“I said get out,” I growl in warning.
Its hiss of a chuckle echoes around the room. My heart sinks when my serpent-eyed reflection moves on its own. Across the three massive mirrors perched atop the bathroom vanity.
A damning hint, if I know any better. By partnering with Lady Bethany and following her suggestions, I’ve been able to keep the beast at bay. But if it's here, stretching beyond the confines of my head…
We’re in far deeper than we’ve realized.
It stops at the farthest mirror, cocking its head to the side at an inhuman angle as it regards what’s there on the counter.
The handkerchief.
Spotted with blood.
Its eyes dilate rapidly, pupils quivering with feral anticipation.
I stride forward, swiping the handkerchief off the counter and shoving it into my pocket. “You are not welcome here. I will not tell you to leave again.”
It laughs, a sound deep and deranged, as my reflection grins back at me with razor-tipped teeth.“Without me, you’d be dead. And this is how you treat me?”
I turn my back to it, walking for the bathroom exit.
“Do not turn your back on me!”it roars, shaking the mirrors.
I freeze. The magic cooling the blood in my veins and slowly tugging me back to the mirrors. I follow the thread, and the beast’s eyes narrow.
“You will never be rid of me. Your little peasants might think they can save you, that they can cage me. But cages can be bent. Can be broken.”
I snap into action at the threat. Thundering across the room, as soon as I’m within range I pull back a fist and slam it into the mirror. Shattering it into a web of slivers that collapse onto the bathroom counter, some sliding off onto the marbled floor. Blood drips off my knuckles and I shake it off as my reflection appears in the mirror next to me.
This time, it’s more than just slitted eyes. Scales shifting black to gray have taken over the image of me, covering the jaw line, side ofthe throat, shoulders, and sides of the torso. It leans closer to the glass.“You cannot stop me, and you cannot run from me. I see them through your eyes.”
I squeeze my eyes shut at the reveal, haunted by the thought that not only have I put these women in danger with the trials…but there’s something even worse.
Me.
“Stop!” I snarl, flashing my eyes open to glare at my reflection.
The beast rolls its head back, pulling in a long inhale. When it drops its head, its eyes are completely enveloped in black.“I can smell them. All the women you’ve brought to me for reaping.”
I punch the mirror again, adamant to block the creature out. Partly worried it may be strong enough to break through the glass entirely.
Its laughter surrounds me. I glance around as the sound bounces around the room—the tub, the closet, the ceiling. Like it’s slithering there in some unseen dimension.
“I’ll take them one by one so you feel their pain, their fear,”it whispers sinisterly as it creeps onto the last mirror.
It raises a black, taloned hand. Tapping it on the mirror until the glass squeaks and the tiniest crack appears, it smiles. Revealing fangs.“But if you just cooperate with me? Let me loose for a night, Cyrus, and I’ll give you the most powerful kin this realm has ever seen.”
“I’m not letting you anywhere near them!” I scream as I shatter the last mirror. Pain splits through my fist as the glass rains down. As I lower my hand to my side, the room only filled with my heavy breathing, I scan the glass shards spilled out across the counter and floor.
It's quiet. Still.
Swallowing my breath, I turn my back to the mirror.
My bloody-knuckled hand contorts, fingers fighting to break free of the fist I have them in. Until I fold into myself as my fingers spring free, stretching into painfully long claws.
I clench my wrist with my free hand, squeezing like it’ll cut off the blood flow and stop the transformation. It slows, but…
I race out of the bathroom for my bedroom door, barely twisting the handle open as I fall to my knees with the pain bending my very veins.
