Page 37 of Mirror of Vanity

Justice’s grip tightened. His warmth seeped into my skin, chasing away the chill of fear. “This is Garrick’s land,” he reminded me. “He knows it better than Maci. We have the advantage of his knowledge and resources.”

I nodded, trying to let his words sink in and push back the doubts. He was right. Garrick was the king of the Unseelie Realm and our ally. With his knowledge, we could obtain the secrets of the Archive of Shadows.

Yet, even with that advantage, I couldn’t shake the feeling we were walking into a battle where the odds were stacked against us. Maci was a formidable foe, her power and cruelty legendary. And the Archive of Shadows, with its ancient secrets and dark magic, was a prize she would not relinquish easily.

I turned to face Justice, seeking the strength and comfort only he could provide. “Promise me,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “Promise me that no matter what happens, we’ll face it together. That we won’t lose each other in the darkness.”

Justice’s gaze softened, his hand coming up to cup my cheek. His thumb brushed away the single tear that had escaped my eye. “I promise, Sawyer. We’re in this together until the end. Nothing, not even Maci and her army, can tear us apart.”

I leaned into his touch, savoring the feeling of his skin against mine. As long as I had Justice by my side, I could face anything, even the darkest of shadows.

With a deep breath, I pulled back, squaring my shoulders and steeling my resolve. “Let’s go meet with Garrick.” I flashed him an amusing smile. “First, you need to get dressed.”

He tilted my chin up. “I fed on you, Sawyer. Are you sure you’re up to this?”

I drew a deep breath, assessing my body’s state. A wave of dizziness washed over me, and I reached out to steady myself against the wall. “I’m a little tired,” I admitted, my voice sounding strained even to my own ears. “It feels like a slight hangover.”

Justice’s brow furrowed, his hand moving to support my elbow. “I’m so sorry, Sawyer. I shouldn’t have taken so much. I let my hunger get the best of me.”

I shook my head, immediately regretting the action as the room spun around me. “No, it’s okay. I wanted you to feed. You needed it.”

Despite my reassurance, I felt weakness in my limbs, the way my body seemed to be moving through molasses. It wasn’t only the blood loss. It was the emotional toll of the intimate act, the way it had forged an even deeper connection between us.

I leaned into Justice, letting him support my weight. “I’ll be fine,” I insisted. “I just need a moment to catch my breath.”

“Maybe we should wait,” he suggested. “Give you some time to recover.”

“No. We can’t afford to wait. Maggie’s life is at stake, and every minute we delay is another minute she’s in Maci’s clutches.”

Justice searched me for any sign of hesitation or doubt. After finding none, he nodded. “Okay. But promise you’ll tell me if it becomes too much. I won’t risk losing you, Sawyer. Not for anything.”

I managed a small smile, my heart swelling with love for this man who would move heaven and earth to keep me safe. “I promise. We’re in this together, remember?”

He pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead. “Together,” he echoed.

I straightened my spine, pushing past the weakness that threatened to overtake me. Hand in hand, Justice and I exited the room, ready to face whatever depressing news Garrick had in store for us.

He sat on his throne, his grip on the armrests so tight that his knuckles had turned white. Despite his tense posture, he held his head high, a king struggling to maintain his composure. “Maci has her.” His strained voice shook with barely contained anger.

My heart broke for him, understanding the depth of his pain. “Maggie?”

Garrick scrubbed his face, the weight of his worry etched into his features. “According to my scout, she has them in cages. Shadow wolves and shifters don’t do well in confinement. It drives them mad.”

Justice glanced at me, a silent exchange passing between us before he turned back to the king. “We’ll free her, Garrick,” he assured.

“I can’t lose her,” Garrick’s voice nearly broke under the strain of his emotions. “She’s to be my queen.”

“If Maci knows this, she’ll want to manipulate you. It’s the only thing that makes sense,” I pointed out, my mind racing with the implications.

“I agree,” Justice chimed in, his tactical mind already at work. “Maci’s a master manipulator, and she’ll threaten to kill Maggie to keep you from rising against her.”

A spark of hope flickered inside my chest. “That means she’s scared. It might give us an advantage,” I suggested.

Determination flickered in Garrick’s eyes, the fire of a king ready to fight for his love. “I won’t risk her life,” he declared.

Justice squared his shoulders. “You won’t have to. We’ll get her back,” he promised.

I nodded, stepping forward to stand beside Justice, a united front against the darkness. “We’ll find a way, Garrick. Maci may be powerful, but she’s not invincible. Together, we can outsmart her and bring Maggie home.”

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