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“Not another word, Alina.” Mom tsked and scowled. “Our harvest has been dwindling, and we must ensure our kingdom doesn’t starve.”
“I’m sure if we cut back a little on prod—” the younger version of myself tried again.
Mom flicked her wrist, and vines from the carriage wrapped around my mouth, cutting me off. My eyes widened as I grasped at the vines, trying to remove them.
“Nothing is more important than ensuring the Summer Court is strong and our family’s reign is respected and never challenged.” She leaned forward with a glint in her eye. “You care for our people, but only to the extent that we can maintain our lifestyle. The last thing we need is for the Winter Court—especially Prince Kieran—to get ideas and think they can conquer us once he takes the throne. Do I make myself clear?”
I didn’t understand why the young version of myself didn’t fight her. I could control the vines and flowers, too, but then the reason popped into my brain. Fae didn’t get their magic until sixteen complete season cycles. My mother had total control over me.
Now, my dry throat had nothing to do with the heat and everything to do with the treatment this first version of myself had received. My mother reminded me of some of the foster moms I’d encountered, trying to control her child and mold her into whatever she wanted.
The image in the mirror changed, the carriage vanishing. In its place, teenage versions of me, Orla, and Dallas appeared in the garden back at Sambradh Castle. Orla was the age I’d been in the previous vision, and Dallas and I stood before one another. Maeve stood several feet away, giving us privacy but staying close enough in the case of an emergency.
Dallas grinned flirtatiously. “So, now that you’re coming into your magic, are you going to go against your mother to help the less fortunate fae?”
I laughed hard, turning toward the flowers. “Mother would kill me.” The edge in my voice made it clear that what I’d said wasn’t a joke. “Even though that’s what I wanted to do when I was younger, Mother has shown me that doing so will put all the Summer Court fae at risk, especially my family. I can’t do that to Mother and Orla.” I nodded as if trying to convince myself. “I won’t do that to them.” I leaned over and cupped one of the sunfire blossoms. Azurebell, sky-blue, bell-shaped flowers surrounded them, and together, the two flowers reminded me of the summer sky.
Dallas touched my arm. “I’m glad you understand the risk of doing what you dreamed of when we were children. Though I see the merit in what you want to accomplish, it would have severe consequences for us all, especially your family and the summer High Fae. But if you ever decide to pursue that dream, I’ll have your back. You’re my best friend, and I want you to be happy. Come frozen summer or fall.”
His words unlocked more memories of my life. Dallas and I, as kids, swimming in a waterfall. The two of us, flying above the trees, swearing one day we’d not only tame Talamh but the wildlands too. He’d been beside me all my life, and his father was a High Fae who presided over the closest village to the castle.
I wanted to see more. Remember more. So I stepped toward the mirror. I needed to understand why I’d changed my mind about helping people and understand everything my mother had done.
Kieran blocked me. His expression was strained with concern, but I needed to see more … learn more … understand who I was and what had led me to sacrifice myself for my people. I hadn’t learned the specifics, just that I had saved the world from mud monsters.
I tried to pass him, but he followed, remaining in my way.
I gritted my teeth. “Move,” I commanded.
He sighed and hung his head. “I can’t, mo fhlùr. We’ve already wasted too much time here. We need to go. Others will either find us, or you’ll stay here until sunset.”
“Fine. I just need one more minute.” I needed more answers, and I’d say anything to get him to move out of my way. I was always at a disadvantage; maybe if I learned more about the past, I’d understand things here without someone either laughing at me or judging me.
I placed my hands on his chest, ready to shove him aside, but he gripped my wrists. He held them firmly and lowered his head so we were eye to eye. “We don’t have a minute. We’re in a trial, and our time is limited. I need you to move.”
Kneeing him in the stomach, I tried to shove him backward, but he didn’t budge. He was like a fucking brick wall, and I doubted his armor had anything to do with it. Tears of frustration burned my eyes. The one thing I wanted more than life at this point was to learn more about my past.
A sob racked my chest. “Please. I’m tired of not knowing things … not understanding this world. I need it to make sense, and the mirror has answers.”
“Hey,” he said gently and moved so one hand clasped my wrists. With his free hand, he placed his knuckle under my chin, raising my head so I looked into his eyes. The jolt of our connection grounded me. “If you work with me and we both live, I’ll tell you everything you want to know. If there’s something you don’t understand, I’ll make sure you get an answer. I don’t care who I have to ask or what favor I need to call in, but you won’t learn what you want if you stand here and die. That’s what the mirror does—it makes you want to stand here and learn about whatever your heart desires.”
His tenderness stirred something in me, and after a request like that, how could I say no? I sniffed. “Okay.”
His entire body sagged as if the weight of the world had been lifted from his shoulders. “Good.” He released my hands and wiped the tears from my eyes. “For a second, I didn’t think you’d listen to me.”
Moire cleared her throat, and I remembered we were most definitely not alone and had thousands of people watching us. Still, Kieran had taken the time to help me despite how his people would react.
Blowing out a breath, I straightened my shoulders. I had to get myself together. I rarely cried. In fact, I couldn’t remember the last time I had. “Sorry. I should’ve known it wasn’t just a mirror. The last time I got enamored by one, I wound up here.”
“That was likely the portal.” Kieran scanned the area, avoiding the mirrors. “Mirrors here have magical abilities that depend on the type of glass they are cut from.”
I swallowed, trying not to focus on the flutters going on inside me. He was taking the time to share information … like he’d promised.
Moire’s eyebrows rose higher to the point they were hidden under her bangs. I was certain she’d be bombarding me with questions later. Questions I wouldn’t want to answer. Not solely because I didn’t know how to answer them but because I had the same questions regarding Kieran’s and my relationship.
“Which way do we go, Princess?” Kieran strolled toward the hedges, squinting at the branches. “I can’t tell.”
Was he serious? I could tell even from my spot several feet away from them. “We continue to follow this path and take the sharp turn.” Of course, the route would take the Summer Fae across the mirrors. Had they put them there to target me? Everyone knew I didn’t have all my memories and I didn’t fit in. Out of everyone here, I’d want answers the most.
