Page 14 of The Other Side of the Mirror

I couldn’t believe the words even as they came out of my mouth.

Bash nodded, looking down at his hands. “We must bring you to him. To save both our realms.”

Chapter6

Eva

Ifrowned aimlessly at the foliage surrounding us, a breeze whispering through the leaves like a secret just out of reach. The woods were different here than any I had ever known. Ancient trees swayed, seemingly shifting their shape, their long branches reaching toward each other. Dew glimmered like jewels on their changing leaves. An innate power seemed to emanate from the forest itself…from the very ground we stood upon.

“It’ll take a few days to travel to Morehaven.”

Rivan’s deep voice pulled me from my reverie, and I jolted. He grinned at me, pulling his braids into a handsome half-bun so they were out of his face. “There are some places you can’t travel via mirror, especially not from the mortal realm. The Faewilds act as a bridge into our realm, so we have a few days’ ride to Imyr. From there, we can travel through the mirror to Morehaven. So we’ll ride, and you’ll train.” My head whipped to him in surprise. “You can play at magic with Bash once we figure out what yours is. But even if you managed to help fight off that golem, you’ll need to practice self-defense and swordplay. Especially should you ever need to defend yourself without your magic.”

I snorted derisively. “My dad taught me everything from self-defense to survival skills before I hit double digits. And my mom…” I sighed. “They must have known this was coming. She did her best to prepare me too, from fencing practice to military strategy. Even if they didn’t bother to warn me about any of this…” I couldn’t help the bitterness in my voice. “I can handle myself.”

Rivan kindly ignored my scowl as he looked me up and down, sizing me up with keen eyes. “You’re not begging to go home. And you took in the whole sordid history of our realm without so much as a wince. I take it nothing much scares you, does it?”

I shrugged noncommittally.

When I lost my family in that fire, my heart had hardened in a way that made it hard to let anyone else in. But it had also made me more reckless, like I had lost my fear of dying when I lost them. Because really, if I did die, who would even miss me besides Quinn? At least I would get to see them again.

When you don’t have anyone besides yourself to live for, there isn’t much that can scare you anymore.

But I knew better than to say that aloud. Even admitting it to myself made me shift uncomfortably.

“Alright then,” Rivan said neutrally, his eyes narrowing at whatever had reflected from my thoughts on my face. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”

Bash and Yael started sparring nearby, but I could feel their attention on us. The darted glances, the looks at each other that betrayed the depth of their friendship in the words they didn’t have to voice to speak aloud. It reminded me of myself and Quinn, a friendship so lengthy I could barely remember when it started. And maybe that was because it had startedhere, in this realm.

How long had she known? Would my phone even work here if she called me back like I asked?

I made a mental note to figure out what happened to my phone after this, since it was obviously no longer in my pocket. Then took a deep breath in through my nose and counted it out, focusing my rampaging thoughts. Letting out an even exhale, I looked Rivan in the eye and held up my hand, palm up, bending my fingers toward me twice. An invitation and a challenge.

Rivan’s eyes gleamed. Then he moved so quickly, it was all I could do to duck under his open hand as it flew toward my face. He spun, and I held up an arm, his next blow glancing off my forearm. I grabbed his arm as I twisted, wrenching it back before he pulled away.

“Good,” he murmured.

“Nothing like an appreciative masochist,” I said dryly.

Rivan grinned then jabbed at me with his left fist. Dodging, I blocked him with my right but missed his leg sweeping beneath me. I rolled, not as gracefully as I would have liked, shooting him a dirty look as I made it to my feet. He chuckled, those lavender eyes sparkling, before he threw himself back at me.

I could tell he wasn’t using his full strength as we traded a few more blows. While I knew he was feeling out my ability, there was nothing that pissed me off more than a guy holding himself back when fighting against me, as though his superior skill was predetermined. Even one as finely chiseled as Rivan.

Feinting left, I left a deliberate opening on my right side. When Rivan charged forward to take advantage, I used a move my mom taught me long ago—one that used a larger opponent’s size against them. Right as Rivan reached for me, I grabbed his outstretched arm and twisted, turning my back to him, bending my knees, and heaving in one quick, fluid motion.

Rivan tumbled over me onto his back, a delighted deep laugh rumbling up at me from the forest floor. I smiled down at him, offering him a hand.

“Remind me not to underestimate you again,” Rivan said, grinning broadly as I helped him to his feet.

Bending over to catch my breath, I massaged the hip that had borne the brunt of my hasty roll. “Remind me to warm up before our next bout.”

I could hear the smirk on Bash’s lips as he drawled, “You did hear the part whereshewas the one to finish off the golem, right?”

But when I stood, he was studying me with unreadable eyes. Yael clapped slowly, beaming at me, and I couldn’t help a quick grin in return. I couldn’t remember the last time my smile felt this genuine.

“My turn next,” she said excitedly. “Let’s see what you can do with a sword.”

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