Quinn
Ididn’t stop running until I reached the mirror.
Its oval frame was surrounded by eight twisted points, the adornment vaguely reminding me of the star amulet my sister always wore.
The top and bottom points stretched from floor to ceiling, gleaming in the light of the sconces surrounding it.
It had been angled slightly upward—its surface reflecting the distorted ceiling above it in whorls of white stone.
The ripples had moved to its outer edges, already fading. We didn’t have time to delay in case they closed the gate behind them.
If we went through, it would mean a fight, whether or not Silvius was waiting on the other side. But if we didn’t go through and lost him again…
Fear twisted low in my spine. My grip tightened on my dagger.
“We need to follow them,” I said with more conviction than I felt. “We at least need to see where this goes.”
The center of the mirror rippled as if sensing the intent behind my words.
Tobias stepped closer—not in front of me this time, but to my side. I could tell by the set of his jaw how little he wanted to put me in danger. But here he was, letting me decide.
Light crackled around his pupils. “If Silvius is there, then we—”
“We’re not attempting to murder him,” I cut in quickly.
He looked almost incredulous. “You have so little faith in me. After what he’s done? It wouldn’t be an attempt.”
It was an effort not to roll my eyes. “What I meant is we need him alive.”
Tobias stared at the dying ripples in the mirror. He shook his head with a sigh.
“No one knows where we are, and there’s no guarantee there are only the two we followed on the other side.
” He lowered his dagger but didn’t sheathe it.
“I don’t like it either, and I don’t trust Silvius not to have a contingency for intruders…
The two of us walking in there might be exactly what he wants. ”
“I know,” I said, gritting my teeth.
Of course I knew that. But the thought of being so close to finding him and just walking away…
All I needed was a few seconds—long enough for my magic to immobilize him, slither into his blood, and force him to be as malleable as he wanted us to be. With Tobias at my side to help take down the others, it felt worth the risk to try.
“We could wait for them to come out…” Tobias started walking along the walls, running a hand against them like we had for the glamour in the alleyway.
“Though our best bet is to figure out how Silvius is getting from here to the upper levels of the Enclave. Then we can lead the others back here without wasting time walking through the tunnels.”
He was right. Even if I had a way to send a message, I had no idea how I would direct anyone here, let alone manage to draw a map of the tunnel system from memory.
“Silvius could be right there.” The words came out sharper than I intended, frustration lacing every syllable. “Along with the knowledge to save your sister and everyone else he infected.”
The muscles in Tobias’s jaw went taut as he continued surveying the wall.
“I’m not happy about waiting either, Sagray.
But I’m not going to take risks when it comes to you.
We don’t know where that mirror leads or what could be lying in wait for us there.
It’s not closing, not yet, so we have time to think this through. ”
I blew out a frustrated breath, turning away from the mirror to face him. “You’re right. We should hurry before our friends worry.” They no doubt already were. “We should’ve checked in by now—”
An arm wrapped around my throat, cutting off my scream. My hands reached up instinctively, clawing at the arm as I struggled against its hold.
“Quinn,” Tobias roared.
The last thing I saw was Tobias’s wild eyes as they met mine before I was dragged through the mirror.