“Idols, no.”
The mirror man sneezes again. “Bless you,” Genie says.
“Apologies. I have allergies.”
“To what?” I ask.
“Water.”
What a very odd thing to be allergic to. I flop back on the bed and put my hands over my face. “I want to speak to them. It appears as though ten annuses have passed.”
“It’s not even been a diurnal,” Genie points out.
“My heart doesn’t understand the passage of time.”
“A simple solution exists for all this,” Genie grumbles.
It didn’t take him long, and I’ve never been so tempted. But the consequences may be too great. I drop my hands and glare at him. “I am not making a wish.”
He pouts. “Spoilsport.”
“What can we do?” the mirror man asks. “Your sister is working on a solution, but how can we ease your separation from your beloved?”
“Beloveds, plural.”
“You aren’t picking one?” the mirror man asks.
“Don’t judge me.”
He gasps. “I would never. I was curious about the perception of such a relationship.”
“The fairy folk hate me whether I’m alone or hopping between four knights. The only difference is I get more fun and happiness with the latter.”
“If you aren’t making a wish to get out of here, how else can we help?” Genie says, dropping his sulky demeanor.
“I would love to see them.”
“Which would involve you getting out of here,” Genie says slowly.
I twist my lips to the side. The mirror man suddenly rams his face against the surface, squashing his nose. “I have an idea.”
Oh, holy Idol balls. This should be good. I jerk upright to witness whatever disaster he’s about to spout.
“There is a mirror.” So good so far. This is his wheelhouse, unlike the time he wanted to audition to become a dwarf for Snow White. Her narrowmindedness made it impossible for her to see beyond the traditional view. My mirror is too progressive.
“What does this mirror do?” I coax.
“The owner can command it to show them anything their heart desires.”
My mouth falls open as my heart thuds a little faster, and my hands twist in my lap. “That could totally work.”
“Those mirrors are one way,” Genie snaps. “It would be cruel to show Daphne what she is missing and not be able to communicate.”
My mirror man grins. Ooh, he has a plan. “That would be true, unless her heart’s desire owns the twin of that mirror.”
Genie scowls. “That is not in the fairy tale.”
“The Hallowed concealed this, because there’s a cruel twist. Should the owners desire something different, the mirrors won’t permit communication, effectively breaking one of their hearts.”
