Chapter Forty-Nine Samira
FORTY-NINE SAMIRA
I stopped by Shifters’ Lodge to say goodbye to Milena.
Of course, she didn’t know I was saying goodbye, and I did my best to keep my face from showing any distress.
If the little girl noticed the stiffness to my smile, she didn’t let on as she rambled about her new friends, how much nicer her old bed had been than the one she slept on now, and offered to show me how to make my own Ketet doll.
I smiled the whole while, furiously battling the burning in my eyes.
I was going to leave her. I was going to die and leave this poor little girl behind. That fissure in my heart spread until it was a full chasm. But I couldn’t explain any of it to her. So I just gave her a hug and told her to be good before returning to the longhouse.
Rade was waiting for me beside his antler throne, dressed in a white tunic and trousers nearly identical to my dress.
Gold trimming along the neckline and hem, with little bells tinkling brightly from the belts around our waists.
Even the braids in our hair were the same, albeit mine were much shorter.
We looked exactly like the drawings in the book. A bride and groom.
My cheeks warmed instantly, embarrassment rising again. But Rade just gave me a kind smile, the same he’d always given me, and held out his hand. Tentatively, I took it.
He squeezed it and whispered, “Ready?”
The band around my chest loosened marginally. He wasn’t upset. I hadn’t ruined this friendship. Yet.
I might not have a romantic kiss to ferry me to my death, but at least I’d have relief.
The priestess stood in front of twin spreads of blankets on the floor, with pillows laid head-to-head. Beyond her, the longhouse was filled.
All of the Seven—minus Keir—stood against the wall, eagle-eyed. The rest of Frostguard occupied the seats at the two long wooden tables or sat on the straw-littered floor.
The priestess faced the congregation, dreadlocks pulled into a knot at the nape of her neck. “One ceremony to awaken, one to acquaint, and one to bind. Today, we bear witness to the Merging of King Rade of Frostguard and Queen Amunet Khada of Ashorah.”
The crowd’s applause echoed the thundering in my chest.
The priestess went on. “In this ceremony, you will purify your magic by venturing into the Mirror Realm and ridding it of your mirror self—your qareen.”
My head jerked up.
Qareens, our mirror doubles, which made the opposite decisions of those we made in this realm. Evil creatures who were always looking for a way to switch places with their hosts.
Why had Rade painted this ceremony as the easiest? Defeating my qareen sounded terrifying. If I failed, it would mean my qareen was free in this realm to wreak all sorts of havoc and evil while wearing my face.
“It’s all right,” Rade murmured beside me. “I’ll cast a spell to find our qareens. Once we enter the Mirror Realm, they will be shackled and waiting for us.”
I nodded. That was something at least.
Rade closed his eyes, and the runes along his temple lit up. He stayed like that for several minutes, lips twitching as he mumbled words to Eira. Eventually, his eyes opened and his runes quieted. He gave the priestess a nod. The qareens were handled.
The priestess handed Rade a cup, which he drank from before passing it to me. I took a gulp, cringing at the sour taste. The priestess took it back from me and said, “Please, lie down.”
Rade reclined on one of the blankets while I took the other. The top of his head grazed mine, and it was a small comfort.
The priestess’s runes glowed as she lifted her arms, palms hovering over us.
“Time works differently in the Mirror Realm,” she warned us.
“Days there are mere hours here. When you awake, it will be as if no time has gone by, but your magic will be at its purest form. Then I will be able to bind you together.”
Just a few seconds. That was all. And Rade would be with me.
I sent one final prayer of strength up to the gods, hoping they would listen just one more time, as darkness claimed me.