Page 81 of The Eternal Mirror
She doesn’t answer.
Of course she doesn’t.
And just like that, my anger ignites. Hot. Fast. Familiar.
“Oh, come on,” I say, stepping toward her. “You started this. You broke it. You fix it.”
Still silent.
“And while we’re talking about helpful goddesses...” My voice sharpens. “Where the fuckwereyou when I was sorting out the Hell fiasco. Which, also it seems, was ultimately your fault. A bit of divine backup would’ve beennice.”
She stiffens and turns to face me, and I can see the anger glinting in her eyes. Oops. Have I just pissed off the goddess?
“Do you not think I would have helped you more if I could? But I am weak and tethered to this half place while I try to heal the mirror. Even from here, I could see what was becoming of my beautiful world: the growing evil, the rising darkness. I had to find a way to help. And I saw a vision of you—a black alicorn with the power to change the world.”
Not what I wanted to hear.
“So I gave you what magic I could spare. And to your bonded mate, I gave the powers I stole from Vortex.”
I hold up a hand. “Wait.” There’s something churning in my mind since she mentioned Vortex severing their bond. Something awful. Something I feel bad about even thinking. Guilt churns in my stomach. Acid-bright. But I’d thought it impossible.
I force myself to ask, “I always thought the mating bond was...unbreakable. But you said the gods can do anything.” I hesitate. My mouth’s dry as ash. “Is there a way to sever the bond between me and Khaosti?”
Selene frowns, head tilting slightly at the shift. “You wish to part from him?”
“No. I just want to know if it’spossible.”
“The mating bond is a gift,” she says softly.
I snort. “Yeah? Tell me—how’d that work out for you and Vortex? When you...”I can’t say it. When youkilledhim. “When Vortex died.”
Her eyes flutter closed. Like that memory still burns. “I will think on it,” she says finally. “It has never been done.” Then, after a pause: “But that does not mean itcan’tbe.”
She studies me for a moment. “I thought your role was to destroy Lucifer and clear the darkness from the world. But I was distracted and did not see the whole picture. Now it’s clear that Lucifer was a symptom, not the cause. And you are right; this was my fault. I should have taken more care, but I acted in anger and now the Mirror is broken.” She’s silent for a moment, gazing at the mirror, then she turns back to me. “The Eternal Mirror sees you. And now you must finish what has been started.”
I grit my teeth. I don’t want the Mirror to see me. But as usual, I don’t suppose it matters what I want. “So what is it you expect me to do this time?”
“Without the splinter...the mirror will never be whole. It is being drawn to the splinter. But if Khronus forces a connection—tries to use the splinter to reach the Mirror—he could destroy the very nature of creation.”
“Can’t you kill him?”
“No. I made a vow, after I killed Vortex, that I would never kill again.”
Well that’s bad news.
But I suppose it explains why she couldn’t kill Lucifer, why she had to get my mother to do it. Butshecouldn’t because she loved him.
“So how do I stop him? Should I try to destroy the splinter?”
“No!” She opens her mouth to speak again, but at that moment, the air hums. The stars seem to draw in breath.
A sudden jolt rips through the dream. The mirror behind her cracks, a shrieking echo tearing through the void. Selene gasps—stumbles—her form fraying like smoke in the wind.
“Amber—you must get back the splinter. Don’t—”
Gone.
I jerk upright with a gasp. Cold sweat. Heart racing.
