When his awareness cleared, bands of ice-crystal burned around his wrists, anchoring him to the ground.
The Mirror King grinned like a child and stepped through the now man-sized door in the ice. Stalking closer, he loomed over Sterling with mad anticipation glittering in his eyes.
"You'd have been better of shifting into your wolf form when you had the chance," the Mirror King suggested offhandedly. "It would have kept you warmer, if nothing else."
Sterling's eyes widened in shock before he caught himself and he bit his lip to keep from giving anything more away.
"Oh, don't bother to pretend. I know exactly what you are. And it's too late to try and change now. The ice of this cell is saturated with magic and wolfsbane that make your inner wolf useless to you."
Ignoring him, Sterling tried anyway. Calling the wolf, he felt it scrabbling inside of him. Fighting against invisible bonds as real as the ice pinning Sterling to the floor. Unable to break through, it fell quiescent.
Fear ripped through Sterling.
A primal terror that a vital part of him had been suppressed by this insane monster.
Sweat prickled over his skin despite the freezing temperatures and Sterling fought to keep the panic at bay. To keep his mind focused and searching for any opportunity to escape and make his captor pay.
The Mirror King shook his head, tsking at Sterling with superior smugness.
"I told you so. I wouldn't have gone to all the trouble of leaving you breadcrumbs to find me and not have a way to tame you." The Mirror King laughed merrily as Sterling threw himself uselessly against his bonds. "You fell very neatly into my plan. I have you right where I want you."
Amusement twisted into a frown and the Mirror King tapped his fingers against his lips.
"Of course, this would have been so much easier if Velia hadn't failed so spectacularly. When I heard about her wolf problem, I knew it was a perfect opportunity. I planned to offer her what she needed to neutralize your little pack in return for handing you over to test some of my theories on. But then she went and lost before we made the deal."
The Mirror King pouted, looking personally affronted. Like Velia had failed deliberately as a slight to him.
"I was forced to improvise. Once I'd discovered your existence, there was no way I could simply let you and your pack roam free. Not when you may hold all the answers I need. I considered sending my Trolls just to Take you. But you've managed to ingratiate yourself with more than one ruling family and I'm nowhere near ready to call that kind of attention to myself."
The Mirror King knelt beside Sterling's head, eyes burning with manic frenzy.
"Instead, I sent a message to her Tower, knowing someone would be by to clean up after her. I figured the juicy bit of information would eventually make it to you. Of course, I was hoping the whole pack would come looking together." The madman sat back on his heels and shrugged. "But you'll make excellent bait. I'll have the rest of your canine friends soon enough."
Sterling bit his tongue and prayed that the man was wrong. But Jelverck knew where he'd gone. And his pack would only go without word from him for so long before they came looking.
"There is something that vexes me," the Mirror King announced sharply. "How did you manage to find your way so deep into my caverns? The labyrinth of halls and caves is set up to herd intruders into my trap. Only the Ice Trolls and Taken have ever seen the way to the Mirror. And none of the Taken should remember it."
The Mirror King made another of those ostentatious gestures and a knife appeared from nowhere. Sterling was pretty sure the sudden appearance was sleight of hand, this time, and not magic.
Not that it mattered. Because the blade was coated with a thin layer of something dark and sticky. Something that reeked with the sharp, bitter odor of wolfsbane.
"Tell me, Wolf, which one of the Taken lied to me?"
Every muscle in Sterling's body locked tight with the determination to keep Myra's secret. This was a promise to her he fully intended to keep.
Knowing he was in for unpleasant days ahead, Sterling put on his blandest expression and blinked innocently up at the Mirror King. "I have no idea what you're talking about.”
The first cut into his skin was deliberately shallow.
And excruciating as the burn of poison sank into his flesh and dissolved into his blood.
***
Something had the Mirror King's Trolls buzzing with excitement.
And, the Trolls' inability to think about more than one thing at a time, made it easier to take advantage of their distraction.
Leaving her traveling pack hidden outside, Myra crept along the shadowed side of the entrance, getting as close as she dared. Picking up a hefty stone, she aimed it at a section of broken, cracked rock on the opposite side of the opening and heaved it with all her might.
The stone hit with a heavy thud and the cracks let loose, sending a wave of stones, mud, and gravel streaming down the rockface.
The Trolls guarding the entry ran toward the noise, staring at the cascade with confusion. While they were distracted, Myra slipped in behind their back, sticking to the shadows and disappearing down the nearest tunnel.
Inside, she was both horrified and relieved at how accurate her memory of the Mirror King’s lair had been. But the ease of navigating her way through passages was overshadowed by Myra's frustration at not finding what she was looking for.
Who she was looking for.
She made her way to the Mirror Cavern undetected, but there was no sign of Sterling or the monster who haunted her nightmares.
Wandering through the mazelike caverns with no clear destination was a dangerous proposition. Not that her other options were much better.
Reluctantly, Myra quieted her mind and followed the tug of knowledge that continued to plague her.
And it wasn't long before the draw of premonition collided with the echoes of pain-filled shouts and snarls of rage. The sounds twisted her heart with urgency, leading her toward the secluded cave dominated by the ice prison.
