Page 14 of Mirror of Vanity

Damon clutched his chest in mock offense, his bottom lip jutting out in an exaggerated pout. “You wound me, dear sister. Here, I thought you enjoyed our little exchanges.”

I sighed, my lips twitching upward. “‘Enjoy’ might be a strong word. Tolerate, maybe. On a good day.”

Damon laughed. “I’ll take it. After all, what’s the point of having a twin if you can’t engage in a little friendly banter?”

I smiled as the tension drained from my shoulders. As much as Damon’s cocky attitude could drive me crazy, I had to admit our playful back-and-forth was one of the things I cherished most about our relationship. It was a reminder of the unbreakable bond we shared, a connection forged through a lifetime of shared experiences and inside jokes.

Justice cleared his throat. “As you all know, we’re not only fighting against Maci. We’re up against her army of demons, and she now has Lisa’s phoenix and her dog. Her goal is to use the phoenix to gain power over life and death.” His voice cut through the stillness as his intense, focused gaze swept us. “We need a solid plan. And we need help.”

Damon leaned forward, interlocking his fingers. “From these fairies?”

Grady’s eyes narrowed, and he clenched his jaw in frustration. “How many times do we have to tell you? They’re not fairies. They’re Fae.” He spoke each word slowly and deliberately, as if trying to drive the point home.

Damon rolled his eyes, leaning back against the sofa with a dismissive wave. “Okay, they’re Fae. So what, we’re going to sit down and have high tea with them? Maybe discuss the latest fashion trends in the magical world?”

Grady’s face flushed, and he slammed his palm on an end table, making the rest of us jump. “This isn’t a joke, Damon! The Fae are powerful, ancient beings, especially Garrick. If we’re going to have any hope of navigating their realms and finding the mirror, we need to take this seriously.”

Justice lifted his hand to silence them. “Stop. As we discussed last night, we’re going to meet Garrick and Chelby. We need to tell them about Sawyer’s dream about the dark figure and the lake. I’ve been thinking about this all night. What if it isn’t in Scotland? What if it’s in one of the Fae realms?”

The morning sunlight cast dancing shadows across Justice’s face as he leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. His words lingered in the air, and a knot tightened in my gut.

“It’s possible,” I admitted. The idea of my dream leading us beyond Scotland and into unknown Fae territory both thrilled and terrified me.

I knew deep in my heart that we may not have a choice.

CHAPTER EIGHT

As the weight of our conversation settled over the room, a sudden gust of wind carried the enticing aroma of freshly baked bread and sizzling bacon through the open window. The smells wafting from the kitchen starkly contrasted the heavy atmosphere, a tantalizing reminder of the simple pleasures that still existed in the world beyond our daunting quest.

We sat in silence, inhaling the comforting scents and allowing ourselves a brief respite from the challenges ahead. The mouthwatering smells promised a moment of normalcy, a fleeting chance to gather our strength and fortify our resolve before we plunged headlong into the unknown.

With a shared glance and a nod of understanding, we rose from our seats and headed toward the kitchen, ready to embrace this small moment of comfort.

Sean and his wife were a whirl of activity in the kitchen, expertly maneuvering around each other as they prepared a hearty Scottish breakfast. The table was set invitingly with plates of thick, savory back bacon, sizzling square sausages, and golden tattie scones. Fluffy scrambled eggs, grilled tomatoes, and a generous helping of black pudding accompanied the spread. A pot of strong tea steamed beside a basket of fresh, buttered rolls, completing the traditional robust meal.

Sean gestured to the table. “Please, come and sit, my friends. Eat while it’s hot.”

Justice pulled out a chair for me and sat beside me before my brother could sit between us.

Damon frowned as he settled next to me like a chaperone. He gave Justice a don’t-even-think-about-touching-my-sister look.

Sometimes his overprotectiveness was a pain in my derriere.

Justice reached for the teapot, his fingers brushing lightly against mine as he lifted it from the table. The brief contact lit my blood on fire and warmed my cheeks with a hot flush. He filled my cup with the fragrant, steaming liquid, the aroma of bergamot and honey wafting to greet me.

“Thank you,” I murmured, glancing up at him through my lashes, a shy smile on my lips.

His eyes met mine, a flicker of understanding passing between us. “You’re welcome,” he replied, his voice low and gentle, as if he were sharing a secret meant only for me.

Damon tapped his finger next to his cup, breaking the charged moment with a smirk. “Don’t mind me, the guy dying of thirst over here,” he quipped, his playful tone edged with a hint of sarcasm. “You know, tea for two sounds romantic, but tea for three keeps the peace.”

“Say please,” I murmured.

Damon leaned back in his chair. “Please.”

Justice promptly poured tea into Damon’s cup, as well as for everyone else at the table. As I sipped from my cup, I observed him closely. Justice was undeniably a leader, yet his manner was not domineering but marked by a calm assurance that invited trust rather than demanded obedience.

It made me want to follow him. He said he would protect me, and I believed him.

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