Page 13 of The Mirror in the Mountain

She blinked as my words registered, and I held her tighter, wishing this was truly real.

“You saved us, hellion,” I said, my voice raw.

Eva took a gasping breath. “But Rivan?—”

“He’s okay. Thanks to you.”

Eva let out a sigh of relief that permeated throughout her entire body.

“Tell me what’s happened,” I demanded, my tone softly murderous. Unable to wait any longer for the answers that already haunted me.

Her teeth sank into her lower lip, and I knew she would try to hide the worst of it from me to spare my own feelings.

The rage roaring through my veins stumbled as I captured her face in my hands. “Please, Eva. I need to know everything.”

“He hasn’t touched me,” Eva said quickly, as if realizing we were on a timer that could run out at any moment. “Not yet. He hasn’t had the chance. Alette tore a hole through Morehaven…well, she sent a fireball through it.”

I was also speaking swiftly, all too aware of the fact that we were on borrowed time. “Whether or not she realized the benefits of drawing him out, Aviel won’t be able to draw power from the Source while we’re away. It’s?—”

“Under Morehaven,” Eva finished, and I stared at her in silent question. “She knows. Alette told me what it is. I assume Tobias told you?”

I nodded. “If he’s already away from the castle, that can help us. We need him separated from the Source so we can drain his power long enough to defeat him.” I stopped and then realized I missed an important question. “Wait. Where are you now?”

“Soleara,” Eva said solemnly. “We just arrived. I’m not sure why we’re here, but I think I might have a way out. Or at least the start of one.”

My heart jolted at the certainty in her voice. “I should have realized you’d have a trick up your sleeve. But?—”

I lost what I was saying as I heard the clank of chains. My heartbeat faltered, then stopped altogether when they appeared, binding her as they were conjured from the waking world. Her wrists were rubbed raw under the shackles, and I realized, with a mounting need for vengeance, that there was also a pair tearing into the skin of her ankles, hobbling her. That band was still around her throat where I watched Aviel place it during those achingly horrible last moments together.

We both knew what the waking world shoving its way in meant. Our time together was already dwindling.

It was only when I felt her body stiffen in my arms that I realized she was letting out a wordless cry of pain. Quickly, I loosened my hold on her, unable to breathe past the suddenpressure ballooning in my chest as I took in her injuries. The left side of her face was shadowed by a dark bruise, cuts that should’ve been healed by now were barely scabbed over without her magic. Yellowing bruises blotted her body from our fight with Aviel, newer purple ones covered her arms and legs. She winced as she breathed in, her ribs likely broken. But what made me go blind with a primal rage was the bite mark on her neck, freshly bleeding over the scar already there.

Claiming what was mine.

“He needed my blood to open the gates to Soleara, Bash. I think we’re here for a reason, that coming north was Aviel’s plan all along, even if Alette made him move it sooner.” Eva’s words ran together. Like she needed to get them all out before she was taken from me again.

“Then we’ll find out why,” I assured her, even as a cold wave of dread washed over me. “And I’ll be there soon.”

“Be careful,” Eva whispered, her arms tightening around my neck.

“I’ll always come for you, hellion,” I vowed. “Just hold on.”

Gently, I held her against me as if I could somehow keep her here. I could feel her shaking as I kissed her forehead, her cheeks, her hair. Her fingers dug into me as if trying to anchor herself to me. To stay with me as long as she could.

“Bash—” Her voice cracked as I felt her become as impermanent as the fog around us. “No matter what happens…”

“I know,” I whispered. “I love you too.”

“Bash…”

Tears started to roll down her cheeks, the fear in her voice cutting me to the bone. I cursed under my breath as I tried to wipe them away only for my thumbs to go right through them.

“Stay with me,” I pleaded.

The tiny noise she let out broke something inside me, my soul splintering as she faded away. My arms slipped through theempty air in front of me before I slammed them to the forest floor.

Chapter 8

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