Page 94 of A Shard of Ice

My hands are shaking when I turn to face Damon. He looks stricken. There is a deep frown on his forehead, and his eyes are hazy.

“This is it,” he says, his voice choked.

“Yes.” I nod. “Thank you for everything.” My voice hitches, and my throat clogs.

He chokes out a laugh. “You’re thanking me when all I’ve done is put you in danger.”

“You’ve saved me every step of the way. I wouldn’t be here now if it weren’t for you, and that’s the simple truth of it.”

“I don’t want to leave you.” He takes my hands.

I lick my lips. “You have to. It’s the right thing to do.” I won’t bring him down. I need to learn to stand on my own two feet.

“It doesn’t feel right.”

“No, it doesn’t, but you need to go, and you need to save the realm. I will be waiting for you; do you hear me?”

“You can’t wait, Ky. I might not make it back.”

“You will! You’ll make it, and I will be there when you do. We’ll find each other again. Wewillbe together. There is no one else for me. It’s only you. I love you, Damon.” I have to tell him. He needs to know how I truly feel. I don’t want to believe that this is the end for us, but the reality is that it very well could be.

He takes my lips in a hard kiss that speaks of our anguish, our pain, and our love. He moans against my mouth in frustration and need. When he pulls away, he holds me close before looking deep into my eyes. “I love you, too…so much, Kyrie. It’s why I have to leave you.”

“It’s why I have to let you go.” I step away from him. “I’ll be fine. I will.” I realize that I am crying and wipe at the tears.

“I know you will. Thesha’s right; you’re stronger than you think.” His gaze is lingering, burning not just into my eyes but into my soul. Then he turns and leaves. He takes my heart with him.

31

Damon

I pull the hood over my head and force myself to walk away. To put one foot in front of the other. I force myself to leave the best thing that has ever happened to me. I know she will be safe. Merna will take good care of Kyrie.

Elsie, too, even if she doesn’t know exactly who Kyrie is. I reach the closet without incident. I passed one or two humans in the hallway, but no one paid me any real attention, just a male who mumbled “hello.” Other than that, I was mostly ignored.

I go into the closet, light one of the lanterns, and go in through the wall. Then, I make my way back to the room with the doors.

Once there, I linger. Instead of taking the door that leads to the tunnels, I take another. I start down the dark hallway, sure to keep my steps silent.

My heart races as I navigate the shadowy labyrinth of corridors and then a flight of stairs. I quicken my pace, the urgency of our mission propelling me forward. Finally, I come toa large wooden door at the end of the hallway at the top of the stairs.

Ignoring the door, I gently push aside a small slot and put my eye to the tiny opening. Before me is the great hallway. It is vast, with high ceilings made from glass.

The breath leaves me in a rush when I see it. The mirror is huge, bigger than I thought it would be. It’s ornate, with a frame of intricate carvings and etchings that glimmer gold in the soft candlelight around the room. The mirror’s surface is like liquid silver, rippling and shimmering as if a breeze is passing through it. But there is no breeze, just an eerie stillness that hangs heavy in the air.

I can feel the malevolence, can taste the rot of evil in the air. This is dark magic indeed.

I am about to close the slot to leave when I hear heels clacking on the floor. Someone is approaching fast.

It’s her.

It’s Snow.

I know it.

Part of me wants to look away, but I can’t.

Everything in me clenches when I see her. She is wearing a white gown made of fine silk. The bodice is embroidered with sparkling jewels, and the skirt is layered with fine lace.

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