Page 55

The corner of Valen’s tight mouth twitches, his cold eyes shifting with a flicker of warmth. “I’ve yet to hear it put that way, but yes.”

His throat works, and he stops scanning the page, staring unmoving at the book instead. Silence stretches before he asks in a calm tone, “Is this the first time you’ve seen Astoria in a mirror?”

“I think I’ve seen flashes of her here and there, but I thought it was my eyes playing tricks on me.”

My eyes narrow at how he takes another slow, deep breath and nods. “You alright?” I ask.

His jaw flickers. “Quite.” And he steps up to the large, floor-length mirror with the gilded roses around it. The black stick in his hand is some sort of ink stick, and he uses it to draw a series of runes along the edge of the glass.

Finally, he pockets the stick and holds his hand out to me. “Come.”

I roll my eyes. “Listen, I was being cute earlier with the dog thing, but it’s going to get old fast.”

“And yet you still don’t know how to obey. Come here.” He flicks his fingers in emphasis.

With a sigh, I push off the stool and cross the room to stand beside him. My skin twitches when his icy fingers touch me. He gently guides me before the mirror. He stands behind me, his eyes as cold as his touch. “Place your palms flat on the mirror.”

I obey, and he scans the runes he drew on the glass. “Now listen very carefully and do nothing until I finish detailing your instructions. You’re going to activate your rings⁠—”

“I thought I wasn’t supposed to use my magic?”

“Let me finish.” His snap echoes in the marble. I arch a brow at his reflection, and he squeezes his eyes closed, his head tilting, before he opens them. All emotion is wiped clean from his expression and voice once again. “The amount of magic must be kept to a minimum so the risk of further damage is low. You need a tiny spark at most, just enough for the mirror to reflect your rings’ light for a single moment. Then you can stop, and the runes will take over. Start as small as you can.”

I meet his gaze in the mirror, and my brows draw together. If he’s so worried, why is he not activating it instead of me? Judging by his blank expression, the perfect Bauer heir mask, I’m guessing asking will just antagonize him instead of providing any real answers. I’ll wait to ask.

“Just a spark…” I mumble, inspecting my rings pressed against the glass surface. My fingers tap the mirror before I summon the smallest flicker of my magic I can. So much of my magic is subconscious and instinctual that it’s not as easy as I thought. The first attempt has only two rings flashing, the second about half. At the third, all ten blaze bright with a small sting that I hide from Valen, and the runes burn from matte black to the same glittering gold as my threads.

Darkness forms in the corners of the mirror, swirling darker and thicker until it consumes our reflections. I half expect the tendrils to seep out and wrap around my ankles, but the darkness remains contained within the mirror.

Valen’s whisper tickles my neck. “Say her name.”

I wet my lips and say clearly, “Astoria Rose Androclaria.”

My heart pounds, searching the swirling mist desperately for a hint of copper or flash of green. But nothing happens.

I chew my tongue, mind spinning. The memory of Tori finally confiding in me about her past and true identity comes to me. “Never call me that again.”

I search the mist and try in a firmer, louder tone that I would use if we were back in Peripetia and I was hunting for her in the towering stacks. “Torment!”

My voice echoes, but it’s not the usual echo I would expect from yelling in a marble bathroom. It compounds, growing louder and louder. The mist ripples like a smooth lake surface. I hold my breath, desperately searching.

Warmth brushes my hands. My fingers twitch and my eyes widen, heart thumping. The mist shifts and Tori steps forth as if she’s stepping from the marina’s thick fog, tendrils of the smoke clinging to her. Her hands press flat against mine, the glass warming as if her physical body is just on the other side instead of a reflection of her soul. I choke on the surging emotion. Her ripped-open chest begins to knit back together, each rib snapping down with a crack, but Tori doesn’t seem to notice. Her bright green eyes search me desperately, her full lips parting. “You survived.” A tear slips free, and her softly echoing, ringing voice breaks, a sharp discordance like cracking glass intensifying it. “I was so scared I’d never see you again.”

I sniff, my eyes burning. “Fuck, Tor. Don’t ever leave me behind again.”

She laughs through her tears. “I wish I could keep that promise.” She rests her forehead against her side of the mirror. “But even more than that, I wish I could hold you. I’m so sorry, Lucas. You almost died again trying to save me. Please be careful. I don’t think I can handle the pain if anything else happens.”

“I’ll never stop trying to save you.” I step forward too, the heat of Valen’s body against my back disappearing as my forehead rests against hers. “I miss you, Tor. I’d sell my soul to have you back.”

“Careful making that claim to a mirror.” Her breath huffs, misting the glass on her side. “I’ve missed you too.”

I breathe through this aching pain, my head throbbing from the building pressure in my eyes. My hands tremble when I push them harder against the mirror, half hoping it will swallow me whole and we’ll be together again.

Tori leans back with a sniffle, her eyes glistening and smile wide. “You made it to Valen.”

“Yeah. I did. Can you see him?” I look over my shoulder and go still. Valen resembles a statue more than his usual self. His face still holds the perfectly smooth mask in place, and his hands hide within his pockets. He doesn’t look at me, his blue eyes glued to Tori’s reflection.

“Yeah, I see him.” I turn back to Tor, and she glares playfully at Valen. “I’m not sure if I should be relieved that you’re both whole and alive or furious that you had sex without me.”