“I’ll be back before you can miss me,” I grouse.
Not bothering with the stairs, I jump down from the top of the wall, landing in a half crouch, then sprint for the Shinsi Palace. I can fly, but I am faster on the ground with thegiof Mountains propelling me.
“Captain Ha.” My sudden appearance startles the captain of the royal guards, who stands sentry outside myjimil. I hold out my hand. “Easy there. Has the Queen of Sky regained consciousness?”
I know the answer before the captain shakes his head. “Regretfully, no, Your Majesty.”
“I must see her.” I march up the stone steps to my inner chambers.
“If I may, Your Majesty.” Captain Ha follows me inside, and I nod at him to continue. “Theuinyeosare administrating acupuncture on the queen. May I escort you to your chambers? I will bring word as soon as they are finished.”
“Very well.” Impatience sparks against my skin, but the acupuncture might push the last of the poison out and help her wake up. “There’s no need for you to escort me. I know my way.”
“Of course, Your Majesty.” The captain bows. “I will take my leave.”
I walk into my chambers with weary steps, then slide down the nearest wall. I press a hand over my eyes, which sting with fatigue.
“Ethan.”
I jump to a stand, my head whipping left and right. I heard Sunny calling my name.Am I losing my mind?
“Ethan, can you hear me?” Her voice cracks at the end.
Listen for her in the mirrors.
I stumble through my chambers in a frantic search for a mirror ... any mirror. Thejimilis mine in name alone. I haven’t spent enough time in it to know where anything is.
“Fuck.” I grab my head with both hands.
“Ethan. Please.” I hear a muffled sob. “Tell me you can hear me.”
I race to my sleeping alcove and turn over the room. I feel like a fool when I fling open the armoire to find a full-length mirror on the inside of the door. I’m pissed I checked the most obvious place last, but I’m not in my right mind.
“I can hear you, Sunny,” I say, my heart bruising my ribs. “I’m here, baby. I’m here.”
For a moment, all I see is my reflection, my wild eyes skittering across every surface of the mirror. The wooden armoire protests under my punishing grip, but the mirror ripples like silvery water, and ...
Iseeher.
“Sunny.” My hoarse growl is a prayer of gratitude—She is safe—and a vow of possession.Mine.
“E-Ethan?” Sunny raises her hand toward the mirror, then drops it, giving her head a sharp shake. “Don’t touch the mirror, okay? Our connection will be lost if we touch the mirror.”
She is wearing a black T-shirt and nearly black jeans—her favorite color palette—and her long hair falls down her shoulders. I want to run my hand through its silky strands. I want to cup her face, kiss those lips, run my hands over her body. I want totouchher. But not if it means I lose even a second of seeing her ... of hearing her warm, husky voice.
“I ... I won’t.” I struggle to swallow as I stare at her like a man starved. Iamstarved. I don’t know how long we have, but it won’t be nearly enough. “Are you safe? You’re not injured?”
She spreads her arms and looks down at herself, then meets my eyes with a cocky smile. I immediately want to kiss it off her mouth. I want to hoard her every smile, every laugh. Even her tears. If they are hers, I want them ... to hold and to cherish.
“As you can see, I’m still in one piece.” Her smile and her bravado falter as her gaze skitters over my face and body. “H-how about you? Are you okay?”
“Yes.” A corner of my mouth kicks up. “Still in one piece.”
We stare at each other for two heartbeats, grinning like the lovesick fools we are.
“I miss you, Ethan.” She clutches her shirt over her heart. “It hurtsso muchthat I can’t be with you. It’s tearing me apart.”
“It nearly broke me when you left.” I reach out for her without thinking, then snatch my hand away from the mirror. “Not knowing where you were. Not knowing whether you were safe. I thought I was losing my mind. Y-youareokay, right?”
