Page 27 of The Eternal Mirror (Lucifer’s Mirror #3)

Pain is Temporary. Rage is Forever.

T he mirror spits me out in the burned-out stables outside the palace walls. Khaosti is right behind me. Without a word, I lead the way out, and for a moment, I just stand there, staring up at the jagged silhouette of the palace in the bright morning sunlight.

I used to think this place was beautiful—in a monstrous sort of way. But now the towers look like claws scraping the sky, and the stone hums with dark magic.

Khaosti steps up beside me, silent—close enough that the heat of him brushes my skin. The bond pulses around my heart: steady and warm—and infuriatingly comforting.

I can’t afford to feel comfortable right now.

“It’s got to look as though I’m going in alone,” I say .

He tenses, but he doesn’t argue. Not yet.

“So I’m putting an invisibility spell on you,” I continue, keeping my voice level.

I’d considered layering on the spell to stop the beastmaster thing, but I’m not sure I have the strength or the concentration to maintain both at once.

So invisibility takes priority. “That means no one will see you. No one will sense you—at least I hope. But you have to promise me something.”

He turns to face me fully. “Amber—”

I hold up a hand. “This is not negotiable. When we’re in there, you don’t do anything to make yourself known unless I am literally about to die. And I mean bleeding-out, last-breath, end-of-the-fucking-line dying.”

His mouth tightens. “That’s not a promise I can make.”

“You have to.” I put my hand on his arm, feeling tingles run through me. “We both know that this is not going to be a painless process. But I’m tough. I can take a lot.”

“I can’t stand to see you hurt.”

“Well, learn,” I snap. “Look, I’m not keen on the idea myself. And I’ll avoid it if I can. But as I said—I think your father is going to be a little unhappy with me, and he’s not known for his self-restraint.”

Note to self: Just stay away from the roof.

He takes a breath, letting it out slowly. “Just tell me why. Tell me you have a plan.”

I sort of have a plan. But maybe I should be a bit more positive.

“I do. But if you do something reckless, and he finds you—if he even senses you—then I lose everything. I lose you; I lose the plan; I lose the people I came back to save.” I pause, swallowing the ache rising in my throat.

“So you stay alive, and you stay hidden. Until I say otherwise.”

A long silence. I suspect Khaosti is not used to taking orders. Finally, he nods. He’s not happy, but thankfully he agrees.

“Fine,” he says. “But if you fall, I burn this place to the ground.”

I look at him—really look at him—and my heart squeezes painfully. “Deal,” I whisper.

I press my hand to his chest, right over where the bond thrums, and speak the spell. He vanishes from my sight, but I can still sense him—sense his presence, sense the bond.

And it’s still comforting.

“Okay,” I mutter to myself. “Let’s go into the lion’s den. Or rather, the beastmaster’s den.”

Taking a deep breath, I make my way around the palace walls to the gates. They’re wide open, and there are guards. I come to a stop in front of them and waggle my fingers.

“Hi,” I say. “Can I come in?”

Shock flashes across their faces. I’m not sure if it’s good shock or bad shock, but it doesn’t matter. A moment later, my hands are tied behind my back, and I’m being roughly propelled across the courtyard toward the palace doors.

It’s clear I’m no longer being treated as a guest.

I keep my mind blank. Time to think later. I just have to get through this.

They haul me back to the same room I was brought to when I first arrived at the palace—the big one with the throne. It’s intimidating—I suspect that’s the plan. The doors are opened, and I’m shoved roughly inside. Too roughly—I fall to my knees, crashing to the marble floor.

Ouch.

For a second, I just stay there, putting off the moment I know is coming. Anyway, it’s hard to get up with your hands tied behind your back. Finally—well, it’s got to be done—I somehow manage to scramble to my feet and face the man standing in front of the throne.

I can almost feel the rage emanating from his tall figure. His nostrils flare as he looks at me. Then he walks slowly forward.

I swallow.

He steps around me and comes to a halt in front of me. He flicks a glance at the guard still standing at my side and gives a nod.

I don’t see it coming—the fist into my belly—but I certainly feel it.

Fuck.

I’m on the floor again, pain radiating out from my middle. I curl into a ball—and then someone kicks me in the back.

