Page 35 of The Eternal Mirror
I exhale, long and slow. “He’s not just a king. He’s a god. Or near enough. He was descended from the First Gods, Selene and Vortex, who created all the worlds.”
She frowns. “So does that make you a god as well?”
I just shrug. It all comes back to that question—what is a god? I don’t know. So I don’t answer. “My father has ruled Astrali for over five thousand years. You don’t keep a grip like that without being the worst kind of bastard.”
“Is he a shifter?” Jack asks.
“No. He’s a beastmaster. The only one. “
At least he’s the only one I’ve ever heard of, but I wonder—was he always a beastmaster? I know he’s been dabbling in dark magic for a long time. Did he somehow create the power? Or was he born with it? I have never heard anything to the contrary, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned since leaving Astrali—my father has a way of rewriting history he doesn’t like.
Maybe Selene knows. But whether she would deign to tell me is another matter. All the same, maybe a little praying is in order.
“And a beastmaster is...?” Killian asks.
“He can force you to shift and then he can control your every move.”
“That’s not good.”
“No. It’s very fucking bad. So we’ll stay out of his way until we are ready.”
No one speaks after that. What would be the point? I don’t think any of us is particularly interested in small talk.
Finally, Brown returns. “It’s time.”
We get to our feet. I reach for Grimlet, and he opens one eye, then launches onto my shoulder.
“This way,” Brown says.
We follow him out of the library, along the hallway to a door that leads to the stairway heading down underground. A stone staircase winds down into the dark. Torches line the walls, flickering on as we approach. The air grows colder with every step. The smell of damp stone and old magic thickens.
Last time I walked these steps, Amber was with me. I feel her like a ghost behind me now and the mating bond tightens around my heart.
Nobody talks.
The stairs feel endless. Each footstep echoes like a warning.
Finally, the staircase ends at a metal door that swings open, revealing a small chamber carved from rock. The mirror waits at the far end.
The glass itself is dark. Silent.
Sleeping.
“Is it safe?” Jack asks.
“No,” I say.
He grins. “Awesome.”
I take a breath and step forward. My palm presses against the surface and I whisper the words of the spell.
The glass shimmers.
Then breathes.
Then opens.
I turn to face them. “No hesitation. No stopping. Once we are on the other side, we run.”
