“I’m afraid my love for Brayden is unrequited.” She’d never used the word “love.” In the context of friendship, sure, but never likethat.Not even in her own mind. It terrified her to cross that line, but deep down it was true.
He hadn’t even wanted to kiss her, and she was in love with him.
“Remember, unconditional love expects nothing in return.”The voice had softened again.
Scarlett fell forward as she regained movement, landing on her hands and knees.What the actual fuck was that?She scrambled to her feet and ran out of the archway, looking for Beni.
She found him in the next room, standing in front of an enormous gilt mirror covering the far wall. The room was the grandest of them all, with a domed ceiling covered in filigree and frescoes. Scarlett halted when she saw a man with dark hair in the mirror. Two balls of blue light orbited his head.
Scarlett stood there uncertain she wanted to go on, her heart racing. She squinted, and her breath caught. The man in themirror was… Brayden? She took a couple of steps forward. He looked different from the Brayden she’d seen earlier. Older, maybe? The man in the mirror beamed at her, and—yep, it was Brayden. She’d know that smile anywhere.
For the first time since entering the catacombs, fear and anxiety left Scarlett as she hurried toward him.
Was this what Beni was seeing? She tore her gaze from Brayden and looked at her brother. He’d approached another part of the mirror, to the right of Brayden, and had both hands pressed to the glass as he stared, transfixed, but Scarlett couldn’t see anyone there.
Halting in front of the mirror, she stared at Brayden. Longing to touch him unfurled deep inside her, and her breaths became shallow. She took one last step forward, and when her foot hit the bottom of the mirror, her shoulders slumped as she touched the glass. She couldn’t go any further, no matter how badly she wanted to. It reminded her of all the years she’d spent talking to Brayden through the glass. This Brayden gave her a crooked grin and stepped as close to her as he could. He put his palm up against hers. His messy brown hair and his warm brown eyes made her ache. This Brayden had a scar splitting his left eyebrow and laughter lines around his eyes. His eyes raked over her, the hunger in his expression mirroring hers.
“My beautiful Scarlett,” he said, his deep voice full of adoration.
She searched his face for answers. “Are you real? You can’t be. I know you’re back at the castle, but you look…” She sighed as she took in his broad chest, covered in a black cotton shirt that emphasized how deliciously defined his arms and his chest were. But it was the way he looked at her that made her desperate. He looked at her like she was his love. Scarlett wanted to travel to whatever multiverse this version of Brayden existed in and run into his arms.
He grinned at her in that cocky way she knew so well. “I’m real. I don’t live in this mirror—I’m just visiting from a different moment in time. I don’t want to get metaphysical with you, because that’s not why you’re here, but time isn’t linear, you know. I’m here because the universe knows we belong together, and so we are.”
“That’s…” whispered Scarlett, her cheeks heating. “How do you know? We’ve never even…”
He let out a throaty chuckle. “We will, Scar. We have, like, thousands of times in my timeline. Never doubt that I want you as much as you want me.”
His words thrilled her. She was overcome with the desire to run back to the castle—to the Brayden she could touch. She wanted to give and receive the unconditional love the voice had promised.
“How do I make sure I’m on your timeline?” If she didn’t end up in this version of the future, she’d be so disappointed.
“Bet on us, and you’ll win every time. Always choose us. Not every path ends happily, but if you do that, we’ll find our way.” He looked over his shoulder at something she couldn’t see. “Now, it’s an honor to introduce you to your soul light. Scarlett, this is Nori.”
One of the balls of blue-white light that had been fluttering around his head passed through the glass and floated toward Scarlett. She took a step backward as the light hovered in front of her face.
“Nori?”
“I’ve been waiting for you.”
Scarlett jumped as the light spoke. Nori’s musical voice was distinct from Scarlett’s own inner voice.
“It’s wonderful to meet you,” Scarlett said. She had no idea whether she was supposed to talk to Nori out loud or in her mind. She turned back to the mirror, wanting to share herdelight with Brayden. But he was gone.
Beni let out a loud laugh, distracting her. Was he brushing away tears? A light identical to her own floated beside him.
Noticing his sister’s attention, Beni pointed to his light. “His name is Riley.”
Sensing he might need comfort, Scarlett wrapped her arm around her brother’s shoulders. “Mine’s called Nori. Who did you see in the mirror?”
Beni’s face crumpled, and he leaned into her. “It was Daddy.” He hadn’t called Jules that in years.
Scarlett’s eyes filled with tears. She held Beni for a long moment, until he eventually pulled away.
“Was it nice to see him again?”
Beni wiped his eyes. “He seemed happy. It was… it was good.”
Longing for her father stirred in her chest, but she was happy for her brother. “I’m so glad you have a new happy memory of him.”