A roar, not from the guards but from inside my head, crashes through me like a tidal wave—Khaosti.

His fury leaks through the cracks in my shield before I shut him out completely.

But at least the invisibility spell is holding.

It’s easier with Khaosti than it was with Zayne and Josh.

Maybe because he really is a part of me.

I close off my mind and really, really hope he keeps his word and doesn’t intervene. I can do this. I can take this. I just say it to myself over and over like a mantra as the blows rain down on me .

I’m close to unconscious when they finally stop. My body a mass of pain. But I’m alive, and I don’t think anything is broken beyond repair. Hopefully, despite his rage, Khronus still sees me as more use alive than dead.

I really didn’t think Khronus would kill me. That was not part of my plan. And it will really put a spoke in it if it turns out I was wrong.

Then again...I’m not dead yet.

As I lie there, waiting for what comes next, I can sense Khaosti standing at the edge of the room, silently screaming his rage and frustration. But he remains silent.

Time to start the plan. I peer up through my hair and let out a pathetic whimper, which honestly is not at all hard.

Then I uncurl my body slowly, every aching muscle tense, just in case Khronus decides he’s not finished.

He’s standing over me, golden eyes dark and narrowed. “Please, no more,” I say.

“Get her up,” Khronus growls to the guard.

I’m hauled to my feet, and a little scream escapes me as pain slices through my body. I breathe through the agony.

“Why did you come back?” Khronus asks.

Good question. And one I actually have an answer to. “I have nowhere else to go. And I need your help.”

“The basilisk?”

“I sent him and Josh to Valandria. Thanouq will keep them safe.”

His gaze sharpens. “You opened a mirror to Valandria?”

“Yeah, I did. ”

“Without traveling through the Chamber?”

I know that’s something only a powerful witch can do. And while it’s giving away a lot about me, it may also be the one thing that might keep me alive. “Of course.”

“Interesting. You are your mother’s daughter. Ravenna had such beautiful power.” He studies me some more. The almost insane rage has faded from his eyes. They’re now filled with speculation and something else. Admiration or more? Ugh . “But you didn’t go yourself?” he asks. “Why?”

Another good question, and here’s where I lure him in. I lick my lips. “Because I heard that Khaosti was on Astrali. That he was with the rebels in the north. So I went to find him...”

“And did you find my son?”

I’ve never been that good an actor, and I’ve always been terrible at lying. But at this moment, I need to be convincing. I think about losing Khaosti, how I would feel if what I was saying was really true, and a wail erupts from my throat as I fall to my knees. “He’s dead. Khaosti is dead.”

I stare at Khronus through the tears. “They killed him. Because of who he is. Because he’s your son.”

“I don’t believe you. If I know one thing about my son, it’s that no rebel would take him. His wolf is a match for a hundred stinking rebels.”

“You don’t know,” I say. “You don’t know about Fury.”

“Know what?”

“My father killed him. He tried to take him from Khaos, and Fury died rather than let go. Khaos has no beast now. Apparently, he fought and killed ten of them, but they took him down in the end. He’s dead.”

A shadow crosses his face—almost too fast to catch. Guilt? Regret? He must have some feelings for his son. Then it’s gone, replaced by cold calculation. “But why come back here? You must know I would be...displeased.”

I force myself to my feet and straighten my shoulders. “I came back because I want revenge. I want the people who killed Khaos dead. I want to see them burn.” I stare straight into his face. “And you’re the only person I know who can help me do that.”

I have no clue whether he believes me. He walks away from me, clearly thinking about it. Then he turns back.

“Take her to the dungeons,” he says.

Not the best outcome, but not a total failure either. I’m still alive. Yay.

They drag me out of the room. I don't resist. I can’t.

Every breath hurts, but I am still breathing.

As they haul me toward the dungeons, I glance once—just once—at the edge of the hall. I can’t see him, but I feel him. Still there. Still silent. Khaosti kept his promise, but I can sense how much it cost him.

And somehow, that hurts worse than the bruises.

I let my head drop forward and go limp in their grip. Not broken. Not yet.

But I let Khronus think I am.

Let him think I’m weak. Let him think he’s won. That’s how this reckoning begins.