Page 4

Chapter

Three

NASH

D aphne is chaos personified; an intoxicating contradictory mix of clumsy, caring, and crazy that speaks to each of our souls.

I never considered that one woman could be a match for each of us with such ease.

We fought over the smallest things growing up—what food the cooks prepared, who got to ride the biggest horse, which one of us would take up the mantle of king.

Now we have fallen for the same female, and instead of fighting, she’s brought unity to our group, and with unity comes power.

It’s as if our wandering souls have become tethered, grounding us in a future with this one person.

I warned her we don’t share, and like the wondrous woman she is, she broke through the barrier with her love and acceptance.

Even Hart, the gruff, grumpy holdout who was determined to push her away, has fallen head over heels for Daphne.

We know her inside and out, which is why I’m sure the woman before me is not the maiden that blasted into our lives and wove a spell over our souls. This imposter is something entirely different, and for some unfathomable reason, she is wearing Daphne’s face.

I glance at the mirror with a frown. My gut tells me our Daphne is stuck inside the Land of Reflection, and this thing that crawled out of there means us harm.

How she is holding the sword is beyond me.

Perhaps the magic that binds Excalibur is keyed to her flesh, not her soul, and when this thing took her body, it claimed the Lady of the Lake status.

I tilt my head as the fake Daphne grins and spins in a circle in the center of our chambers, something she has been doing a lot. Theo’s gaze catches mine, and his brows lower. I hope he sees the same thing as me. Our clumsy maiden has suddenly conquered her worst enemy—gravity.

Malachi grins at her, his eyes full of puppy love and wonder. He’s the baby of the group, and I’ve fought hard to ensure he clings to his light. One of us has to remain untainted by the darkness our pretend father inflicted on us.

Daphne’s magical broom, Sir Sweeps-A-Lot, hides under the table with the capons. Again, a sign we can’t ignore, given these magical objects enjoy the real Daphne’s chaos. Whatever this imposter is, they fear her. Some primal instinct inside them understands she is not their beloved master.

Gwyneth scowls at a book in her lap as Hart bursts through the door like a thundercloud. “I can’t find that damn rabbit,” he growls as he points at the fake Daphne. “Since he saw her, he’s been hiding, like he’s changed his mind about us following him.”

More like he recognized whoever this is and knows they are unworthy.

Hart flops into the chair just as a knock echoes on the door.

Theo jumps to his feet while fake Daphne scowls at the door, pointing the sword at the poor soul who drew the short straw to deliver our food.

“That will be the snacks,” Theo declares as he swings open the door and snatches two enormous platters from the trembling boy before slamming the door in his face.

“Perhaps we should split up to find this rabbit,” fake Daphne declares.

Theo slides the two platters onto the table between the sofas and chairs. Fake Daphne ignores the plates filled with her favorite foods and points at Malachi. “You and I should search the West Wing. The rest of you can pair up and split off.”

It’s not a surprise she’s trying to segregate us and pair up with who she considers the most gullible, but Malachi is no pushover, and he’s the most emotionally aware of us all.

He might not see through the physicality, but he will realize soon enough that this creature is not the one that holds his heart.

“Do you want to eat first?” he asks.

Fake Daphne waves him off. “Food later, rabbit now.”

Every single pair of eyes swings to her and blinks.

Gwyneth tilts her head. “Hey, sis,” Gwyneth starts. “Do you remember the time you bested me at the math test? Our third year, I believe.”

Fake Daphne nods along. “I remember, but I’m not sure what it has to do with the rabbit.”

Gwyneth’s eyes narrow as she catches her in a lie. “Everything. We should be able to map out his movements and how far he’s got within this timeframe so that we have a search area.”

“Right, sounds good,” fake Daphne agrees.

“How about some food first?” Hart asks, repeating Malachi’s question with a challenge in his gaze. Was it their kiss that gave her away? He’s obviously testing her with a foolproof method—sausages.

Fake Daphne nods in agreement. She must sense this is something she should do, but the first thing she chooses ruins her deception.

Everyone watches as she picks up a piece of banana, ignoring the cheese cubes and sliced sausages.

