Page 37 of The Eternal Mirror (Lucifer’s Mirror #3)

Fifteen Minutes from Home

I hustle them through the mirror. Khaos is the last one to go, and for a moment, I think he’s going to insist I go through first. Doesn’t he trust me?

I love you.

His words echo in my mind. I almost said them back, but guilt locked them in my throat.

I’m not going to lie. It did occur to me to get them all through, shut the mirror, and stay behind.

I need to find where Khronus has taken the splinter, and I need to have a go at killing him.

But if I stay now, I’ll probably find myself in a magically warded cell with no chance of getting out.

I think I still have value, and he’d likely keep me alive, but maybe I would soon wish I was dead.

I suspect he’s the vindictive type .

So I’m leaving.

I can feel the magic of Khronus’s tame witches hammering at my protection spells. “I’ll be right behind you,” I say.

He searches my face, then nods and disappears through the mirror. With one last look around me—my gaze clashes with Khronus, and I blow him a kiss—I step through the mirror. On the other side, I turn immediately and whisper the words that will close it, and it fades away.

Then I turn back to look at our little group.

Killian is still out cold—he had to be dragged through the mirror.

The witches don’t look like they can go much farther; even Hella is wilting.

Like last time, I didn’t want to land us right in the middle of the rebel camp, just in case they panicked and shot us as intruders.

But we’ve only got a fifteen-minute walk.

Then they can rest, and we can treat them.

I suspect what’s ailing them is beyond any normal healing, but we have to try.

Khaosti is standing close by, watching me. But I don’t know what to say to him right now. I’m a mess. So, I head over to where Killian is lying on the ground, still in wolf form. Sheela is standing beside him, one arm wrapped around her mother’s shoulder.

“How long until he wakes?” I ask, nudging Killian with my toe.

She whispers some words, and his eyes blink open; a moment later, Killian is back.

He shakes himself. “What the fuck just happened?”

“You met Khaosti’s dad. Nice guy, isn’t he?”

A shudder runs through him. “It felt like I was being ripped apart from the inside out. ”

“Are you okay now? Can you walk?”

He pushes himself to his feet. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

“Good.” I turn to Sheela. “We’re fifteen minutes out. Can they make it?”

“If we go slowly.”

We can do that. “Okay then, let’s go...home?”

I suppose it is our home, at least for the foreseeable future. Though we’re going to have to make some decisions about what to do next.

Killian bends down to pick up his witch again.

But I know she didn’t make it—that there was never really a chance.

You can’t save everyone. I’m sure someone said that to me once, but I obviously didn’t take it to heart.

As he straightens, I look at him and shake my head; his eyes go bleak, but he tightens his grip.

At least we can give her a decent burial, lay her to rest. I always thought that was a strange saying.

But I suppose it will be a rest after everything she’s been through for so long.

Khaosti is carrying his witch again. He falls in behind me as I set off.

I can feel his eyes burning into my shoulder blades.

I can sense his...concern maybe, through the bond.

He’s probably picking up my guilt and wondering what it is I feel so guilty about.

I should have just told him I love him back.

It’s true. I’m just not sure I want to love him.

I’m emotionally drained. I realize that.

And maybe I’ll feel different if I wait long enough. Like a thousand years.

I think of everyone I’ve lost: Khendril, Hecate, my father and mother—because I did lose them. They were taken from me. What would I be like if Khronus had never done his cruel spell? Fury… A wave of sadness washes over me as I think of Fury. So brave, fierce, and damaged. Like Khaosti. Like me.

I wish I could be a better person for him. That I could help him mend, but I’m as broken as he is. Maybe more so.

Suddenly, I’m filled with a sense of restlessness. I need to move. I need the freedom that comes with flight. I turn to Khaos. “I’m going to go ahead. Warn them we’re coming in.”

I think he’s going to argue, but he must see something in my face because he gives a quick nod.

I reach inside myself and find my alicorn. She awakens. She’s in a frenzy herself, wanting to be free.

Frenzy. I’m going to call her Frenzy.

I relax and let the shift flow over me. Moments later, I’m launching myself into the sky. I hear gasps behind me, but I don’t look back. I just head up and up. I wonder how far I could fly, whether I could reach the stars.

I’m so tempted.

Maybe one day. But right now, I can see the lights of the encampment up ahead, partly hidden behind a low range of hills.

I circle the camp once, hearing the shout below as someone looks up and spots me. Then more cries. I don’t think they’ll shoot at me. At least I hope they won’t. I’ll be pretty pissed off if they do.

I fly lower, spot a place in the center of the camp, and come in to land. Within seconds, there’s a circle around me. Then, as one, they fall to their knees.

Well, not all of them. There are a few left standing. I see Zayne, smirking. He knows how much I love to be worshiped. I stamp my hoof and toss my head, my pretty pointy horn flashing in the lights from the fires. Then I will the shift over me, and I’m back.