She pressed herself against the wall of the passage, took a deep breath and peeked around the edge of the open arch.
A room made of ice walls sat within the small cave. A door-size opening was melted into the ice and two huge Trolls stood guard on either side of it. The only other things in the cave were a full rucksack and a sword tossed into the corner. A second archway led deeper into the lair.
The faint sound of conversation drifted out of the cell, but the words were muffled and unclear. Myra strained for any snippet she could catch but didn't dare move any closer.
Another sharp, pain-filled sound echoed through the cavern and her hand curled around the hilt of a sword she had no idea how to use.
This time, she knew for certain the cries belonged to Sterling. And she needed to get him out of there.
Peeking around the corner again, she was still desperately contemplating options when the Mirror King's back appeared in the opening and she froze.
"I have other things to see to this afternoon, Wolf. But we are not through. You will tell me what I want to know, eventually." The Mirror King stepped backward, eyes still on his prisoner. "And don't worry. The shackles will dissolve as soon as the door as sealed. Wouldn't want you to be uncomfortable. At least, not when I'm not here to appreciate it."
He started to turn and Myra threw herself against the wall, holding her breath and pressing her body tight to the rough stone behind her.
But the sound of footsteps faded in the opposite direction and she exhaled, risking another look.
The Mirror King strode purposefully away from her, his Trolls falling into position at his back and following him away.
As soon as they were out of sight, Myra darted forward. Grabbing the pack and sword on her way past, she dove through the shrinking hole while it was still big enough to fit her.
Sterling was bound to the floor by thick bands of ice and blood seeped
through his clothes in a dozen different places. Myra had to press her hand to her mouth to keep from crying out and giving herself away.
Fog filled his beautiful green eyes and a confused frown wrinkled his brow when he managed to focus on her.
He tried to speak but a coughing fit stole his words. His struggle to breathe turned into panicked thrashing as he fought against the bonds holding him down.
"Easy, easy," Myra murmured, dropping to his side and pressing gently against his shoulder until he relaxed.
Once she was sure he wasn't going to hurt himself more, Myra let go and started rifling through his pack. She found a half-full waterskin and pulled it out with a soft sound of satisfaction.
Myra pressed the container to his lips, holding it steady while he guzzled until she worried he'd make himself sick and eased the water away.
"I didn't tell," Sterling insisted, staring at her with an intensity that burned right into Myra's heart. "I'll never tell him, I swear."
He continued to mumble and rant and Myra wasn't sure how coherent Sterling actually was.
Trying to get him to focus on her, she asked, "Tell him what?"
Sterling's eyes drifted shut. "Who told me. Who remembered."
Cold that had nothing to do with the ice surrounding them chilled Myra's heart when Sterling whispered her greatest fear.
The Mirror King knew someone remembered. And if he found her here...
Behind her, the ice finished filling itself in and all signs of the opening disappeared like it had never been.
True to the Mirror King's word, Sterling's frozen shackles quickly melted into a puddle.
"We have to get out of here," she muttered. Shaking Sterling and calling his name with a frantic edge over and over.
When he finally opened his eyes, the confusion had faded somewhat, but he still blinked repeatedly.
"Wha... You're really here. Wasn't a dream." Sterling smiled at her gratefully. Then his gaze sharpened, and he snapped upright. “We need to get you out of here. Now."
With a sigh of relief that Sterling was with her once again, Myra knelt back on her heels. "That's what I've been saying."
She reached for Sterling's rucksack and held it up.
"I don't suppose you have any matches in here?" Myra asked.
Sterling stared at the bag with a grin. "No. But I have something even better."
Taking the pack from her, he rummaged through the contents. Then he held out his hand to show her a smooth amber stone cradled in his palm.
Chapter Eight
WHILE THE FIRE stone melted an exit in the wall of ice, Sterling gave in to Myra's fussing and sat still while she bandaged the worst of his wounds. He didn't have the heart to tell her that the cuts weren't the problem. It was the poison slowly filtering through his body that would bring him down.
Ignoring the inevitable, Sterling rummaged through his rucksack while she worked. One by one, he pulled out the magic objects and relics, tucking some away in easy to access pockets and handing the rest over to Myra.
There was no way he could carry the pack and run, if need be. And the magic was their best chance of escaping.
Sterling knew that if they ran into trouble, his ability to fight was already severely compromised. And it was only going to get worse as the wolfsbane did its thing. If they were going to escape, it was going to be the magic gifts Jelverck had given him that would get them out of the lair.
He'd wanted to give everything to Myra, but she refused to even entertain the possibility of leaving him defenseless. So they'd compromised on sharing the relics between them.
Sterling sorted through the pack methodically, doing his best to hide the faint tremble of his hands as he worked.
The searing ache slipped deeper and deeper, dissolving his vitality bit by bit. It took every ounce of willpower he possessed to stay present and focused on the task at hand.
For Myra's sake. He would not fail her after she'd come for him.
Despite his best efforts not to give away how weak he truly was, the anguished way Myra watched him made it clear he wasn't fooling her. Not even a little.
