He glances down at the contact, a small smile flickering. “What can we do to help?”
I defer to Bahira, who has us gather the stones and lay them on the table next to the Mirror. Once they are piled on the steel surface, Bahira picks one up, showing us how Rhea’s magic glows at the center. “What we know of Void Magic is that it is something chosen and given by the gods, right?” she begins, earning nods from the three of us. “And what weassumeof the magic in the Mirror is that it is as ancient, as gods-given as the magic of Olymazi. What if those magics are the same? What if there isnodifference between Void Magic and the magic that is in the land except for how it is wielded?”
Elora cocks her head to the side, the hair piled high on her head shifting with it. “You’re saying that you think that Rhea’s magic as Void queen is the same raw magic that we manipulate? That runs through Olymazi?”
“Yes,” Bahira answers, but then shakes her head. “And no. When I looked at the blood of those with magic under the magnifier, there were magic particles mixed within the bloodcells, and they werewhitein color. Just like the Spell, and just like—”
“Rhea’s magic,” Elora cuts in, her expression relaying just how quickly her mind is turning over everything Bahira has said.
“Exactly. There’s still some testing I have to do, but if her magic is the same as that which flows through Olymazi, then it can be reasoned that her magic should power the Mirror. But until she returns, all we have is the magic imbued in these stones.” My sister points to me. “If we can break these open, do you think you can direct her magic into the Mirror?”
Fuck. “I don’t know,” I answer. Theoretically, one of our magics should cancel the other out.Except… Rhea’s magic had always acted differently with mine. One didn’t overpower the other; instead, they blended together. Drawn to each other in a way I had never seen before. At least, that was the case with her healing magic. Still, I had never attempted to manipulate her magic other than trying to shield myself from it before. Then again, I wasn’t going against the full brunt of her power. “I can try.” I hold my hand out for the stone, Bahira placing it on my palm as I lift my other hand out above it.
“Because it is imbued dragon stone, the moment it breaks, it should release her power, and then all you have to do is…”
Her words trail off as she watches my magic begin to coat all sides of the stone. It takes a moment for me to find the threads of Rhea’s magic past the layers they are locked behind, but when I do, the warmth of it immediately caresses my fingertips. Pulling gently, like threading a sewing needle, I begin to coax the small bit of Rhea’s magic past the stone. It doesn’t resist, instead latching on to my own power easily until there is a glowing ball of white hovering at the center of deep purple and black.
“That works,” Bahira says, her voice coated in awe. “Now just direct it towards the Mirror.” I do as she says, guiding both magics into the dragon glass. We watch as the glassripples,white light flaring before eventually sinking in and disappearing. “Great. Let’s do it again.”
The process of extracting Rhea’s magic moves quickly, and soon, I’m down to the last stone, retrieving the magic within it and directing it into the glass. My pulse beats at my temples, my anxiousness to leave beginning to gnaw at me, but I force myself to stay still until we can at least see if this attempt worked.
“Let’s stand it up,” Daje suggests, moving as if to grip the frame’s edge. But I call my magic out again, letting it surround the Mirror before lifting it from the table to stand at the center of the room.
Bahira snorts, standing in front of the Mirror and meeting my gaze in the glass. I smile at her and join her on her right, Elora and Daje flanking her left. “This is a good sign,” she says when we step closer and the Mirror begins to ripple and grow cloudy, changing its appearance just as the old one did.
“It definitely didn’t do that before,” Elora breathes.
Bahira shifts her weight from one foot to the other, her quick breaths the only tell of her nerves.
Lifting my chin, I call out for the shifter king like I had before. The four of us watch the Mirror with bated breath, holding it tightly in our chests as the echo of my command rings out over the room. Each second that passes is weighted, and as they drag on and the shifter king does not answer, Bahira’s shoulders begin to slump.
We try again, even Bahira calling out since her blood is also keyed to work. But the result doesn’t change. There is no answer. Putting a hand on Bahira’s shoulder, I squeeze it gently as I apologize. “I’m sorry, but I have to go.”
“I know,” she answers quickly. Curtly. Not in anger at me, but frustration at the Mirror. “It’s alright. I’ll keep trying.” I draw her in for a hug, her arms squeezing my torso tightly. “Please becareful. I’d really hate to have to travel to the Mortal Kingdom to rescue you.”
I laugh quietly as I kiss the top of her head. “Be careful here. We still don’t know who has sided with the council’s lies and who remains loyal to our family. Treat everyone with caution.” My goodbye with Elora is quick, her demanding that I hurry as if that was not already my intent. But when my hand reaches to shake Daje’s in parting, he shakes his head, instead straightening his posture and pushing his shoulders back.
“I want to come with you.”
I look to Elora, expecting a bit of protest considering she and Daje have appeared to grow closer, but she nods her head, her gaze just as determined as his, even if worry seeps in at the edges of her smile.
“Please,” Daje continues, his fingers closing into fists at his sides. “It wasmyfault that Rhea and I were lured out, that she was taken. I promised you I would watch over her, and Ifailed. I couldn’t do anything to protect her or to protect Cass.” I look away, my teeth gritting together as a shaky breath passes his lips. “Please, let me help make this right. It’s the least I can do. Theonlything I can do.”
Elora’s hand reaches out for him, her fingers threading with his before squeezing them tightly.
“We’ll be on horseback to get there as fast as possible. It will not be an easy journey, and I have no idea what will be waiting for us. But if you come, your sole mission is to ensure that Rhea gets home. No matter the cost. No matter who stands in our way.” I look back at him, my magic thrashing deep within me. “Do you understand what that means?” I have no doubts that King Dolian has ensured that Rhea is well protected and likely behind multitudes of safeguards. Daje will have to kill, and he will have to do it without hesitation or moral objection.
His gaze hardens as he gives me a short nod. “I understand. I will not fail you. I will not failher. Not again.”
“Then say your goodbyes,” I tell him, turning towards the door. “Because we’re leaving right fucking now.”
Chapter One Hundred and Twelve: Aria
Thesunhadnotyet risen when Sade knocked on my door, drawing me from a sleep filled with dreams of fighting the Queen’s Legion. Spears had been thrown, hitting their mark in the ones I cared about most. Lyre. Sade. Even the sirens of the seamounts and the ones creating their own rebellion in Eersten. And, though it did not make any sense, Myla had been in thedream too. Her figure was cloaked in black, her long cloak trailing on a gusting wind as she watched from the edge of the beach. I’ve never given much credence to dreams, but having Myla there felt like a premonition of sorts.
Or maybe I am just nervous about our meeting today.
Rushing to my door, my movements sloppy from having just awoken, I open it to reveal Sade. She roams her sunset eyes over me, amusement creeping into the right corner of her mouth as it rises. “Good morning, Aria.”
