Page 10

Chapter

Eight

“ I s he okay?” I ask as Charming makes a random clucking noise and jerks his head forward.

Gwyneth frowns. “He hasn’t said much, but I’m guessing there are some lingering issues.”

Charming squats and peers over his shoulder, frowning at the floor.

“What gave it away?” Theo says with a snort.

“Is he seriously looking for an egg?” Malachi mutters as he tilts his head.

Eugene and Hamish fuss around Charming’s butt. Do they see it as a travesty that he’s not laying an egg?

Charming blinks and straightens before focusing on Gwyneth and taking a seat next to her on the sofa. He’s been alternating between being his normal irritating self and embracing the capon still lingering inside of him. I’m not entirely sure which version I prefer.

“Any luck finding the rabbit?” Hart asks as his fingers toy with the hair at my nape. I look up at him from the armchair I’m curled up on. He smiles down at me, a soft expression reserved for me. It makes me feel all fuzzy inside, much like orgasms.

“None,” Nash says as he swipes a few slices of the rapidly disappearing sausage from the platter. I should make it a rule that they only get my sausage if I get theirs. Nash’s face transforms into a wicked grin. “Deal.”

Whoops.

Theo offers me a small plate piled high with fresh, yummy food. I smile as I take it from him. “I think you are my favorite,” I declare.

“Hey,” Hart grumbles. “That’s hardly fair. I was busy giving you or?—”

Gwyneth slams her hands over her ears. “La la la la.”

Eron appears in the mirror and scans the room before his gaze lands on me. “She escaped,” he declares.

“I preferred it when he was getting your name wrong and making useless yet accurate statements about your fairness,” Hart says.

“Malice?” I check.

Eron nods. “So watch your mirrors.”

“She’s still in your world?” Nash asks.

Eron nods. “For now. Be careful.” His image fades from view.

“So long as she stays out of our realm, we should be okay,” Theo says as I munch on my superior plate of food.

“Perhaps the rabbit is waiting for Daphne and Gwyneth,” Nash says. “I think we should gather our reserves and attempt to find it.”

“Failing that, we should consult the living library,” Gwyneth adds.

Wow, that’s smart.

The genie poofs into the room, and gold glitter explodes, covering us. I hunch over my plate, protecting the food.

Hart growls low, his chest rumbling in warning. “Why did you do that?”

Genie folds his arms and glares. “It has been brought to my attention that newer and shinier sidekicks are inserting themselves into the ever-evolving landscape of Daphne’s narrative. I need to demonstrate my usefulness and loyalty to the group. I will not be replaced.”

“No one is being replaced,” I tell him.

Genie deflates. “Are you sure? Because the fortune teller was quite clear that my life is intrinsically tied to yours. If you forget me and leave me to rot in unfulfilled wishes, I won’t survive it.”

“You went to see a fortune teller?” I ask.

“That’s not important,” Genie huffs.

My genie feels threatened. The only way to soothe him is through reassurance. He is here to stay. “Malice has escaped,” I explain. “And we can’t find the White Rabbit, but once we pack some supplies, we are going as a group to find him. I would be honored if you would join us.”

Genie blinks at me before swiping a thumb under his eye. “Absolutely. What do you need from me?”

“Stay with us, but keep your eyes on any mirrored surfaces. If you spot anything out of the ordinary, holler.” He salutes me like I’m his general.

“I’ll get us some extra clothing,” Gwyneth grumbles before urging a mute Charming up with her. “I’ll take him with me to see if I can shake loose the few brain cells he’s holding hostage.”

“I need a shower so I don’t dirty those fresh clothes,” I decide before popping the last cube of cheese in my mouth and hopping to my feet.

Four sets of knights’ eyes snap to me, their muscles tensing as they wait for my usual chaos.

We wait for a tempo, but nothing happens.

I give them a thumbs up and place the plate on the table before striding to Theo’s door.

“Why my room?” he asks.

“You gave it up for Gwyneth, so now it’s the maidens’ room.”

I give them a finger wave as I close the door on their intoxicating masculinity. I’m drowning in hormones.

Dropping my clothes on the floor, I step inside the bathing chamber. Much like the other knights’ chambers, it’s opulent and welcoming, with dark granite tiles and gold fixtures. A tower of clean, fluffy towels sits on the side of the sink.

I twist the dial and marvel at the steady stream of heated water that pours from the overhead spout. A sigh leaves my lips as I stand under it and let it wash all the tension from my aching muscles down the grid beneath my feet.

A tempo passes before I realize I have to start moving or risk being hauled out of here by a knight or two. On second thought, perhaps I should stay.

Laughter drifts on an icy breeze across my skin. My brows lower and I swipe at the glass enclosure, but I’m alone. I shake my head. I think I need sleep before we start traipsing after mysterious bunnies. Everyone knows hallucinations are a symptom of exhaustion.

The peals of laughter get louder, bouncing off the tiled walls before attacking my skin in a flare of goosebumps. “Hello?” I call out.

“Daphne...”

Oh great, the crazy, discombobulated voice knows my name.

“Come closer,” she taunts. Awareness floods my veins. Crazy, yes, but not unknown.

Staying inside the shower, I glower at the mirror above the sink. “Not a chance, Malice. Go torment some other maiden.”

Her face forms in the mirror, and she pushes forward, stretching the surface out into our realm, while still caged inside Eron’s. Which makes me curious. Didn’t Eron say only mirror people had this ability?

“How are you communicating through the mirror?” I wonder.

Her lips twitch, and she sucks a finger into her mouth. “There’s an interesting little fact about Eron I recently discovered. His blood is enough to form a connection. Potent stuff.”

