The ground shook. Shadows leaped and coiled across the front of the mirror, as if trying to shield it from further harm. The runes flared, burning bright enough to sting my eyes, but my lightning bolt hammered into the fracture. At my command, it drove deeper. Splinters shuttered loose from the surface, gouging into the meadow in front of the mirror like shards of ice.
The other Reyla roared and launched herself at me. I ducked under her swipe.
And shot more lightning at the mirror, hitting it hard again.
With an unearthly groan, the fissure widened, jerking outward before snapping back in as if even that part of the mirror was alive. Light bled from the runes, and after one last flicker, they went dark.
The mirror shattered, jagged shards of it shooting across the clearing. I fell to the ground and lay flat, covering my head while the shockwave slammed over me, a force stronger than any gale. Tortured wails filled the air, distorted, otherworldly, a twist of a melody that abruptly cut out.
A quick look up told me the mirror image of me was gone. As was the mirror. Only the hint of foul smoke remained behind.
Pain flared across my shoulder and forearm, but I remained buried in the grass, giving my heart a chance to settle.
Finally, when bird song lilted through the woods, I rolled and sat up, studying the area but finding nothing of concern—for now.
Rising, I snatched up my other dagger where it lay half-buried in the churned grass, and sheathed it, the motion automatic, even as my body wavered.
A gust of cool wind pried at my hair, carrying the sharp, acrid scent of charred wood. The tree that had caught fire earlier still smoldered, its branches black claws stretching toward the sky, its bark curling away in thin plumes of smoke.
At least the fire had gone out. I couldn’t leave the forest to burn.
On deadened feet, I staggered around the perimeter of the clearing, but I found no trace of Erisandra. I couldn’t even find the tracks I’d followed to this meadow, though I suspected why.
I’d been lured. Almost trapped.
After a last look around, I flitted back to my suite and staggered over to the bank of windows.
It didn’t take long.
I watched as Erisandra slunk out of the woods and hurried along the path, entering the castle through a door directly below.
If I wasn’t so shaken, I’d find her. Confront her. It wasn’t a stretch to think she’d magicked the mirror for me in the woods.
Farris came over and sat beside me, looking up with his head tilting this way and that. I slunk past him and into the bathing area where I filled the tub and sank down into the welcome warmth.
I remained there until the water grew cold before climbing out and drying myself, dressing in a fresh tunic and pants.
Back in the sitting area, I loaded wood onto the fire until it roared. I sat, curling up on the sofa with Farris snoozing beside me, his head resting on my thigh.
Merrick didn’t come to my suite. My ladies brought my meal tray and insisted they sit with me while I ate it. After, I kicked them out and puttered around the room with Farris watching me from the cushions. His gaze kept slanting toward the windows.
I did not get up to look.
19
Reyla
It was time to leave to work with Lorant in the tower.
The walk there felt longer tonight. My guards flanked me, but I barely heard their steady footfalls or the gentle rustle of the castle as it settled into the quiet of night. Thoughts of what Erisandra could be up to churned through my mind, but I didn’t come to any conclusions other than that she hated me. She’d gladly see me dead to steal my crown.
She was willing to lure me from the protection of the veil shielding the castle and into the woods where I’d be on my own.
Tea time tomorrow was going to be quite interesting.
For now, I would focus on Lorant.
The last time I’d seen him, he was crafting yet another potion to help me survive the pain of my flow. Holding me in his arms. Would he be kind or snarly tonight?