But Sterling intended to fight the drag of the poison with every single breath. He owed her that much.
She'd made him promise not to tell the Mirror King that she remembered being Taken. And yet she'd risked discovery to rescue Sterling.
"Why did you come after me?"
He hadn't meant to ask. Not now, when the threat of discovery rose with every second that they remained trapped in the cell. But his resolve was weakening, along with his body, and the question slipped out in spite of his best intentions.
Myra's eyes darkened before she shifted her gaze to stare at the slowly melting ice. Certain she intended to evade his curiosity, or ignore it entirely, Sterling started to take the question back.
But then she met his eyes again and stared at him with steadfast resolve.
"I came because I... I knew you were in danger."
The inflection of her words, the bold set of her jaw, the defiant bite of her glare.
Every inch of her posture made it clear that she didn't mean she'd made a rational guess.
It was an acknowledgement of a gift she'd always fervently denied.
Her brave act of trust cracked Sterling open and made him want to lay his own heart at her feet in return.
But there was no time to find the words.
The fire stone had burned a doorway in the ice and all the things he wanted to share would have to wait.
So, instead of the river of words that wanted to tumble free, he asked, "Ready to go?"
Standing up, sword in hand, Sterling slung the pack on his back. Then reeled under the wave of dizziness. Trying to hide his unsteadiness, he settled his hand on the ice next to the opening and leaned out slightly to check the passageway. Regaining his balance, he ignored the pain and weakness and stepped out of the cell.
Once certain everything was clear, Sterling motioned Myra to follow.
Slowly, quietly they slipped through the labyrinthine passages. Thankfully, even the stealthiest Troll sounded like a team of horses as it lumbered through the echoing caves. They managed to elude discovery from the handful of guards the Mirror King forced awake during the daylight hours.
If they were going to survive, though, they needed to get far away from his domain before sunset. Before the full force of his Troll army was on the prowl.
Eventually, they found a passage leading to the cavern that held the main entrance.
Back tight to the wall, Sterling eased around the edge of the narrow archway and peered into the cave. The same pair of sleepy Trolls still stood guard.
Rolling the invisibility chain between his fingers, Sterling contemplated their options. The necklace needed to be worn, which meant it was only good for one of them.
And Myra wasn't going to like the idea of Sterling using himself as a distraction to get her safely away.
Determined to convince her and readying his argument, Sterling twisted on his heel to face Myra.
But the sudden movement sent a shaft of blinding pain through his head, and Sterling lost his ongoing battle with the dizziness and weakness plaguing him. His knees gave way first and he hit the ground hard, head spinning and stomach churning as he fought for breath.
Myra let out a soft cry before she caught herself. Cutting off the sound, she dropped next to Sterling, hands gently cradling him. Curving over him, her lips brushed his skin and she whispered her panicked words directly into his ear.
"What's wrong? What can I do?"
***
"I'm fine," Sterling insisted, keeping his voice low and steady, but Myra didn't believe him.
"No, you're not. You don't fall on your face when you're fine," Myra growled back, annoyed by his stoic heroism and desperate to help him. "Tell me what's wrong. Please."
"It was just a dizzy spell, but it passed. Help me up and let's get out
of here."
His words were slow and deliberate, like he was trying hard not slur them. His eyes were glazed with pain, and his skin was unnaturally pale. Fresh blood seeped through the quick bandage job Myra had done in the cell and she berated herself for not noticing sooner how hurt Sterling truly was.
She should have seen it. She did see it, but she'd let Sterling reassure and distract her.
Myra wanted to coddle him now. To make him lay still and recover.
But the stubborn set of Sterling's jaw made it clear there was no arguing with him. Despite his obvious need for rest, they both knew the clock was ticking on their chances of escaping unseen and unscathed.
But the whole point of coming after Sterling was to keep him alive. He was pushing himself dangerously near the edge of his endurance.
So Myra tried to compromise.
"You are going to be fine," she agreed with a lightness nowhere close to the desperation she felt. "But how about we get the bandages fixed up, huh?"
"No time," he insisted through gritted teeth. "We need to go."
"There'll be even less time if I have to carry you out of here."
She tried to sound harsh and sarcastic, but her concern for him twisted the words into a soft plea.
Reaching out tentatively, Sterling took her hand in his. "I promise, the second we're clear of the Mirror King and his Trolls, I'll happily rest and let you bandage anything you want."
Before she could answer a roll like thunder echoed from beyond the entrance cavern.
Myra tilted her head, straining to make sense of the sound. It was the wrong time of year for that kind of storm. But there were greater dangers on the mountain and her heart clutched with fear. "Is that an avalanche?"
"Worse," Sterling bit out, grimacing as he forced himself to his feet before Myra could help.
He stepped in front of her, sword at the ready, setting himself in the narrow opening between the passageway where they stood and the wider cave beyond.
Putting himself between Myra and the cadre of Trolls pouring into the cavern entrance. Blocking their only escape.
***
A rush of protective instincts burned through Sterling, pushing aside the weakness and vertigo of the wolfsbane working its way through his veins.
The Snow Wolf (Wolves Ever After Book 1) Page 6
