Page 42 of The Eternal Mirror
“It’s more than that,” I say. “He’s up to something. Something big. I don’t suppose you know what?”
She shakes her head.
“I think it has to do with the witches who’ve gone missing. He’s using the magic for something. Maybe coercing them. I don’t know. But we need to find out.”
Sadness flickers across her face; she must be thinking about her mother.
“Maybe we should just all get the fuck off this stupid world,” Zayne says. “Let him have it. Destroy the mirrors so he’s stuck here, like Lucifer was in Hell.”
That has always been one option, but I’m no longer sure it would work. He has magic of his own now. “If he gets his way, I doubt any of us will be safe anywhere.”
“It’s still got to be better than here.” Zayne scowls. “I don’t like it.”
”Well, obviously you don’t. But what in particular?”
He waves a hand around. “This room, the food and drink, him letting us wander around the palace like we’re fucking guests. He’s got an agenda.”
I really don’t want to say this out loud. I don’t even like thinking about it. But maybe it will put Zayne’s mind at rest at least a little. “I think he’s trying to impress me.”
His eyes narrow. “Why the hell would he want to impress you?”
I sniff at the disbelief in his voice. “I intrigue him.” He still looks skeptical, and I shrug. “Okay, so Khronus had a thing for my mother, and I think he sees me as a sort of substitute. He believes I’m a gift from the gods.”
A look of horror flashes across his face. “That is just gross.”
He’s not wrong there, but maybe it’s time to get back to business. I take a deep breath. “What is it you want from me?” I ask Sheela, though I can guess.
“We want you to side with the rebellion. We want you to stand up and show the people that the goddess is on our side.”
I should have seen that coming.
I gulp the rest of my wine. “I’m not the freaking goddess.” How many times do I have to say that?
“I don’t think it matters. The truth is, you’re as much a goddess as Khronus is a god.”
“So are you,” I point out. All Astralis are descended from the gods Selene and Vortex. It’s all a bit incestuous, if you ask me.
“Please think about it.” She swallows. “We’re losing ground. We need a win—and we need it fast.”
“I will.”
She exhales. “And if you need to get a message to me, there is a Warden by the name of Corvus Vahl. He is one of us, and you can trust him.”
That’s nice. I liked Corvus. I’m glad he’s on our side.
Sheela gets to her feet. “Then I will leave you to sleep. There is one more thing.”
“There is?”
“The Wolfpack.”
“Khaosti’s old legion?” I ask, already bracing for more drama.
She nods. “What’s left of them. Khronus purged anyone openly loyal to Khaos, but the rest are lying low. If they had proof Khaosti’s alive, they’d rise—and they’d bring others.”
Naturally. Because who better to follow into battle than the reborn goddess with trust issues and her angsty dragon boyfriend? I feel the chains holding me to this world tightening.
I want to wail that it’s not my battle. Not my war. Except Khronus made it mine by kidnapping Zayne and Josh.
