Page 22 of Mirror of Vanity

Justice stared directly ahead, his jaw clenched and his eyes hard. “It’s a matter of whether he will share this with us or not. He’s the Unseelie King, and his whims are his own.”

I frowned, studying his profile. “You don’t trust him?”

Justice sighed. “No,” he admitted. “But Chelby does, and I have faith in her.”

People gave us curious gazes, with me holding my bow and Justice with his sword sheathed at his side. Hopefully, we looked like we were doing a historical reenactment of some kind.

Justice clasped my shoulder. “I must warn you that he might try to get you to eat. Whatever you do, don’t indulge in zigitar. It’s a wild animal in the Unseelie world.”

Mark that off my to-do list. “Is it poisonous?”

He shook his head. “No, but if you eat it, you’ll never be able to leave the Unseelie Realm.”

Garrick was waiting for us, still leaning against the same wall. He cast his gaze over us, his silver eyes gleaming in the shadows.

“Ah, you’re back.” His smooth, rich voice sounded like honey poured over gravel. “Are you ready to embark on this little adventure?”

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding as I met his gaze. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

Garrick tilted his head, studying me with a glint in his eye. A slow smile spread across his lips. “You are a pretty one, aren’t you?” he purred, taking a step closer.

Justice’s hand shot out, his fingers wrapping around my wrist as he pulled me back. “Don’t even think about it. You already have Maggie,” he hissed, his eyes flashing with a warning.

Garrick stiffened and hissed as if Justice had punched him in the gut. In a split second, the look was gone. His eyebrow arched, and he shifted his gaze to Justice, a mocking smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “Yours?” His tone was laced with amusement.

I got the feeling Garrick cared for this Maggie. Yet, if he did, why was he flirting with me and setting Justice off? A chill ran down my spine as I realized something wasn’t adding up. This didn’t make sense. My gut twisted with unease, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that Garrick was keeping a secret.

I yanked my wrist from Justice’s grasp and squared my shoulders, meeting Garrick’s stare head-on. “I belong to no one.” My voice was as cold and sharp as a blade.

He leaned in closer, his breath ghosting my cheek as he whispered, “That can change, my dear.”

Anger burned through me, hot as a scorching stove. “I am not property to be claimed.”

Garrick tilted his head back and laughed. With a flourish of his hand, he gestured toward the alley, his silver rings glinting in the moonlight. “Follow me to my home,” he commanded.

I hesitated, my feet rooted to the spot as my gut tightened, a sense of unease washing over me. Justice stepped forward, placing a reassuring hand on my back. “Stay close,” he murmured.

With a deep breath, I forced myself to move, following Garrick into the shadows.

As we navigated the narrow alley, Justice walked behind me. His gaze darted around, scanning the darkness for any sign of trouble, his body tense and ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice.

At the end of the alley, I noticed a small chapel. Garrick stopped abruptly and turned, a mischievous gleam in his eyes.

Justice clasped my arm tightly and unsheathed his sword. “This is it.” His tense voice turned my gut upside-down.

The world around us began to change as if a powerful, unseen force had taken hold of reality. The air grew thick and heavy, pressing against my skin like a tangible weight. I struggled to catch my breath, each inhalation feeling like I was trying to breathe underwater.

The ground beneath my feet seemed to come alive, undulating and shifting like waves in a turbulent sea. I stumbled, my balance thrown off by the sudden, unnatural movement. I desperately tried to steady myself against the alley walls, but they, too, had transformed, the once-solid bricks now pulsing and writhing like living, breathing entities.

Colors swirled and blended before my eyes, creating a dizzying kaleidoscope that made my head spin. The edges of my vision blurred, and I blinked rapidly, trying to clear the haze. Nausea rose in my throat as the world continued to twist and warp around me.

A gasp tore from my lips as I fought to maintain my grip on reality, my mind reeling from the impossible sensations assaulting my senses. It was as if the fabric of the universe had been torn apart, leaving us adrift in a surreal, ever-shifting nightmare.

I squeezed my eyes shut as an invisible force wrenched me off the ground, the wind roaring in my ears like a thousand angry voices. My heart pounded against my ribs as I was tossed and spun through the air, my body a rag doll in the grip of an otherworldly power.

I prayed Justice was beside me. It was like I had been caught up in the Wizard of Oz’s tornado, whisking me off to the land of Oz. In my case, it was hurling me toward the Wicked Witch’s domain, where darkness and danger lurked around every corner.

I landed with a thud. The impact knocked the wind from my lungs as I struggled to catch my breath and calm my thundering heart. My head rattled like a baby’s toy, and my swirling gut threatened to spill everything out. Slowly, I pushed myself up, my hands sinking into the damp, spongy ground. The air hung heavy with the scent of decay and a cloying sweetness that made my stomach churn.

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