Page 98 of The Mirror in the Mountain

Bash’s eyes shot to mine, a muscle feathering in his cheek. I belatedly tried to calm my thoughts, knowing he could sense the full weight of my unease now that I was no longer holding him at bay.

“Talk to me,” Bash said, almost too quietly to be heard amongst the bustle around us. “Please.”

It was the plea in his eyes that unraveled the words on my tongue. “I can feel it. Like it’s calling me.”

“The mirror in the mountain?”

I shrugged slightly, something snagging in my throat. “Either that or destiny itself.”

His eyes flared slightly at that, his head tilting to the side as if appraising me.

“Perhaps we’ll make our own destiny today,” Bash murmured, reaching out to cup my cheek. His thumb moved against it in lazy strokes.

I leaned into that touch, retreating into the comfort it offered. Trying and failing not to notice the raw worry that streaked across our bond.

My hand reached down to rest on the hilt of my dagger, feeling it almost hum beneath my hand as I steadied my resolve. “Today, we stop him. Or at least gain the power to do so.”

Bash’s gaze darkened, his irises swirling madly as he leaned in. “There you are, hellion.” He stopped with his lips a breath from mine. “Do you know how hard it is not to kiss you when you get that look on your face? Determined, cocky, deadly…the one that promises vengeance.”

My mouth quirked, relishing the way his gaze dropped to the dimple I knew had appeared. “What’s stopping you?”

Bash let out a sound somewhere between a huff and a groan. Then his mouth was on mine, his fingers twisting in my hair. Kissing me like there was no tomorrow as I desperately pushed away the thought that it could be true.

I stopped feeling the chill as I clung to him, losing myself to the warmth of his mouth and lips and tongue, tangling and unraveling me. Knowing we had only minutes before we would begin our journey again, but unable to let him go for the life of me.

He pulled back, panting against my now swollen lips. My hand tightened behind his neck as I drowned in the endless feeling of his love—letting it banish my desperation and dread, if only for a moment.

“I was lonely and broken, and you helped put me back together piece by piece,” I whispered, watching as wet flakes of snow settled on his auburn lashes. “I might have loved you,if for nothing else but that. And for taking me home where I belonged.”

“Don’t you dare say goodbye to me,” Bash growled, sensing what lay behind my words. Understanding too much, as always. “Not now, not ever. Stop talking like you’re going to die.”

I swallowed against the lump in my throat. “I’m just being practical. This is war, after all.”

“Well, stop it,” he snapped. “You’re not allowed to die today.”

I raised a brow. “Is that so?”

“Yes,” Bash said staunchly, glaring at me as if I was being the stubborn one. His arms wrapped around me protectively as his shadows formed a hazy shield around us. “I won’t let that happen.”

“And if the universe has other ideas?”

“Then I’ll let the universe know exactly where it can put them.”

He kissed me again, almost lazily. Like there wasn’t a doubt in his mind about how this would end.

Maybe he knew I needed that reassurance. Or maybe he just felt the need to show me exactly what we could have together when this was all over—if we won. A future that felt utterly out of reach, as much as I wanted it. Like the outcome of today had a chokehold on it, even in my dreams.

Or perhaps it was the feeling that my life would still be the price of winning.

When he looked at me, I didn’t miss that glimmer of hope that promised a future I didn’t dare yearn for. Unable to control my wince, I tried to turn away, but his hands held me in place against him, no doubt sensing my shift.

Bash’s irises swirled with agitation, his jaw hardening. “Stop thinking that this realm would be better off without you. Not when we’re so close.”

I tried desperately to make the lump in my throat go away, but I wouldn’t lie to him. Couldn’t—not when he saw right through me. “And if we’ve exhausted all our options?”

He growled in frustration, lifting a hand to cradle my face. “We’re not done yet. Not when there are other ways to stop him.”

“If he goes through the Choosing, he’ll be unstoppable,” I said dully.

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