Page 162 of Fate of the Sun King

We exchange a glance.

“Then start there.”

I nod and take a step towards it, overcome by the magnitude of this moment. I’ve been running towards this place for weeks, and now that I’m here, I’m not ready.

A bang at the door has us both spinning around.

“They’re in here!” comes a muffled voice.

It seems I have no choice. It’s now or never.

“Nadir,” I say.

“Go. I’ll handle them.”

The doors burst open, and I catch the flash of his magic before I turn to face the Mirror. Soldiers are pouring into the room, and Nadir fends them off as best he can, but they stream in, dozens of them. How did they find us so quickly? What happened to Hylene?

A guard wearing black fights his way towards me, snatching me in his arms.

“Gotcha,” he sneers in my ear, but a moment later, he’s gone, lying on the ground choking on the noose of green light slicing off his air.

“Lor! Go!” Nadir calls as his magic bounces around the room.

I waste no more time and run for the Mirror, skidding to a stop as my hands slam into the surface. I tug on the heavy velvet cover with all of my strength, and it slides over the top, pooling at my feet like a funeral shroud.

“I’m here!” I scream. “I found it. I have the Crown!”

I pull the bag with the Crown over my head and hold it up like an offering. It remains still and silent. I bang my fist against the glass as flashes of colorful light gleam in its surface. I see Nadir in the reflection as more guards stream in.

“Hello! Can you hear me?”

I lean against it, pounding again, willing it to notice me.

“I’m here! I have it!” I shout over and over.

Then something clicks.

Heart Queen.

The disembodied words enter my head, and I breathe a sigh of relief as I sag against the Mirror.

“Yes! I’m here.”

You’ve come back to me. You have the Crown?

“Yes. It’s here in my bag. Do you need it?”

Oh no. I don’t need it. That was for you.

“You said you’d have something for me when I found it.”

The Mirror falls silent, and I stare at it, dimly aware of the fighting going on behind me.

“Hello?” I call.

I place my hand against it, my fingertips pressing into the cool, smooth surface. I lean my forehead against it and breathe out and in. I’m here. I did what it asked. Was this not enough?

The sounds of fighting have tapered off, and I look back to find Nadir finishing off with the last of the guards, at least for now.