensed in his jaw, the only sign of his discomfort as he added grimly, “There was never a rhythm to how often he drained me.”

“He used some against me,” I said, my voice hollow as I was transported back to that bed, that room. My own darkness holding me down in a cruel mockery of my magic. “So between that and the band, he might not have enough?”

“Not something we can put to chance.” Tobias grimaced. “But if he does need you…well, he knows where you’re heading, right?”

I swallowed. “Another reason we need to beat him to that mountain.”

We shared the slightest of nods.

My breathing quickened, a slight buzzing in my ears as I thought of the danger of him making it to the mirror before me. “And if we rode ahead? Just us, and have our forces follow?”

Yael pursed her lips. “It would be safer not to. There are creatures in those woods that would be scared away by an army but would happily go after a smaller group. It will only delay us a day to wait. Besides, we have a head start from Soleara, and Aviel’s forces won’t be able to travel any faster than ours.”

I could feel Bash’s reluctance to let go of my hand as he pulled out the scroll from his jacket. “We also have one last task before we can leave.”

Right. Esterra.

My gaze immediately found Yael’s, who was glaring at the broken seal on the parchment. It had formed an ornately twirling E , I realized—thus her response .

“What does the Eastern King want?” Rivan asked through a mouthful of eggs.

Bash’s voice was carefully controlled, though I could feel his flicker of impatience. “King Eliav would like an audience before committing to another war.”

Yael’s mouth pursed. “Confirmation before committing his troops? Likely. Someone to make him feel like his contribution’s worth it? Most definitely.”

Tobias, Quinn, and I shared an equally confounded look.

“Can someone please explain the politics for those of us not brought up with maps that move?” Quinn asked tartly.

I blinked. “Maps that…what?”

Yael bounded down the hall to what I assumed was a study, coming back with a large, rolled-up map she opened with a flourish. It almost covered the entire table, nearly rolling over Rivan’s plate before he pulled it onto his lap, grumbling low obscenities.

Bash, who had gracefully snatched our mugs out of the way, handed me mine before leaning over the map. “We’re here,” he said, pointing to Soleara. The map was indeed moving: lines of wind whipping around the mountains, the seas choppy with waves. At Bash’s light touch, a glowing dot appeared where we were in the mountain top, a bronze castle gleaming below it.

“Nice to see it on the map again,” my brother said wryly.

It was nice seeing a glimpse of joy across Tobias’s face again, however fleeting. He had always loved the part of our lessons that involved poring over maps for our war games, each topographical curve shaping his strategies of attack.

Rivan set his plate on his chair, placing both hands on the map as he stood. “And in the west is Mayim. Queen Sariyah already committed her troops wherever they’re needed after Bash’s letters…no boot licking required. Though with the unrest there due to the King’s supporters, I have no doubt their forces will be as divided as they were in the last war.” He tapped a finger next to Mayim, and I watched as an enormous eel-like monster leapt from the water surrounding the castle. Then he smirked at the look of surprise on my face.

“That’s Imyr and the Faewilds,” Yael said, pointing to the swaying treetops in the south. For a second, I thought I saw a tiny shadowbeast slinking through the forest. “And Esterra to the east.” Her finger flicked dismissively toward the kingdom she was born in, the one she had long since stopped calling home. She looked away, and I knew returning there, with the memories it held, was likely the last thing she wanted to do.

“We don’t all have to go,” I said quickly. “Surely Bash and I should be enough to talk them into helping us.”

Yael was already shaking her head, but I caught her brief, grateful look at me. “They’ll expect a full entourage. The east is far too obsessed with propriety. Besides, if they’ll trust anyone, it’ll be someone who looks like one of their own.”

“King Eliav is vain, but he’ll listen to reason,” Rivan added. “Even if he’ll likely put us through the song and dance first.”

“A quick trip,” Bash said. “To gather the last of our allies.”

Tobias cocked his head thoughtfully at me. “And maybe learn a bit more about where Dad came from.”

So he hadn’t missed the familiar lilt of Yael’s accent.

I smiled softly. “Alright then. All of us.”

One last journey together before our adventure to Adronix. To face Aviel…unless I used what I knew to end him first.

