Page 129 of Lucifer's Mirror
There’s a noise behind me and this time, I know it’s not my imagination. Okay, if I’m being honest, I knew last time as well. I could have stopped, given up, gone back. But I hadn’t.
I guess that means that maybe I trust Khaosti after all.
He steps out into the open and my heart suddenly feels all tight and full. A smile tugs at my lips. I force it back.
“You followed me,” I say.
He stalks toward me. I take a closer look at his face and realize he looks super-pissed off. “You left me,” he snarls. “You used me. You told me you loved me, then you fucking left me.”
I frown. “You heard that?”
“Yes, I heard that. I thought it was a beautiful dream, but I know it was real. Tell me it wasn’t true.”
I shake my head. I won’t lie to him. Besides, part of me—most of me—wants him to know how I feel.
“I thought so,” he says. “Story of my fucking life. They love me and they fucking leave me.”
“I was going to come back.”Hopefully.
He doesn’t answer, and I use the opportunity to take him in—all of him. He’s glorious: long and lean, all dressed in black, with a sword at his back. He looks like the warrior I know he is. And he came for me.Again.I drag my gaze from his body back to his face. He’s staring back at me, deep, burning hunger in his eyes. He takes a step toward me, and then I’m flying through the air at him. Within seconds, I’m in his arms and we’re kissing.
I grip his shoulders as his hands grip my ass, pulling me against him. My body burns for him. My heart is racing. I need air, but I can’t face letting him go. It was so hard to walk away the first time. I don’t think I have the strength to do it again.
But finally, I have to breathe, and I step back gasping. I draw in a long deep breath and then release it. Then I do it again, to give myself time to think about my next move. I take a step back, but he grabs my hand so I can’t go far. It’s as though he’s afraid I’ll vanish.
Maybe it’s time to trust him. If I’m wrong, it’s over. But what are my options? I could draw my sword and chop his head off. But I doubt he’d just stand there and let me and besides, he’s a way better swordsman than me. Likely it would be my head rolling in the sand.
I suppose I could ask him to go away. Nicely of course. But I suspect it’s unlikely he’d comply.
His thumb moves against my captured hand, stroking circles on my skin and I drag myself from my thoughts. He’s looking over my shoulder, a frown on his face.
“Is that Lucifer’s Mirror?” he asks.
“I wish.” Because that would simplify things so much. Unfortunately, it isn’t Lucifer’s. It’s my mother’s. She left it here for me. Because I need it to get to where I’m going.
“Amber?”
It’s now or never. I have to make a decision. But I know that the decision has already been made.
“No,” I reply. “But it will take me to where the mirror is hidden.”
He looks away while he computes that. I see the moment he realizes what it means. “All mirrors take you to the chamber. The chamber in my father’s kingdom.”
I nod. I can’t disagree with that. Well, I could. Of course there are exceptions—Lucifer’s Mirror for one. Though Khaosti isn’t aware of that.
His eyes narrow. “My father has been hunting you, and now you just plan to make a little visit to his home?” I don’t say anything, and he shakes his head in disbelief. “And you were going alone? Are you totally deluded?”
Possibly. About a lot of things. But not about this. “It will be a quick in and out. No one will even know I’m there.” It’s true. I have a spell that will send the mirror to a new location. I’ve already decided where. It should be safe until it’s needed. I could have left it where it is, but while I’m putting on a confident front for Khaosti, I really don’t like the idea of going anywhere near his father. I want the mirror somewhere I can get to easily when the time comes to use it.
Which isn’t far off.
I’ve seen the state of Valandria and the suffering of Thanouq’s people. I can’t put this off much longer. I just need a little… preparation. Anyway, my point is—I want the mirror moved somewhere more easily accessible.
“So just wait for me here,” I suggest. “And I’ll be back before you can say—”
“Totally fucking deluded,” Khaosti interrupts me. “If you think I’m going to allow you to go alone, you are dead wrong.”
Something inside me relaxes at his words, some tension I hadn’t even known I was holding in. The truth is, I’ve felt so alone for most of my life—at least since I was four years old and Hecate sent me to safety in the care of one of the guardians. They were good to me, but with the exception of Khendril—who had been the last—they treated me as something to be trained and protected. Not loved. Khendril had been different, but by that point, I’d gotten used to losing my guardians, and I’d always known in the back of my mind that Khendril would be no different. I had always held Zayne at arm’s length because I’d known deep down that one day I would walk away and return to my old life. Now, the idea that Khaosti wants to be by my side just melts me. I’m not ashamed to admit that having someone to watch out for me over there will be a relief. I’m hoping this will all go smoothly, but just in case…
