Page 7

I should have been ashamed.

But I wasn’t.

Panting and throwing my head back, I barely suppressed my groan of pleasure as I jerked off in the shadow fae’s shower. Heavy streams of cum were instantly washed away by the running hot water, finally giving me the release I needed in order to function.

The downside of being a shifter.

The more powerful you were, the more basic your animal instincts drove you. Finding your mate and the intense need to claim them is almost impossible to fully ignore, and unfortunately, I had to do just that.

Remnant wasn’t ready for two life changing events in one day. Her anger towards me was a testament to that. She was one step away from losing control.

“You were the same once.” The beast growled. “She needs a purpose for her anger, a target to unleash it on. Fortunately for me, it has become you. I am thoroughly amused.”

I dropped my head to the shower wall, enjoying the warmth of the water raining down on me, and huffed out a long sigh. “I hate you, you know.”

"Your mind has been racing since we got here. Seeking out an answer to get her to leave this place. I just gave you your answer, daft fairy boy. You should be thanking me.”

I lifted my head from the water pouring over me and scrubbed it from my beard. “You’re suggesting I become her next purpose…her next target?”

“ You seem to enjoy playing the sacrificial bait. Why change now? ” He drawled, his voice slinking further and further away from my consciousness.

“Well shit.” I growled low and waved the shower off, shaking the water violently from my hair and rubbed myself down with a towel until my skin was red. Snarling, I threw it in the corner of the shower and stepped in front of the sink where an ornate gold mirror hung on the wall.

My brows lowered in my reflection. This mirror didn’t belong here, not in this cabin.

It was way too fine of a piece for such a simple rustic place. This cabin was designed to provide shelter and safety, it thrummed with power to provide all the basics a fae would need…especially for a lonely shadow fae on the run.

A basic shower that turned water on and off when needed, a toilet that magically disappeared when not in use, and a sink bowl below the mirror. But the mirror itself—it was brought here and judging by the power behind the craftsmanship, I knew it had come from the palace of Faerie’s capital.

My frown deepened when I studied myself further in the incongruous mirror. My beard was much more grown out than usual and even the sides of my head needed a fresh shave. Scowling, I braided back my hair and tied it off. I was a goddess damn mess.

My muscles rippled while I examined every inch of my smooth tan skin.

The stab wounds were gone but I could still feel the slide of the knife puncturing my flesh like I was made of butter.

That fuckers death was far too short for all the trouble he had caused me.

I certainly underestimated his level of insanity .

My reflection shimmered suddenly and I blinked hard, studying the smooth surface of the mirror. “Cat. Did you just see that?” I growled low.

“The mirror is enchanted.” He yawned.

“Enchanted to do what?”

Before he could answer the mirror flared and I felt my entire conscious self plunging into its cold glassy reflection.

The mirror’s power penetrated my mind, making me shiver with disgust as snapshots of time whirled by me.

Glimpses of fae I had never seen before swirled in and out of my vision before it stopped.

Remnant knelt with bright red slashes across her face and her emerald eyes shimmered with tears.

They fell heavily, mingling with the blood that had dripped over her pale skin.

Skin that had been seared off on one side.

Her armor clinked when a violent shudder ran through her body before her head threw back into a piercing scream.

My chest tightened at the unfiltered anguish that rattled against the walls. Her hands threaded into her blue black hair, forcefully gripping it, and fueling the sound of heartbreak.

I gasped and fell heavily to my knees when I felt the shatter of her soul. Pure power exploded out from her, and at the same time cold numbness iced her heart…my heart.

I crawled towards her, gritting my teeth against her crushing grief while the vengeful shadows enveloped us both into infinite darkness.

“Fuck!” I roared, wrenching myself away from the mirror, falling hard on my ass.

“Foolish, imbecilic fairy! It’s a soul mirror—why do you never heed me! I said it was enchanted!” The cat snarled at me.

I rubbed at the tightness in my chest, steadying my erratic breathing.

Pushing up from the floor, I snarled. “Saying something is enchanted is totally different than telling me it's a fucking soul mirror.” I growled back, wiping the tears from my face angrily with the back of my arm—Remnant’s tears.

“A soul mirror will force you to witness any fae’s memory that has scarred their soul but also to feel every single emotion they had while their soul broke.” My beast explained, seeing me stare at the dampness on my arm.

Intense sorrow filled me. “Morta. That was Morta.” I murmured. “We just witnessed Remnant destroying the City of Light.” My fangs lengthened while my lips peeled back. “Why?” I snarled. “Why the fuck would she keep something like this? ”

“ Penance.” The cat responded with a solemn heaviness I had never heard from him before. As if he understood everything she had gone through.

“A penance she never needed to serve anyway.” I glared past my reflection, seeing fully the depravity of the soul mirror.

Fuck that. This ended now.

My fist slammed hard into the mirror’s shimmering depths. It rippled in defense but in the end could not defend itself against brute shifter strength. The mirror gave, shattering into silver dust. Its foul remains fell, gathered by the sink below.

No more penance.

No more hiding.

No more being lost.

It was time for Remnant Ezra Solaire Dark to live again.

It was time to unleash her.

It was time…for me to be bait.

My cat snickered.