Page 27 of The Other Side of the Mirror

She isn’t meant for you, anyway. She’ll forget all about that moment of weakness when she meets her anima.

Not to mention that union happened to be the only thing that could save both realms.

And it was up to me to honor that since she was raised mortal and didn’t understand the significance of that bond. Even if the thought of her with anyone else made me want to bellow into the night.

I leaned back on the tree, covering my face with my throbbing hand. A good reminder to keep that hand off her, I thought sullenly. With a loud groan, I slid down the wide trunk, ignoring the rough scrape of its bark. I thudded gracelessly onto the forest floor just as I heard a deep, familiar chuckle.

I didn’t bother looking up as Rivan approached.

“You two have a nice swim, did you?” He had obviously spotted my wet hair upon our return, though I had changed out of my damp clothes before our silent, uncomfortable journey here. “You were truly delightful company on the ride over.”

“Don’t start,” I warned. “I’m not in the mood for a lecture.”

Rivan ignored me. I opened one eye as I sensed him moving closer, bending down so we were face-to-face. “Yael saw this coming, you know.”

I scowled at him. His lips twitched.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you like this. The way you two look at each other, it’s like…” He stopped at the look on my face.

“She’s just a friend,” I grumbled, the ‘just’ unwelcome as it stuck in my throat. “Returning her to the prince is the whole point of our mission. It’s where she belongs.”

The words were ash in my mouth.

“As much as I want to see you happy, brother, this isn’t going to end well for either of you if you continue on like this,” Rivan said, his tone unusually serious. “Especially with the curse on the line.”

“I know,” I admitted, rubbing my brow. “I made it clear to her that this isn’t…we shouldn’t…” I blew out a breath. “I don’t know why she’s affecting me like this. There’s something about her, and I can’t seem to…” I groaned at the jumble of my thoughts. “But I know what she needs to do.”And who she deserves to be with.“I just want to see her safe.”

“She’ll be with her prince soon,” Rivan said flatly, never one to mince words. “She’ll be safe, and she’ll be out of reach.” I couldn’t control my wince, and Rivan raised a worried brow. “I don’t want to see you hurt, Bash. Not when she realizes what ananimabond actually means for her heart.”

I nodded slowly. Seeing the fresh resolve on my face, Rivan smacked me hard on the shoulder before pulling me to my feet.

“I’ll be more careful around her,” I promised.

And be more careful to remember that there’s only one way this can end.

* * *

I trudged through the brush into our camp, trepidation burning a hole through my gut. Yael had created the wards this time, and I felt the air around me solidify strangely before I passed through the invisible barrier. The smell of garlic, onions, and fresh basil hit me as soon as I got past the tree line.

Without fail, my eyes immediately found Eva, who was helping Yael with dinner. She was breathtaking in a simple tan sweater, the vee of her neckline tantalizing as she bent over to stoke the fire. Underneath, she wore another pair of black leggings that might force me to blind myself if she bent over in the other direction. I shook my head sharply, as if to clear the thought from my brain.

For a heartbeat, the overpowering, traitorous urge to close the space between us seized me. To forget everything except the taste of her lips; to wrap her legs around me once more and give in to exactly what I had held myself back from in the lake. What I wouldn’t give to go back to the moment she had laughed—the sound all the more precious for its rarity. To return to that perfect, endless minute before I remembered my duty.

She needs a friend, not a lover,I reminded myself yet again.And she’ll forget all about that kiss when she reaches the prince who’s meant for her.

There was a twist in my chest, and I cleared my throat loudly.

The second her hazel and gold eyes met mine, the pressure crowding my throat dissipated. Then resumed immediately as those dazzling eyes darted away. Eva threw Rivan a tight smile, before exclaiming a little too loudly, “You’re back. Too bad. We almost got a few things done around here.”

A reluctant smile pulled at my lips.

That sharp tongue will be the death of me.

“Sorry to disappoint,” I retorted. I wet my lips, my eyes raking over her flushed face as she avoided my gaze. “Eva…”

She turned away, pretending she hadn’t heard me as she busied herself with the meal.

Look at me. Please.

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