Shouldering my pack, I ask, “Why not? It’s mine, and I want it back.” Could this work? Any other time I wouldn’t be so snarky, but it’s imperative to convince her I’m really me.
“No.”
“Remember when you bought this for me? Right after I spilled red slushy all over my old one, two summers ago at Coney Island? It was my favorite sweatshirt. I think you called every Aéropostale in the Tri-State Area trying to find this exact one.” I only meant the memory to show her I’m not a mirage, but it invites a sense of nostalgia anyway.
Her cheeks perk, brows pucker. “Eliyana?” She hurries to me, snatches my shoulders. “Is it really you?”
“The one and only.”
Mom hugs me a little too snugly, then draws back, her eyes alight. “How did you—?”
“I’ll explain everything, but once we’re safe.” Now I sound like Joshua. “Is Makai here?” I don’t know why, but somehow I sense my uncle’s presence. As if I’m being watched. It’s a feeling I’ve always had.
She sighs. “You can come out now.”
Makai appears beside the bed. He’s been here all long, invisible but never leaving Mom’s side. My uncle joins us and drapes his good arm around her, the other still residing in a sling. His bow and quiver are slung over his back. When will his arm heal enough to use them again? “I thought I’d give you two a moment.”
Pink tints Mom’s cheeks. She’s never looked happier.
I give them the abridged recap of the last days. Haman at the Haven. Robyn’s murder. The Soulless on the beach. Queen Ember’s—my—Calling. Nathaniel and the mirrors and Ky.
“And Joshua?” Makai and Mom ask in unison.
Oh. Right. Joshua. Like a little brother to Makai. Mom took a while to warm up to him, but eventually she got used to the idea he wasn’t going anywhere. Of course they want to know if he’s okay. “He was at the Haven last time I saw him.” I look to Makai. “Haman and the Soulless infiltrated the wall.” I cross to the door. “Come on. He gave Wren twenty-four hours to find me before he kills again. We have to get you both to safety so I can go back and help them. If the king won’t intervene, I will.” The words escape without warning, igniting my fury, energizing my bones. I’m a part of this now. No turning back.
They look at each other, at me again.
Makai’s peppery brows furrow. “Joshua isn’t with you?”
Why would he be?
Oh.
So much has happened since I last saw these two. “Ky—er, Kyaphus is my Guardian now.” I relay Gage’s betrayal, how Joshua stepped up as acting commander. I know they want the full monty, but the longer we stay here, the smaller our window of escape becomes. Maybe it’s already gone.
Their expressions shift from puzzled to disbelieving.
“You’re here alone?” Mom’s question borders on reproachful.
“Ky’s with me, but I’m only able to take one person through my reflection at a time. Makai can slip out unseen, but we have to get you to a window or a mirror so I can come back for Ky.”
Mom’s eyes widen. She rounds on Makai. “This is exactly what I was trying to avoid. She can’t be here. Do you think my father has figured it out?”
“We can only hope—”
“What are you talking about? Jasyn already knows about my link to the king.” I glance at the door. Come on, Ky, come on. “As long as Jasyn doesn’t have the Verity’s vessel, he won’t hurt me.”
Makai approaches. “Did you have any trouble getting into the castle? Discovering this room?”
“Not really.” I lick my dry lips. “There were a few guards, but we distracted them.” Uneasiness ferments in my stomach. Drat.
Footsteps echo outside the door.
Makai takes a protective step in front of Mom, who grabs my arm and pushes me behind them both.
I peruse the room. My gaze settles on the bathroom door. I sprint over, glance inside. No mirrors. Think. There must be a way out.
The doorknob rattles.
I’m a Mirror. I can protect us. Not that I’ve had a ton of time to practice, but—
Knock, knock.
I raise Ky’s knife. Brilliant. As if I know anything about hand-to-hand combat.
“I love you,” Makai whispers to Mom, temporarily freeing me from my panic attack.
She rises on her toes. “I love you.”
He leans down and kisses her, long and deep. Is this their first kiss? Could it be a Kiss of Infinity even?
I avert my eyes, not wanting to intrude. The mirrorglass blade reflects the soft lamplight, sending bursts of rainbow dancing on the ceiling and wall. Epiphany! It could work. I hope.
Mom clings to Makai. He separates himself from her, takes a giant step back. “I’ll hold them off.”
Grabbing Mom’s hand I say, “We have to go.”
“I won’t leave you.” She clings to Makai, then turns to me. “Go, brave girl.”
“Lizzie . . . if you’re going to choose this moment to exhibit your stubborn side, so help me, I’ll never speak to you again.”
Mom opens her mouth in protest.
“Get her out of here,” Makai roars, then disappears.
I tug on Mom’s hand. “Mom, he’ll be fine. Pleeease . . .”
She hesitates only a moment before relenting.
The door vibrates. A man shouts.
I lift Ky’s blade over our heads, my love for Mom drawing a reprise of “the song” from my lips.
Thud, rattle, bang! Bellow, yell, holler!
Just as I arc the blade toward us, the door bursts open.
Terror grips my soul, drains the blood from my skull.
Soulless guards flank Ky, restraining him. His lip is busted open, his green eye red and swelling.
“Go!” he bellows. One of the guards knees him, and he doubles over. “Don’t come back! Don’t you dare come back for me, Em.”
My heart hits the floor. Not Ky. Please, not Ky.
I lose sight of him as Mom and I melt into the mirrorglass, shrinking and expanding, defying the laws of physics.
Time slows. We fall into the attic. Our attic. The one in New York.
I release Mom’s hand. She’s safe. Finally.
She’s on her knees. Smiles, but it doesn’t last. Her brows scrunch.
I’m still holding Ky’s knife, hand trembling.
“Eliyana.” Mom’s mouth turns down. She has that look she used to give me when I was a kid. Warning. Danger. Stop. “Wait,” she says.
I want to stay. I have to go. “I can’t leave him.” Not when the only reason he’s there is because of me. I won’t be the cause of anyone else’s pain. Not anymore.
She nods. “I never should have kept you from all of this. I thought I was protecting you. But you don’t need protecting anymore, do you?”
I don’t have an answer. My only goal has been to save her—the one person I’ve always needed most in the world. Now that I have, I find I want more. Not because I don’t love her. Because I’ve learned she’s not the only person who could ever love me.
“I love you, Mom.”
“I know.” She smiles. “Go now. We’ll see each other soon.”
My heart breaks into a million pieces as I sob my song once more, these lyrics for Ky alone. Because I want the chance to know him. Because if I don’t go back, I’ll always wonder what would’ve happened if I did.
The blade wavers. I draw it down over my head and brace myself for the impact.
I smash into the floor of Mom’s suite, tumble, and roll. The knife flies, clatters. My pack slaps my spine. I push myself up, pins and needles pinging my palms. The room is empty. Except for Ky. He’s facedown on the rug. I scramble to him. Fall to my knees. Turn him over.