Then she hammers the nail in her proverbial coffin by following it with a carrot stick.

All eyes swing to me for an explanation. I don’t have one, but I’m glad they now realize we have a potentially dangerous situation.

“Daphne, Malachi, start your search of the West Wing. Report back here within a turn. If you locate the rabbit, Mal should stay with it while Daphne comes back here to get us.”

“Good plan,” fake Daphne agrees before striding toward the door.

“Um, Daphne,” Gwyneth says. “Shouldn’t you leave the sword here?”

Fake Daphne swings Excalibur in a graceful arc, proving once again she is not our maiden. “It’s best if it comes with me.”

“I agree with Gwyneth,” I interject while pointing at the dining table. “Leave it there. No one will touch it.”

Fake Daphne huffs as she slides it onto the wooden surface and, with a glower at the rest of us, sweeps out of the room with Malachi hot on her heels. He winks at us before closing the door.

We wait for a tempo, then two. A collective sigh sounds in the room as we gather around the table and the evidence of fake Daphne with the untouched sausage.

“That’s not Calamity,” Hart declares.

Theo raises a brow. “How do you know?”

“She kissed me.”

“She’s done far more than kiss you,” Theo counters.

“I do not need to hear this,” Gwyneth mutters.

Hart shakes his head. “It’s not what she’s done or not done with me that gives her away. It’s in the act itself.”

“Explain,” I demand. I am one hundred percent certain he’s correct, but I like to gather evidence, and it’s better if it comes from different sources, independent of each other’s influence.

“That kiss was icy and laced with intent. Daphne’s kisses are hot and needy, and oh so fucking delicious.”

“Let’s not forget the fact she pranced around the room with a sharp object without killing or maiming anyone,” Theo says.

“Also, she’s never bested me in any academic tests,” Gwyneth adds.

“We figured as much,” Theo answers.

The genie poofs into the middle of the room and glances around.

“She’s not here,” I tell him.

“I was double-checking before I tell you all something terrifying,” he whispers.

“Go ahead,” Gwyneth says.

He folds his muscular arms over his chest. “That imposter is not Daphne.”

I hate to burst his bubble when he’s clearly excited to be the first to tell us.

“What gave it away?” Theo asks.

The genie deflates as he realizes we are neither shocked nor surprised.

“Well, for one, she can’t command my wishes.

I have no pull to that being. In fact, my mistress is still in there.

” He points at the mirror Daphne went through.

It’s remained inert so far, but I’m hoping the mirror man will return soon to explain what is happening.

“I have a thought,” Gwyneth says as she grabs the book detailing the Lady of the Lake’s legend and how it ties into us

“Are you going to share with the group?” Hart snaps. Good thing his harsh demeanor doesn’t scare or offend her. The only girl I’ve seen him soften for is Daphne.

Gwyneth flicks through the pages, the scowl on her face deepening. Theo’s eyes meet mine and I shake my head. She’s on a roll, and it’s best to let her get on with it.

“Here,” she declares as she swivels the book toward me. “I don’t think whatever is pretending to be Daphne is aware of the consequences of the legend. Perhaps we fool her into giving one of you guys the sword. Then she dies, and it solves all our problems in a neat bow.”

“And your sister?” I ask. “If her body is deceased, will she be forever trapped inside the Land of Reflection? She was breathing when she left her physical self here.” I know, because I checked.

Gwyneth pinches the bridge of her nose. “What if we bring her back after she dies?”

Hamish and Eugene dart out from beneath the table, scaring the broom into action. They cluck their disagreement and dart up onto the sofa, flapping their useless yet pretty feathered wings while snuggling beside Hart.

“How would we bring her back?” Theo asks.

“No, we aren’t discussing this,” Hart snaps. “Any plan that involves Daphne dying is not a plan I will ever get behind or allow to happen.”

“I agree. It’s not a viable option.”

Gwyneth sighs. “You’re right. But we need a plan, because sitting around watching whatever that thing is makes me want to consider violence.”

We all turn toward the cracked mirror, and I speak the words we are all thinking, but never thought we’d voice. “We need the mirror man.”