Page 81 of The Other Side of the Mirror

“Eva!”

He lunged forward, too fast, his fingers encircling my neck.

I screamed, shoving my hand into his chest.

“GET. OUT.”

“EVA!”

Bash’s voice cut through the nightmare again. My eyes opened to pure darkness. I cried out, lashing blindly at the False King.

“Eva, it’sme?—”

Bash let out a grunt of pain as my wild attack caught him across the chin. I lurched to a stop, dropping my darkness, the night of the room immediately turning into a stream of sunlight.

Gasping, I forced out, “It was him. The False King.”

Bash wordlessly gathered me into his arms, and I clung to him, breathing heavily.

“That hasn’t happened since the last time you were there for it, but I tried to push him out. I think I might have done it, but it was right when I woke up and?—”

Bash had gone still, his expression murderous as he stared down at my neck. I glanced behind me at a mirror on the wall and immediately saw why.

There were two bright red handprints wrapped exactly where the king’s hands had tightened around my neck.

* * *

Bash went downstairs while I got dressed in a comfortable cashmere set—the cropped top showing off a tanned sliver of my midriff above flowing, high-waisted pants. I found him surrounded by our friends by the hearth, a warm fire crackling within.

The cozy room around it had obviously been furnished with comfort in mind. Yael and Marin lounged on an oversized loveseat that matched a well-worn leather couch. Rivan was stretched out across two giant pillows laid in front of the fireplace.

Bash waited by the door, having obviously sensed my impending arrival. Myanimaimmediately wrapped his arms around me, and Marin squealed aloud. Rivan gave Bash a look that had him grinning so lasciviously it made me reconsider leaving our room.

Yael smirked knowingly at us. “So she’s your?—”

“More like I’m hers,” Bash said smoothly.

I couldn’t help the full, happy smile on my face. Bash gazed at me tenderly, leaning in to press a chaste kiss onto my lips that quickly deepened into more.

It felt inexorable, this pull to him. I didn’t know if everyanimabond was this intense, but I felt like I was drowning in his devotion. Every second, I could sense how much he loved me; the strength of it almost overwhelming. And, despite everything that threatened us, I couldn’t help my happiness. There was something fortifying about Bash’s feelings for me flowing endlessly across our bond, like he saw the worst parts of me and wanted me anyway, scars and all.

Bash smiled against my lips, as if he could tell what I was thinking. Or maybe because of the love I knew he felt in return.

“We do have a rescue to plan, you know,” Rivan said teasingly.

With an effort, I pulled away, a blush warming my cheeks. Bash made a pained noise and glared pointedly at Rivan, who chuckled deeply.

I sat down on the couch and Bash sat next to me, taking my hand. I knew he could feel the shift in my emotions, the anxiety I had felt ever since I saw Tobias in that dungeon suddenly swarming me.

“Any word of my brother?” I asked quietly.

Being this happy when Tobias was still at Aviel’s mercy felt like a betrayal. Even though I knew we couldn’t rescue him until we had a way in.

“Not yet,” Rivan said, suddenly somber. “Our spies are working day and night, but Morehaven’s heavily guarded, especially after your escape.”

I glanced at Bash, then pulled down the high neckline of my shirt. Yael swore when she saw the handprint. Marin rushed forward, putting her hands on my neck.

“You should have told me the second this happened,” she grumbled, a line forming between her brows.

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