Page 36 of A Touch of Madness

“And once we’re inside?” Kristoff asks, his voice skeptical.

“The Mirror of Thorns is our target. Our goal,” Viago says, tapping a spot on the map at the heart of the stronghold. “It’s the source of their power. Destroy it, and their enchantments collapse. Their leaders will be vulnerable.”

“Honestly, I think it’s kind of shit that you’re making it seem so simple,” Vada says, crossing her arms. “They’ll be waiting for us. We aren’t going to just prance in there and grab the Mirror of Thorns. One of the oldest relics still in existence.” She scoffs.

Sylvie’s breath catches, and all eyes turn to her as she steps closer to the table, her gaze fixed on the marked location. "The Mirror of Thorns," she murmurs, almost to herself. Then louder, she adds, "That’s the relic I was told I need to find and capture—the one that could restore Lara’s humanity."

The room goes silent for a beat, the weight of her words sinking in. Viago’s smirk returns, this time tinged with intrigue. "Well, isn’t that convenient? Two birds, one stone. It seems fate’s taken quite an interest in you, Sylvie."

I feel my chest tighten at his words, and I step closer to Sylvie, my voice calm but firm. "This complicates things. If the Mirror is tied to both Solstice’s power and Lara’s humanity, destroying it might not be an option."

"Then we don’t destroy it," Sylvie says, her voice gaining strength. "We take it. We take it and use it for what it was meant to do and return it to the witches and restore my sister’s humanity. But… how does taking or destroying it weaken the Society? What happens after that?"

Viago’s smirk fades slightly, replaced with a calculating look. "The Mirror of Thorns is their tether to dark magic. It anchors their spells and amplifies their power. Without it, they lose their ability to maintain their wards, their enchantments, and their control over others. They’ll be exposed—vulnerable to an attack."

Dorian adds, "Think of it as cutting the strings on a puppet. Their magic is vast but unstable. The Mirror stabilizes it. Without that anchor, they’ll collapse under their own power."

"And that’s when we strike," Viago says. "With the Mirror in hand, we not only dismantle their defenses but ensure they can’t rebuild."

"But there’s another complication," I interject. "If the Mirror is to be used for Lara, there’s a ritual involved. One that likely requires witches."

Kristoff scoffs. "You want to bring witches into this? They’re as unpredictable as Solstice."

"Not all of them," Sylvie says firmly. "There are some I trust with my life. I will agree to help you because I need the relic anyway. I want them to be taken down. And as long as I have time to save Lara first, I’m in.”

Viago taps his fingers on the table, clearly considering. "Fine. Bring your witches, if you must. But if they even think about turning on us?—"

"They won’t," Sylvie cuts him off. "Because they want this as much as we do. Solstice stole that relic from them ages ago. It’s rightfully theirs. Plus, they know once Solstice accomplishes what they want with the vampires, they are moving on to the witches. They want them dismantled as well."

"Then it’s settled," I say, my voice firm. "The plan remains: breach their defenses, take the Mirror, and neutralize their leadership. The witches will handle the ritual after we secure the relic. Everyone knows their role."

The room falls silent as the enormity of the task sinks in. Finally, Sylvie nods. "If this goes wrong…" She looks at me, her voice faltering for the first time. "I’ll need you to trust me."

I meet her gaze, my voice steady. "You have my trust."

Viago claps his hands together, breaking the tension. "Then it’s settled. One week. What is the point in waiting if we know what we need, have the magic behind us, and can defeat Solstice? Your witches can help with their magic as well. We’re in as good of a spot as we can be. Vampires will work on making sure we go over the lay of the land. Sylvie, you work on your wards, the incantation, and whatever else it is you need prior to going. Your witches will know what we’re up against, and they’ll prepare as well.” He pauses before looking around at all of us. “Rest while you can—it may be the last chance you get."

As the group begins to disperse, I linger near the maps, my thoughts heavy. Sylvie stands beside me, her presence grounding despite the chaos ahead.

"This is incredibly dangerous," I say quietly. "You don’t have to do this."

Sylvie has been hard at work over the last few days since meeting with the Guild, practicing her incantation, meeting with Ravenna, Rebecca, and Nicole. Still, I can’t help but worry. I never want her in harm’s way—especially due to me.

She turns to me, her expression soft but resolute. “I have to. If this mirror really is the key to helping Lara and stopping Solstice, then there’s no question. I’ll see this through.”

Something in her voice makes my chest ache. It’s not just her determination, but the weight she carries, the sacrifices she’s willing to make. And I can’t let her bear it alone.

“Sylvie,” I say, stepping closer, my voice low, “I need you to understand something. Above all else, your safety matters to me. Not Viago’s plans. Not even this war. You.”

Her breath hitches, her lips parting slightly as she meets my gaze. For a moment, the world narrows to just us, the tension from the meeting and the looming battle forgotten. Slowly, I lift my hand to her cheek, my thumb brushing against her skin.

“Lucian,” she whispers, but whatever she was about to say is lost as I bend down, capturing her lips with mine. The kiss is soft at first, an unspoken promise, but it deepens as she leans into me, her hands clutching at my shirt. It’s not just passion—it’s everything I’ve held back, all the words I haven’t said.

When we finally pull apart, her forehead rests against mine, her breathing unsteady. “You always act like you have to carry everything alone,” I tell her. “But you don’t. Let me be there for you, too. We’ll end them and we’ll get your sister’s humanity back. And then the two of us can finally be what we’re meant to be for each other.”

“Promise?” she asks, looking up at me with so much hope in her eyes it makes me want to whisk her away and never allow her to leave my side again. To protect her at all costs. And I will.

“Promise.”

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