Page 9 of The Other Side of the Mirror

Only when I turned around, Bash’s puzzled face held such a degree of seriousness I knew in my bones he wasn’t joking.

My heart thudded painfully.

There’s no way this is real, golem or no golem in my living room.

“Of course, you do,” Bash said impatiently, an incredulous look crossing his admittedly handsome face. “Fae tend to avoid magic in the mortal realm as it leaves a trail, but?—”

He cut off at the look on my face.

“No, I don’t,” I said, a bit shrilly.

Bash’s brows pulled together. I backed away a step as he walked toward me with intention, his eyes on my chest. No…on the silver star amulet gleaming on top of where my breasts pushed together, visible just above the scoop neck of my sweater.

Bash opened his mouth, then closed it as he watched me, an oddly gentle look on his face. “Are you sure about that?”

That soft, careful tone from him made me nervous, as did his moving so near that I could count the freckles on his eyelids. Not that I was going to let him know that. I stared up at him before glancing down at my amulet, resting my hand on the hilt of my dagger like it might ground me back to reality.

There were only inches between us now, and I breathed in the scent of him. Like the woods, mixed with the musk of impending rain.

I stiffened as he reached behind my neck, the brush of his hand against my bare skin sending a prickle of sensation through me. While I knew I should stop him from whatever he thought he was doing, there was something about his touch that kept me frozen in place.

“What on earth are you?—”

He unclasped the amulet.

There was a deafening roar in my ears. Bursts of light exploded behind my eyes as my legs gave out. I could feel Bash’s arms catch me, hear the panic in his voice as he called my name. I choked on the air in my lungs, every nerve ending exploding.

In my mind, I saw a flash of a bronze castle and a gleaming gold crown.

Then darkness exploded around me, and everything went mercifully black.

Chapter4

Bash

With my heart in my throat, I caught Eva before she could hit the ground. Her phone clattered to the floor.

“Eva!”

She had gone utterly limp in my arms, her head lolling to one side. Her face was pale, her breathing too shallow. Panic exploded inside me as I put my hand to the smooth skin of her throat, feeling for a pulse. Her heart beat rapidly against my fingertips.

My relief palpable, I rocked back on my heels, momentarily stunned by the force of it. I had been more than impressed at how this practically mortal little hellion had managed to take down that golem like it was nothing, turning into an indomitable warrior in the blink of an eye. It had been utterly entrancing watching her wield a blade like she had been fighting with it as long as I had—especially when she had claimed my killing blow.

Her hair was strewn across her face. As I brushed it away, one of her brown tresses wrapped itself around my finger, hints of amber shining from each strand in the light. The world around us faded to a blur as I studied her face, peaceful in my arms.

She’s not yours to admire. Now get her out of here and do what must be done.

I grabbed her hand and squeezed. “Eva, please, wake up. We need to go.”

She stirred almost imperceptibly, and a wave of relief flooded through me. But something about the feel of her hand made me glance down. I hissed at the sight of an old burn, the floral pattern standing out so starkly I would be surprised if she still had nerve endings there from the severity of the fiery brand.

Glancing at the door, I made up my mind in an instant. I couldn’t chance anyone finding us here, not with how long we had already dawdled. Not with my companions waiting for me at our meeting point, having thought this an easy extraction. It would be a trek back to where I came through, especially with Eva unconscious, but we couldn’t risk staying here any longer. And I needed someone with healing abilities to make sure I hadn’t hurt her.

Something seized in my throat at the realization she could be worse off than I had originally thought. After all, she still hadn’t woken. It had been stupid of me not to have waited in the first place.

What had I beenthinkingtearing that damned amulet off her like that?

Scooping Eva up against my chest, I stooped to grab the pack she had stuffed with clothes and supplies, then doubled checked that she still had the dagger she had flagrantly brandished at me attached to her belt. I took a step toward the door?—

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