Page 49 of The Eternal Mirror (Lucifer’s Mirror #3)

Everything but the Truth

A fter the vision, I slept like an innocent babe.

Which is sort of ironic, since even I know what I’m planning is...morally dubious. But I’ve seen the alternative, and I won’t let it happen.

I’ve called a meeting in the great hall, where I first met my dad and where he later killed Fury, Khaosti’s beast. I’d been very fond of Fury—and the feeling was mutual.

So the place doesn’t hold happy memories.

But it’s big enough to fit anyone who wants to come—which turns out to be everybody.

And I’m nothing if not pragmatic. The new me.

I visited the kitchen first and stuffed my face with anything I could find. It seems my appetite is back. It’s as though now that I’ve accepted what I have to do, I can relax. Then I went for a walk while I waited for everyone to arrive.

I’ve spent a lot of time considering what I’m going to say and how much I’m going to reveal about my ultimate endgame.

Not a lot.

As far as everyone is concerned, my main goal is to kill Khronus, restore the splinter to the Eternal Mirror, and make it whole.

To do that, I need the splinter. I need Khronus, and I need the Eternal Mirror.

And once I have those things gathered together, the absolute best outcome would be—I kill Khronus. Except what are the actual chances of that happening? No matter what I try, I can’t get through his wards. So, I have to be ready to try another way.

And obviously, this is an absolute last resort. But sometimes the only way to win is to end the game. And by game, I mean the world of Astrali, including Khronus, but also unfortunately everyone and everything else as well.

Suddenly, my stomach lurches. I race to the nearest tree—duck behind it and puke. Yeah, I’m back to vomiting. Not a good sign. Anyone would think I’m feeling a little conflicted about my plan. But I’m not.

It occurs to me that I’m doing a “Hecate.” I’m hiding my true plan from the people I love because I think they won’t approve. Which means they likely won’t cooperate.

But I’ve seen the future if Khronus takes control—a future where he destroys everyone I love.

The visions haunt my sleep. I’ve seen Zayne’s basilisk tethered and tormented.

Josh rotting in a dungeon as his new magic is drained.

Khaosti—slain or worse. Armies of beasts under Khronus’s control.

Witches all but extinct. The stars wiped out.

I straighten, wipe my mouth, and look straight into Khaosti’s golden eyes. He’s never far away. He holds out a bottle of water, and I take it and raise it to my mouth, watching him as I swallow.

“They’re all here,” he says.

“Good. Let’s get it done.”

“Get what done?”

I smile. “Wait and see.”

I head back to the house and to the great hall. As I enter, I hear the echo of my father’s laughter—his anger, his rage. I remember Fury fighting with everything he had, giving up his life before he would give up his freedom.

“Do you ever think of Fury?” I ask.

“All the time.”

The room is crowded. I walk to the front.

Zayne is in the first row, and Josh is next to him, Grimlet on his shoulder.

Laura is on his other side. Then there’s Jack, Ryke, and the rest of the Wolf pack—they all survived the battle because they were hidden away in the shifters' camp. I think there might be a little bitterness because of that between the factions, but they would have been a liability in the battle. I’ve been working on a spell to protect them from Khronus’s beastmaster magic, but I’m still finding it hard to get spells that protect numerous people to stick.

Then there’s Thorben and the Council members, everyone else, most of whom I recognize now .

I wonder if they’ll go.

Khaosti leans against the wall behind me.

I look back to the front. Josh shifts to the side. It’s a small movement, but not quite right. Just a tilt of his head, as if he’s listening to something far away. But it makes Grimlet freeze, then lean into him, whispering something I can’t hear.

Josh doesn’t blink. Doesn’t move. Just stares at the far wall like it’s whispering secrets. Then, slowly, he turns and looks at me. His eyes flash—silver, sharp as shattered mirror-glass—and then it’s gone. Blink and you’d miss it.

But I didn’t blink.

I hold his gaze a moment longer. He smiles. Sweet. Innocent. Almost.

I look away first. One day soon, we’re going to have to get to the bottom of what is going on with Josh. Though I suspect that will be a job for someone else. I take a deep breath. It’s time to get this meeting on track.

“Morning, everybody.” God, I’m terrible at speeches. So, let’s get right down to it. “I think it’s time for us to leave here. I know you’re all feeling the effects of this place. It’s been a safe haven and has allowed us to regroup and recover, but it’s time to move on.”

“Where?” someone calls out.

Good question, and one I do have an answer to. “I’m going to open a mirror to Valandria, and you all can go there.”

Zayne raises his hand like he’s in school or something—except I bet he never asked a single question when he actually was there. “I thought you didn’t want to be in charge?” he says, and I can see that he’s very dubious about this plan and thinks I’m up to something.

“I’m not in charge as such.” I give him my sweetest smile and consider asking Khaosti to toss out any hecklers. “And obviously, I’m not going to order anyone to go.”

“Good.”

I roll my eyes. “But I do strongly suggest that you all go. The truth is, an army is not going to win this war, and I can’t concentrate on defeating Khronus while I have to worry about you lot.”

“You’re saying we’re a liability. Thanks, Amber.”

I turn to Khaosti. “Do you want to throw him out?”

But he just smiles, and I continue. “Once Khronus is gone, there will be lots to do. And you can all come back and create your brave new world.”

“And how do you plan to get rid of Khronus?”

“I’ve been working on a few strategies, along with Selene.”

A silence falls over the room. I thought that would get them. Yeah, me and the goddess are besties.

“We’re coming up with a plan. Obviously, I can’t reveal the details for security reasons. But we are quietly confident in its success.”

“Are you going to kill him?” Laura asks. She’s been feeling a little bitter and twisted since Killian’s disappearance.

“That is an integral part of the plan. But I can’t go into details.”

“So, you’ve got a plan to kill Khronus,” Zayne says. “And you’re not taking your army. Just your boyfriend. Sounds legit. ”

I wish I could send Khaos to Valandria with the rest of them. But there is zero chance of that happening. I give Zayne another of my big sister smiles. “Believe me, it is legit.”

Zayne mutters something. I can’t hear him, but from reading his lips, I’m pretty sure he says, “You’re so full of shit.”

True.

“Any questions?”

Obviously, there are a lot, but I’ve come prepared with answers. Khaosti doesn’t say a word. He just watches me. Nothing new there. It takes way too long, but by the time the questions run out, I think I have the majority of them convinced.

Except for the skeptics, of course.

I catch Zayne’s eye, and he raises a brow. I’m going to have to convince him, if I have any hope of this working. And I suspect the only thing that will work is the truth, because Zayne’s done letting me get away with lies—he sees through me too easily.

Better sooner than later. Let’s get this over with.

I head over to Khaos and whisper. “Can you give me a few minutes alone with Zayne. He’s going to be difficult.”

Hi eyes narrow but he nods.

I turn back, wave to Zayne, point to the door, and walk out.

For once he doesn’t roll his eyes. Doesn’t smirk. Just follows.