That spells disaster. Now Malice has a taste for it, she won’t stop.

“How did Hart taste after I’d had him?” she taunts.

The same rage flickers to life in my chest, but I combat it with images of Hart worshipping and owning my body.

“He tastes like mine,” I counter. “Always will.”

She scowls at me and sweeps her gaze down my body. “What do you have that I do not?”

“Sanity.”

She grins, slow and wicked. I don’t like it. “Sanity is useless if you are dead.”

Straight for the throat. Why isn’t she like the typical villain, beating around the bush while the chances of them being bested or disrupted increase by the tempo?

“What are you going to do? Bore me to death with veiled threats and nasty remarks? You are trapped inside of the mirror, and that is where you will stay. In fact...” I open my mouth wide and shout, “Eron!”

Malice snarls her displeasure. The door to the bathing chamber flies open and bangs against the tiles.

A furious-looking Theo stomps into the room as Malice purses her lips and blows.

My eyes widen as the glass shatters in a wild blast. Theo roars and throws himself over my body.

He cradles my head as he shields me from Malice.

Her laughter echoes before her icy presence dissipates.

Pain slices in my chest, stomach, and legs, and a scream of agony tears free from my throat.

Theo takes a step back and glances down. A flurry of curses leaves his lips as the rest of the knights storm into the bathing chamber. Malachi’s horrified stare should clue me in that I am in an even worse state than I believe.

“Daphne?” Hart whispers.

I glance down, bracing myself, but no amount of warning could prepare me for the multiple jagged pieces of glass protruding from my body. My head swims. “That looks bad,” I mumble.

“They’re flesh wounds,” Theo says, but he’s not fooling anyone.

“Get her on the bed so I can examine her,” Nash coaxes.

Theo bends and gently picks me up in his arms. I lock my jaw and grind my teeth to keep from crying out. He lays me on the bed as the four knights surround me.

“I pictured this very differently,” I say. My voice sounds stronger than my body. Go me.

Here lies Daphne Stone, poked to death by four shards, just not the fun kind.

“Stop it. You aren’t dying this diurnal,” Hart growls.

I blink. “Who said anything about dying? I meant being naked with the four of you. Am I dying? I can’t. I’m still a knight virgin.”

“You are not dying,” Nash snaps with a warning look at Hart.

“Should I get a healer?” Malachi asks.

“You do appear a little pale,” I say, peering up at him.

“The healer’s for you,” Theo says softly.

“So I am dying?”

Nash presses his lips together as Theo paces at the foot of the bed. He swipes his hands through his hair, making it messier and sexier.

“Daphne,” Nash says, drawing my eyes back to him. “I’m going to try removing a shard from your leg, okay? There are no major arteries around there.”

No arteries are a good thing, right? “Okay.”

“It might hurt.”

“Okay,” I repeat with a nod as Malachi sits on the bed beside me and grabs my hand, squeezing it. Hart does the same on the other side.

Nash grimaces as he grabs one of the glistening pieces of broken glass and pulls it free. My back bows, and I cry out.

He drops it onto a towel and scowls at the wound. “It came out easily enough, but I don’t like the way it’s bleeding. How did this happen?”

“Malice,” I snap, the pain making me grouchy. “She did something, and the glass shattered and flew at me.”

“I was too late,” Theo roars. The vibration from his volume makes me wince.

“Calm down, Theo,” Hart implores. “You’re hurting her.”

Theo freezes and looks at me with wide eyes. “I’m sorry,” he chokes out.

“Retrieve the best healer the Hallows has,” Nash says, ushering him out. “Explain the situation. I don’t want to move her and risk making it worse.”

“Yes, I’m firmly against making it worse,” I add.

Theo grumbles something to Nash and disappears out the door.

My heavy eyes slide closed. I’ll rest for a moment... The darkness beckons me with open arms, and I wrap myself inside of it.

“She’s fading,” someone unfamiliar declares. “I’ve removed the glass and administered the healing potions, but her injuries are too much for a maiden. There’s magic at work here I don’t understand.”

“No, I don’t accept it.”

Gwyneth, my sister, is here. I smile in the darkness. She’s always here for me.

“I’m sorry, there’s nothing more I can do. She will either succumb to her wounds or fight for her life. Only she can decide.”

There’s a shuffle and a shout of fear. A roar makes me wince before the door bangs. Gwyneth’s hand wraps mine up tight. Idols, she’s warm.

“She’s freezing,” Gwyneth says. “Daphne, if you can hear me, fight. Don’t let Malice win.”

I try to drag my eyes open, but the darkness holds me hostage.

“The crystal healing pools,” Theo snarls. “I can be there in half a turn.”

“Flying puts her at risk,” Nash reasons.

“Doing nothing puts her at risk,” Theo snaps.

“We could ride,” Malachi offers.

“That will take all night,” Nash says. “Theo taking her is our best bet.”

“It’s decided,” Theo growls. “Wrap her up warm and bring her outside. I’ll be waiting.”

A door slams, and someone jostles my body, threatening to split the weak healing holding my body together.

I sigh as I lose consciousness again.

Crisp icy air whips my hair in my face, but I’m wrapped and cradled inside many blankets.

The whoosh of wings rings in my ears. I’m flying.

Perhaps I am a caterpillar, turned butterfly, trying to break free.

Maybe I should sleep until I emerge? Yes, the darkness whispers.

Give in, rest. You are welcome here. My head lolls, and a smile graces my lips as I succumb once more.

Perhaps the next time I wake, I will be back in the arms of my knights.