Page 39 of From Frost to Flame

Ignoring Silas's hand completely, he crawled into his lap and threw his arms around him. He buried his face into the crook of his neck. “I thought you were gone. Where were you?”

“It just took me longer to follow than I intended,” he said, squeezing him back. “Did Arden touch you?”

“He almost did, but I got away.”

“Silas, what happened?” Castor demanded. “What took you both so long? What happened to your chest? You’re not healing at all.”

Lex tensed up out of fear as Castor came closer, and Silas's growl roiled in his chest.

“Back up. Now,” Silas said firmly. “We’ll discuss what happened after I know he’s okay.”

“We don’t have time. The soul is nearby, and I can see that she got to you. We need to keep moving before she comes back.”

“You don’t tell me what to do, and you certainly don’t question my orders. Especially not when it comes to him. You should know better. Now, make yourself useful and tend to Julian.”

Castor quieted and glared at him. It was clear there was a charged moment between the brothers, but Silas held his stare in the defiant way only a king could.

Reluctantly, Castor turned on his heels and went to Julian’s side. He nodded for Mora to bring him the backpack of supplies Julian had dropped when he was burned.

With the distance, Lex relaxed into Silas. Exhaustion made his entire body go slack. “I’m all mixed up.”

“I know you are,” Silas said, rubbing his back in slow circles. “You’re with me and your family. We are looking for a way to get that compass off your wrist. Do you remember that?”

Lex nodded as pieces of reality fell back into place. “Where are we now?”

“I’m not sure.” Silas looked up at the tree they sat under. “It’s an overgrown and muggy version of the garden. The rosebushes have run wild, swallowing everything, and the magnolia trees are much taller, as if they’re older here. There are no fountains, but every once in a while, I spotted some statues posed throughout the thorns. I was hoping you’d have more insight. You know more about mythical places than I do.”

Lex looked around, and his village faded away. Silas was right. This muggy garden lacked any signs of frost, and the plants were bizarrely huge. Even the magnolia tree above them looked exactly like the one that had Silas so distracted earlier if another fifty years had passed. His eyes drifted up to the moon and he nodded.

“It’s blurry. We’re probably in a mirrorscape. They’re little pockets created by dark magic. They’re imperfect mirrors of the spaces they were created in. You’ll get ponds instead of fountains and the blurry sky. Supposedly they’re a myth since they are so hard to create. You can trap people or hide away in them,” Lex said, a bit fascinated by being in such a strange place. “Good place to hide a piece of your soul.”

“I knew you’d have some idea,” Silas said, giving his thigh a squeeze. “You are the most brilliant person I’ve ever met, you know that?”

Already vulnerable, the sweet words overwhelmed him, and Lex hid his face in Silas's chest. The open wound was next to his face, and he carefully traced the edges, letting blood and ink stain his fingertips. “Arden hurt you, and there was a beast. Are you poisoned? Did that creature attack you?”

“Don’t worry about me. I’ll heal,” Silas said, taking Lex’s hand in his. “I see you used your flames when you’re being drained by the compass. I’m not certain how you managed to do such a thing. You didn’t even do that when the fae nearly kidnapped you. You must have been terrified before I got here.”

Lex nodded, then cringed, looking at his family in the distance. They sat among tall roses, talking with Castor. “I didn’t mean to hurt Julian. I should talk to him.” He twisted to get up, but Silas tightened his hold.

“Stay. Using your flames took too much energy out of you. I can’t have you passing out, so I need you to feed. Then you can visit with your family.”

His fangs lengthened at the very suggestion. Still, he looked away. “I think I’d rather wait. I’m tired. I can keep up with everyone.”

Silas gripped his cheeks in one hand, tilted his head up, and looked down at him sternly. “You’re clearly not doing well. Your eyes are glossy, you’re moving like you’re in pain, and you’ve been swaying in my lap like you can’t hold yourself steady.”

“Yes, but—”

“Open your mouth for me. We aren’t arguing about this.”

“But everyone’s so close by. I don’t want any of them to hear.” Lex didn’t want to risk further embarrassment. “I’m not even hungry. Really.”

“Your fangs have already descended, darling,” Silas said, amused. “No one’s going to judge you.”

“Fine,” he huffed, giving in. “Can you let go of my face, please?”

“I’ll let go when you prove to me you’re going to behave yourself.”

He rolled his eyes, but Silas showed no sign of changing his mind. Reluctantly, he held his gaze and parted his lips.

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