Page 64 of Heir of Broken Souls (HOBF #3)

Chapter 64

Delilah

L ike calls to like.

The words ring through my mind, sizzling up the palm holding my dragon sword.

“Oh my gods,” Harlow breathes.

Knox wraps his hand around the hilt sticking out of the slab and pulls. He grunts, his neck turning an awful shade of red, but it doesn’t budge.

“Like calls to like,” I murmur.

My eyes inspect the sword sticking out of the slab, searching for differences between it and the one in my hand, but I come up short.

“I thought the bladesmith said it was one of a kind.”

“He also said he created it,” Knox growls. “Clearly, lying is more his strong suit.”

“ One is bought the other found. Surprise golden one, it must be found.

With golden scales and a mighty roar, like calls to like, answer the call. ”

Behind me, Elysia’s eyes glaze over as she repeats the phrase over and over and over. Axel holds her steady as she sways.

“Like calls to like, answer the call,” I repeat.

Elysia stops, her body sagging into Axel. Her hand flies to her head in pain.

Frowning, I turn back to the marble slab, my gaze snagging on the nick in it beside the other sword. As everyone focuses on Elysia and her sudden words, I lunge, the blade moving, pulling me forward. In a swift movement, I plunge the sword right into the slice in the marble slab, beside its twin.

“Answer the call,” I murmur.

Stepping back, I ignore the protests at my back and instead slide my gaze to Knox, who grins down at me devilishly.

“Something to share, Angel?” he drawls.

I shrug, waiting for…something to happen.

Turns out, I don’t have to wait long.

A groan fills the room, shaking the foundation as debris and dust fall from the ceiling. Behind the slab and two identical dragon pommel swords, a mirror rises from the ground.

“Unbelievable,” Knox breathes.

Search for that which repeats all you do, its silence a message for you.

If I had to guess, the mirror is at least ten feet tall. Its edges are detailed with a beautiful golden design of endless vines and patterns.

There’s no doubt in my mind that this is the mirror we have come all this way for, that we’re all about to get answers to questions we didn’t even know we wanted. The prophecy has been right this far.

And to think, I wanted to turn around and return home.

“It’s beautiful,” Elysia breathes.

I nod in agreement. Our stunned and awed faces reflect back at us.

Looking at the dragon pommel sword still standing tall and proud, I recite a previous passage of the prophecy.

“ Keep a tether for you will drift, from this land to the next.

Walk inside and come alive, but don’t be frightened of what you’ll find.

For all was planned you must persist. ”

I turn to Knox. “Have any ideas?”

“It’s a portal,” he says shell-shocked.

My head snaps to the mirror. “How can you tell?”

“It’s the only thing that makes sense,” Harlow mutters, answering for Knox. She stalks around the mirror, inspecting it, then tentatively reaches out to poke it.

Knox’s gaze flicks back and forth between it and the swords. “Then the swords must be the tether. They might have to remain standing to keep the mirror up, to keep the portal open.”

“Have you ever used a portal before?” I ask. “Have you even seen one besides the portal Peter used earlier?”

He shakes his head. “No, but I’ve heard countless stories.” Swallowing thickly, he turns to his court. “Someone needs to stay back and guard the swords, to make sure they remain inside.”

Harlow snorts. “Just say it, it’s to make sure no one gets trapped in the mirror.”

Knox rolls his eyes. “Not the time, Harlow.”

“There’s always time for honesty.”

Lenox steps forward. “I’ll stay back.”

Something tells me he’s volunteering just to have a break from Harlow and her retorts. And the smile she sends his way tells me she thinks the same.

“Is it wise to go through the portal?” Axel asks. “For all we know we could be teleporting to whatever world Peter summons his demons from.” He throws his hands in the air. “Gods, we could quite literally jump through the portal only to land at his feet.”

“Exactly what I said,” I mutter under my breath, my gaze returning to the mirror.

“Then we will slay him,” Knox says as quiet as death itself.

My eyes slide to Knox. “Fair point,” I muse before turning to Axel. “You’re right, but we didn’t come all this way to turn back now.” I dip my head in the direction of the twin dragon swords. “According to the prophecy, everything that has occurred has led me to this moment. I was drawn to the sword for a reason, and I’d like to find out why.”

Axel grimaces as he relents, “How exactly does it work?”

“We’ll find out,” Knox murmurs, finally taking a step toward the mirror and the swords. “Everyone hold hands and don’t let go.”

“Ahh, what exactly should I do if you never come back?” Lenox asks, the anxiety in his voice evident.

Knox pauses.

The world is going to shit anyways.

My head snaps to his and by the slight widening of his eyes, I don’t think he meant to share that thought along our bond.

He clears his throat. “Find Naia. The pod will find a way to break through the spells cast in this place. She’ll be able to get us back.”

An emotion passes in Lenox’s eyes before he dips his head. “See you soon.”

The words sound foreboding, but we’re not sure of what else to say.

“See you soon,” I repeat.

The moment Knox lays his palm against the mirror, blue light shines, swirling around the golden edges. The beauty and magnificence of it all steal our breaths.

Knox smiles before stepping through the mirror, the surface having seemingly liquified. Before I can let fear take root, I step through with him, my hand in his and my other in Elysia’s as I pull the rest of his court behind me.

Lenox’s wide eyes and stunned features disappear as we emerge into another world entirely.