I shuddered, all too aware of Bash’s eyes on me. Seeing far too much, as always. Carefully, I pushed the thought from my mind.

Quinn shook her head. “Someone needs to stay to help Pari coordinate mirroring the Imyrian forces here. Besides, the Esterran King won’t be expecting me.”

“I’ll stay too,” Tobias said quickly. “They’re my people. And I’d like to help the Solearan forces with preparations to make sure they’re ready to head north once you return.”

Quinn smiled warmly at my brother. A hint of a blush reddened his cheeks before he ducked his head.

Rivan nodded. “Good. We won’t need all of us anyway. My mother has returned from her travels and is keeping an eye on the Keep, so Marin should be here to join us shortly.”

“We have a day at most to convince the Eastern King that the time has come to return to war,” Bash said gravely. “The same players in the same war that began a hundred and one years ago. The war that was never truly finished.” He looked around the room, meeting each gaze before his eyes found mine. “We’ll end it together, once and for all.”

My dress had been my mother’s. Something about the way it smelled seemed faintly familiar, as though this house had magically preserved that too, along with the contents of her closet. The silky, golden fabric looped around my neck before twisting across my breasts, leaving a triangle of skin exposed on each side where it crisscrossed around the small of my waist. Its skirts flared out from there in fluttering folds, shimmering like liquid gold in the light. The long slit up the side allowed easy access to my dagger.

Bash had insisted I bring my sword, potential alliance or no. I strapped it to my back, the black jarring against the dress’s bright shine.

The gold brought out the crown around my pupils, the color itself an obvious statement. Not to mention that Quinn had braided my long tresses into a less than subtle crown on the top of my head, though half of it cascaded down my back. It would have also matched my mother’s eyes, I realized, as I tried to picture her in my place.

I wondered what she had worn this to…some stately function alongside my father? It felt strange in a good way to slip it on, like I was trying to fit into what used to be her place in this world.

Bash’s eyes darkened as I walked down the stairway to meet him. My cheeks heated as exactly what he thought of the dress flowed down our bond.

“My queen,” he murmured, bending to brush his lips against my knuckles.

“We talked about this,” I grumbled, a smile lifting my lips despite myself.

“As if anything else is appropriate to call you when you’re wearing that .”

Bash’s fighting leathers were gone. He looked every inch the Imyrian King—elegance stitched into each seam of his ensemble. His linen pants and matching tunic were an almost metallic dark gray and made up of simple but sophisticated lines. Silver threading at the neckline and cuffs swirled in intricate patterns. His sword hung at his side.

My mouth went dry. Bash gave me a devious smirk as he looked up from where his mouth still hovered over my outstretched hand, then turned my wrist to kiss my pulse point. I knew he could feel my heart hammering as his lips worked their way up my arm, his other hand curling against the bare skin of my waist to drag me closer.

“I swear we weren’t this bad,” Marin muttered to Yael as they walked in from the kitchen.

“Marin!” I yelped, running over to her. She grinned widely, in a way that was so much like her brother. Her dress was the same green as her eyes, with capped sleeves and a flowing, tiered skirt. Eyelet details patterned the edge of each tier, fluttering with every movement.

“King Eliav will expect the full contingent,” Marin explained to me. “As much as I’ve enjoyed holding down the fort in Imyr for its king, I wasn’t about to miss out on the fun.”

Bash merely shrugged. “Seems only fitting for its future queen.”

Marin let out a garbled sound, her eyes widening as she slowly turned to her brother. “ What ?”

Yael had stilled at her lover’s side, her flowing violet jumpsuit slightly swaying at her sudden inertia.

Bash smirked. “My anima is the future High Queen. Though I’m tempted to knock the whole castle down, I have a feeling that with some serious redecorating, we’ll be able to call Morehaven home when she takes her rightful place on the throne.”

Now I was the one staring at him with wide eyes.

Bash smiled at me; his gaze soft. “I do have plans for after we win this war, you know.”

After. I didn’t want to think about why I hadn’t let myself consider what came next. Refusing to let my mind go there, I plastered a smile on my face as I turned to Marin and Yael. “I have no doubt you two will be exactly what Imyr needs.”

