“I’ll let you keep the mirror,” he says, his gaze dropping to my lap, where I’m clutching the mirror in a white-knuckled hand.
Every time I thought about losing the mirror—my only connection to Jas—I pushed the thought away, unable to consider it. Now, knowing I’ll be able to check in on her, my shoulders sag.
“Good luck.”
* * *
Mordeus’s goblin whisks me away from the Unseelie palace and back to the gardens surrounding the queen’s castle.
“Why could you get me from my rooms, but you can’t return me to them?” I ask him, fighting the nausea that goblin travel brings.
“Because you have a visitor in your chambers,” the goblin says, “and I’m not interested in losing my head today.”
“But how do you know that?” I ask.
The goblin gives me a wide grin, showing all his yellow, pointed teeth, then disappears.
It seemed as if I was at the Unseelie Court for only a few hours, but the sun is already high in the sky. The gardens are bustling with staff tending to the flowers, and the smells of lavender and roses call to me as I walk toward the palace entrance. It’s so tempting to take a seat here, maybe close my eyes, let the sun warm my face and the sound of the birds lull me to sleep. But I resist. If there’s truly someone in my chambers, I want to know who it is.
“He’s been waiting there all morning,” a syrupy sweet voice says behind me. “The prince might be suspicious if you show up in your pajamas.” I turn to see “Eurelody” motioning me toward a carriage. “I’ve already sent word to your maids that you’re training with me all day.”
I grimace. “I’m too tired to train.”
“And my ears are too pretty to listen to whining, yet here we are. Come on.”
I don’t argue—not when she’s right about the pajamas. But when we get to the house, we walk into mass chaos.
“Get out of my way, Tynan,” Jalek barks.
“No.”
“You’re being ridiculous. I’m going on patrol, not—”
“First of all, I don’t believe you,” Tynan says. “Second, it doesn’t matter where you think you’re going. You’re safest if you stay here.”
Pretha pulls me in the door and out of the way of the ruckus. It’s not uncommon for this group to fight, but this isn’t their typical bickering. Jalek is dressed in his leathers, his broadsword strapped across his back. He glares at Tynan, whose silver facial webbing glows with his emotions. Finn stands between them, legs wide as he looks from one friend to the other.
“Please, Jalek,” Tynan says, whispering now. “Be sensible.”
“It was a dream,” Jalek says. He folds his arms and looks to Finn. “Please explain that I cannot be expected to sit in my room in perpetuity just because I had a nightmare.”
“It wasn’t just a nightmare. I heard her.” Tynan nearly vibrates with frustration. “Look me in the eye and tell me you didn’t wake up to the Banshee sitting on your chest. Look me in the eye and tell me you are no more nervous about going out that door than you would be any other day.”
“You don’t have to go, Jalek,” Finn says. “I’ll send Kane.”
“Kane needs a break,” Jalek says. “He was out half the night protecting the new portal.”
“What’s the Banshee?” I ask, and three heads turn to me.
Jalek glowers at Tynan. “It’s nonsense.”
“She’s a woman who comes in your sleep and sits on your chest,” Tynan says. “She appears both in this world and in your dream and—”
“A woman?” I ask.
“A spirit,” Pretha says, sighing. “When she visits you, she sits on your chest and says your name over and over. It’s considered a sign that your death is coming.”
“It’s a wonder that anyone ever dies if she warns them,” Jalek says. But I can see the worry in his eyes. Maybe he doesn’t want to believe the Banshee’s call, but he’s shaken.
“It’s too close to the solstice,” Tynan says, swallowing.
“That’s exactly why I want to go,” Jalek says. “She’s weakest tonight.”
“See! I knew you were lying,” Tynan growls.
“I’m sending Kane,” Finn says. “It’s not worth the risk.”
Jalek’s jaw hardens. “Stop trying to coddle me. I’m not a child. I can make my own decisions.”