Something hurtles through the kneeling crowd, and Josh hurls himself at me. I wrap my arms around him and hug him close. I touch something hard and realize Grimlet is on his shoulder, and I hug him as well.

Zayne walks toward me, coming to a halt a foot away. “Did you miss me?” I ask.

“Not for a moment.”

I search his face. “Are you okay?”

“I’m better.”

“Good.”

I release Josh and look around for Thorben, the rebel leader. Of course, he’s on his knees. I frown.

“Get up,” I say. “I can’t talk to you when you’re down there. And I’m going to say this once, and I’m relying on you to spread the word around. I am not a fucking goddess.”

Behind me, Zayne sniggers, but at least Thorben gets to his feet. He won’t meet my eyes.

“There’s a group coming in from the west,” I say. “Don’t shoot them. In fact, send someone out to meet them. They’ll need a cart.”

He nods but doesn’t move. I glare.

He goes.

“You got them out?” Zayne says.

“Some of them. Some of them died.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Me too. ”

“And the asshole?”

“Still with us. Bringing in the witches.” I take Josh’s hand and head toward where they’ll be coming into the camp. I’m tired and hungry, but I still have to take Khaos to meet his Wolfpack people. Hopefully, that should be quick. Then I plan to crash.

Laura and Jack join us as we stand waiting at the edge of the camp. Then Thorben. Thoughts of the Wolfpack meeting make me realize something. I edge toward Thorben and ask, “If the Wolfpack wants to join you, are you okay with that? Or will you lock them up like you did Khaosti?”

“They are loyal to the prince, not the father?”

“Yes. They’ve always been loyal to Khaosti. And Khronus has killed an awful lot of them because of that. They’re looking for a side to fight on. What I need to know is—are you happy to have them on your side?”

“The most ferocious legion of shifters ever known? Yeah, we’ll take them. Will they follow orders?”

“If Khaos tells them to.”

“Then they are welcome here.”

One thing sorted.

Grimlet reaches across and tugs my hair, then proceeds to tell me everything he and Josh have been doing.

A lot. At least one thing has worked out.

The gargoyle seems happy. So does Josh; some of the strain has gone out of his face.

I guess all you need sometimes is someone on your side. Or on your shoulder.

Finally, I see the cart rolling toward us. Khaosti is striding in front of it, looking every inch the prince and commander. He says he doesn’t want to be king, but whether he likes it or not, he’s a born leader, trained to be the best.

And he’s so beautiful, my heart aches, and I have to force myself to stand my ground and not run to him.

At that moment, he looks across, and his gaze meets mine.

An expression of sadness crosses his face, and I want to kiss him and tell him everything will be all right.

Except I don’t think it will be. This world is flawed.

Maybe that’s what Vortex saw and why he wanted to go through the Eternal Mirror: to destroy his mistake and start again. Reboot.

Was he right?

All the same, when Khaos comes to a halt in front of me, I wrap my arms around his waist, lay my head on his chest, and try not to cry. He strokes my hair, and I close my eyes as the wagon rolls past us. Finally, I look up to find everyone watching us.

“It will be all right,” Khaos murmurs.

I don’t believe him, but I smile and step back. “We have to go see your friends,” I say.

“I know.”

I turn to Zayne. “We’ve got to go meet some people, but it shouldn’t take too long. Then I’ll be back. For dinner,” I add hopefully.

“You’re not going back to the palace?”

“No. We’ll be safe, I promise.”

“Okay. I’ll make sure there’s food waiting when you get back.”

“You’re the best brother ever. Except for Josh, of course.”

“Go. ”

Khaos joins me, and we walk a little way from the camp. I look inside myself. My magic is low; I need to rest, eat, replenish, but it will have to wait. I call up a mirror, and seconds later, we’re in the burned-out stable outside the palace, and three men are staring at us.

I don’t close the mirror. Hopefully, we’ll be using it again within minutes.

I stay at the edge of the room while Khaos goes to meet his men.

I recognize Ryke from the last meeting. He and Khaos hug.

It’s sort of sweet. I did wonder what his relationship was with his men, whether he was close to them or standoffish and princely.

But it’s clear he’s friends with Ryke, at least. I’m glad.

I remember Hecate telling me he had formed the Wolfpack when he was only eighteen.

He’d already been in the army for six years at that point. I suppose they became his family.

They talk for five minutes or so, and then Khaos comes back to me. “It’s agreed. I’ve given them the location of the camp, and they will gather the men and join us there.”

I really hope we haven’t made a mistake, and they don’t lead Khronus straight to us. But it’s too late now. And I guess if Khaos trusts them, then I do as well.

“Let’s go back. Food and bed.”

He gives me a strange look, as if he wants to say something.

“Not now,” I say. “It’s been a long day.”

He doesn’t look happy, but he nods.

We head back to the camp in silence .

He watches me through dinner. And he watches as I head off to my tent with Josh and Grimlet. He’s giving me time; I’m just not sure how much.

But I’ll worry about that tomorrow.