Marin nodded solemnly, though Yael still looked flustered.

“Oh, before I forget…” Marin reached into a hidden pocket in her skirt, pulling a familiar necklace from it. My breath caught as I took in the silver star amulet I had left behind in Imyr what felt like a lifetime ago. Taking it, I gave her a grateful smile.

“Thank you for bringing it back to me,” I said in a heartfelt whisper.

Marin smiled. “I’m just happy you’re here to claim it.”

I started to lift it to my neck, but Bash held out a hand, motioning for me to turn around as he unclasped the lock. He moved closer than was strictly necessary, his warm breath grazing my ear as I lifted the hair from my nape, carefully placing it around my neck.

The cool metal brushed against the white scar encircling my throat, and I recoiled as the memory of being collared and helpless crashed over me. Bash immediately froze, and I knew he had felt that momentary terror across our bond.

Pressing my hand against the familiar six-pointed star, I forced some levity into my voice as I managed to say, “I remember when you two were more intent on taking this off of me than putting it back on.”

Carefully, Bash finished clasping the amulet, pressing a swift kiss against where the chain lay against my skin. I leaned back against him, and his arm circled around my waist in silent comfort, his breath rustling my hair as his chin rested atop my head.

Rivan walked down the stairs, wearing an embroidered cobalt blue tunic, his lavender eyes twinkling as he took in the looks on our faces. “What did I miss?”

“Just Marin being the Imyrian heir now that Eva’s the future High Queen,” Bash said with a hint of amusement.

Rivan gave us all a strange look. “That seemed obvious, no?”

Marin let out a choked sound, and Yael reached over to grab her hand.

“Besides, you’ve already been doing the job since this all started,” Bash said. “Seems only fitting you get the title too.”

“Queen Marin does have a nice ring to it,” Yael added quietly, a familiar devious gleam in her eyes.

Marin sighed, her mouth twisting in resignation. “So does having you as my consort.” She tugged Yael closer before brushing a soft kiss to her lips that quickly deepened into more.

“And you gave us a hard time,” Bash said with a smile that belied his tone.

Quinn and Tobias walked down the stairs together. She was softly laughing at something he said, the look in his eyes in response making my chest ache.

Then his gaze fixed on me, taking a careful step away from Quinn as if he had just realized their proximity. “We’re here to see you off.”

Quinn winked at me. “Try not to get into too much trouble without me.”

“It’s just a day trip,” I said with false outrage.

Bash nodded. “I won’t risk staying longer than it takes our forces to ready. But I appreciate both of your help in doing so.”

Tobias looked at him. “Keep her safe, would you?”

Bash gave him a slight bow, and I saw Tobias’s mouth curve up just slightly. Perhaps there was hope they might be friends someday. Not that I was going to give them a choice.

“I can keep myself safe,” I protested.

Bash and Tobias exchanged a look.

“Your precedent of martyrdom notwithstanding,” Tobias said dryly. “So, my request stands.”

I felt a squeeze in my chest as that insight hit a little too close to the truth I was trying to hide. Tobias’s eyes narrowed slightly, and I belatedly rolled my eyes.

Quinn led us toward the living room, where a prominent bronze mirror made me stop short, that old fear clenching my stomach. It was almost the twin to my family’s mirror in the mortal realm, though instead of roses, its sides were lined with a flowering vine. My eyes fixed on the identical filigree pattern at its top, and the acrid smell of smoke filled my nose.

Bash took hold of my hand, squeezing it, and I realized my nails had been digging into the rose scarred there. He brought it to his mouth before placing a chaste kiss on the raised ridges of its petals. I gave him a weak smile, swallowing against my dry mouth as I looked back at that too familiar mirror.

But I didn’t hear those screams as I walked toward it, chanting our destination in my head. Not with Bash’s hand still holding mine. My other hand clenched in a fist, that shadow-colored stone I now wore on my ring finger seeming to undulate as if with its own magic.

“Good luck,” Quinn called out.

Turning over my shoulder to where she stood by my brother, I raised my hand in a small wave goodbye. Then winked, adding wryly, “You say it like we’ll need it.”

Before I could think about it, Bash and I stepped through.