<i>Zephyrine </i>


    小念 24%日


    Finished


    The citadel stood magnificent before me, right in the middle of nowhere. A ce where I was to meet the Mirror Monger.


    I had grown weaker than <b>I </b>was in the morning, and how that dusk had fallen, I could not fathom how much the w mark had drained me. Why it had to do that.


    It felt as though my love was punishing me for leaving on a trip without informing him.


    I nced down at my knuckles, already turning white, then clenched my jaw against the pain and fatigue as I dismounted from the great white horse Lycannar had gifted me. I left her by the building and walked toward the citadel.


    As I approached, the horse gave a quiet neigh and trotted closer, as though unwilling to let me go. I smiled faintly, rubbed her mane, and whispered soft words.


    “I will be back soon. Stay right here.”


    After that, I cast my gaze into the shadows of the forest, fully aware Moon was somewhere out there, his eyes locked on me.


    We had traveled without pause all day, and I had barely touched the bread he bought at a tavern we passed. I had drunk little, too. My appetite was gone. All I could think of was bringing my brother home.


    I turned to the citadel doors and lifted a hand to knock, but before I could, they opened on their own, startling me. I entered cautiously, every sense alert, and the moment I stepped inside, the doors shut behind me.


    A vast hall stretched out, lined with countless mirrors. Reflections of myself stared back from every corner, and I swallowed hard. Lycannar despised mirrors. This ce would be his worst weakness.


    “You havee.” A voice rang out, though I could not tell where it came from.


    I stood still, waiting.


    “Are you an Ashmere?”


    “Yes.”


    “An Alpha?”


    “Correct.”


    “But I expected a man. Why a woman? I never knew the empire had a female Alpha.”


    I steadied my voice and kept my jaw firm.


    “I have yet to throw a celebration, but rest assured, once I find Varyn, I will. I heard you have words about him.”


    6


    O


    <b>2 </b>


    RO O


    <


    24%


    Finished


    The voice went silent. Then all the mirrors lowered, and the space shifted into what looked like a relic shop, shelves stacked with old and odd artifacts. In the center sat a middle–aged man with a gray beard and sharp


    eyes<b>. </b>


    We locked gazes for what felt like an eternity, until he abruptly turned away, muttering an order over his shoulder.


    “Kill her.”


    At once, men rushed in from every angle. My jaw clenchedz. Is this an ambush? One threw a punch, but I blocked and struck back. They came at me hard, but I intercepted them all, leaving them writhing on the floor, groaning and coughing.


    The fight drained me. One had mmed into my arm, and the pain nearly crippled me. Sweat rolled down my face, but I wiped it away and followed a path the man who have give the order had too onky to appear into a smaller chamber where a mirror with an ornate handle sat.


    He had been seated in a wooden chair but rose quickly, bowing deeply. I froze, caught off guard.


    “Years ago, your father, Warlord Vale, came to this store after a great ceremony. My only son was sick, and I had no means. Your father traded his medal of honor to heal my boy. For that, I am forever indebted to the Ashmeres.”


    Cold chills swept down my spine, and my eyes burned.


    “Five years ago, the battle was the most gruesome. The first wave shook the empire, and we lost our finest warriors to demons. I loathe them for it. When I heard whispers of Lord Varyn’s disappearance, I was saddened I could not help. Then… I met a peddler. He sold me this relic, a mirror. At first I thought it ordinary. But when I looked inside, I saw another world, hidden, and among the captives was a man I recognized.”


    His voice broke, and he lifted the mirror with reverence.


    “I could not trust this truth to anyone unworthy. That is why I demanded only a true–blooded Ashmere Alpha could hear me. I never knew it would be you, mydy, goddess of war. You alone dared face my men and still stand.”


    He pressed the mirror into my hands, his eyes soft, sad.


    “Free of charge. I bought it from a peddler in Nighttain town and he frequents there. You will want to find him once you see what I saw. Farewell, mydy.”


    I swallowed hard, took the mirror, and left without a word. Outside, I approached my horse, took her reins, and led her into the night.


    When atst I stopped, I clutched the mirror tightly, my heart thundering. For reasons I tried not to admit, my hands trembled as I lifted it before my face. At first, only my reflection stared back. Then the image wavered. Shifted.


    Goosebumps prickled across my skin as my reflection vanished, reced by another sight.


    The Mirror Monger had not lied. This relic revealed a hidden world, one I wished I had never seen. Captives. Prisoners. And among them… him.


    The color drained from my face. My heart sank, my knees buckled.


    24%日


    Finished


    The once–great war strategist, the next Alpha of Ash Pack, the only son of Warlord Vale… Varyn Ashmere.


    After five long years of yearning, of going half–mad with waiting, I finally found him and the state he was in broke me.


    Before I could steady myself, I copsed to the ground. Darkness closed in, and I passed out.


    Send Gifts


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