With a sleeping mat, a low dresser, and an armoire, the small, tidy space feels cozy and inviting. But the nerves coming off the queen like buzzing bees, as she wrings her hands in the middle of the alcove, shatter any semblance of serenity.
“So where do you hide your phone?” I ask glibly to distract her.
“I told you it’s not a phone,” she chides, and I tuck my chin to hide my smile. Then she pulls open the armoire, revealing a full-length mirror attached to one door. “It’s a mirror.”
“You’re going to call him on amirror?” I don’t know why I’m even surprised. It could’ve been a shiny stockpot, for all I knew. I will never understand this realm.
“Youhavemoon shifted before, have you not?” She waits expectantly for my confirmation, and I nod. “So you must know that water has the power to open up pathways.”
“Even without the moon?” I actually don’t understand how any of it works. I just chalked it up as fancy high magic and left it at that.
“Water is the true conduit,” she explains. “The moon merely amplifies its powers.”
“That’s interesting and all.” I purse my lips. “But what does any of that have to do with calling the King of Underworld on your armoire mirror?”
With a mischievous smile, the Queen of Water waves her hand at the mirror, and it ... ripples.
“This is a mirror of water.” She flutters her fingers over the mirror, not quite touching it, but the surface undulates in response. “Water I created from my owngiand infused with my own magic.”
I still don’t get it, but I roll with it. “Can you call anyone you want on the magic mirror?”
“No.” She sighs wistfully. “You can only reach the person connected to you by the threads of fate.”
“A-are you connected to the King of Underworld in ... that way?” My voice wavers. “Do you and the king share a love destined by the heavens?”
Ethan believes we are bound by the threads of fate. But I’m afraid that same fate might force him to sever the thread that binds us with his own hands.
“That is neither here nor now.” The queen smooths her hands down her turquoise royal gown.So, that’s a yes.“Shall we see if he answers?”
She arranges her expression into a serene mask, but her pulse flutters at her throat as she faces the mirror. I step back to give her space, but curiosity and ... something else keep me from moving too far away.
“Taeyoung.” Her hand hovers over the mirror. “It’s Bora.”
Nothing happens.
“It’s me, Bora.” A tremor weaves into her voice. “Answer me. Please, Taeyoung.”
The mirror ripples and churns—glowing in pearlescent hues—then like a sheet pulled taut, the mirror stills with a ringing snap.
“Bora,” the King of Underworld rasps from the other side, reaching an unsteady hand toward the mirror.
“Don’t,” the queen cries. “Remember, Taeyoung. You can’t touch the mirror. Or else our connection will be lost until the next moonrise.”
He swallows thickly and drops his arm.
“A-are you all right?” Her voice cracks on the last word. “The Amheuk ... It reached the Kingdom of Water ...”
“That is faster than I anticipated. Its strength must be fully restored. Are you okay? The dome is holding, right?” At the queen’s nod, he sags, pushing his hair off his forehead. “We are also safe. For now. I moved the Kingdom of Underworld into purgatory.”
“Thank gods,” the queen breathes. “I suspected—”
“Purgatory?” I squawk, then clap a hand over my mouth.
“Don’t worry. He can’t hear you.” She glances over her shoulder with a wan smile.
“Can’t hear who?” The king squints past the queen’s shoulder. “Who’s with you?”
“It’s Sunny. I heard you helped her get to the Kingdom of Water,” the queen answers, turning back to the mirror. “She’s very persuasive. General Dokgo is preparing to deploy our troops to the Kingdom of Mountains.”
