"I'm glad," he whispered softly. Stepping closer, Sterling brushed a loose hair from her face and Myra leaned into him.
And yawned loudly as Sterling started to speak again.
Myra slapped her hand over her mouth, cheeks heating with embarrassment, but Sterling just grinned fondly.
"You should rest," Sterling insisted. His hand slipped down to capture hers. "I'll walk you back to the healing rooms. We can talk more tomorrow."
Despite their exhaustion, neither of them hurried as they meandered through the empty streets, holding hands the entire way.
Eventually though, they reached their destination and there was no more excuse to dawdle.
Sterling leaned in close, brushing a chaste kiss across her forehead and whispered, "Goodnight, Myra. I'll see you in the morning."
Then waited in the street until she stepped inside and closed the door securely behind her.
As Myra readied herself for bed, a smile fixed itself on her lips and refused to budge.
For the first time in a long time, Myra let herself hope, despite the danger surrounding her.
She trusted Sterling and the Healer. They'd promised to keep her safe and protect her from the Mirror King's control. She even trusted the others.
So, even though all her secrets had been exposed, Myra felt safer than she had since her mother's death.
She'd never had help before. Never had hope.
The experience of no longer being alone was exhilarating.
Despite that, the second Myra’s head hit the pillow, exhaustion pulled her deep into much-needed sleep.
The smile, however, remained.
***
Myra's eyes opened to the dark room.
The world was quiet and still.
Her thoughts were slow. Dull. Still asleep, though her body was awake.
Except for one single thought repeating itself monotonously in her brain.
Quietly shifting aside the blankets, Myra moved with deliberateness through the room gathering her belongings from the wardrobe. Silently, she dressed in the dark before creeping out into the empty streets.
Maneuvering from shadow to shadow mindlessly, she easily avoided the patrols. After all, they were watching for intruders, not escapees.
Once she left the village behind, Myra trudged over the rocky, torn up ground where the Trolls had faced off against the drakes. Inexorably moving forward, Myra kept putting one foot in front of the other until she was well beyond sight of even the most eagle-eyed sentry.
In the gentle fog eclipsing her mind, Myra felt little and thought even less. So there was no surprise when she found two Trolls waiting for her.
Somehow, that lack of surprise was what shocked her from the frozen distance that had plagued her mind since waking up.
Myra halted mid-step. A fearful cry burst from her lips as panic and confusion rushed in and a desperate need to flee battered her all at once.
She tried to run. But it was too late.
The Trolls had her and they weren't letting go.
And the icy detachment once more froze her thoughts.
Chapter Sixteen
ONLY THE FIRST pink hints of dawn were shimmering through the barrack's window when something woke Sterling.
He considered rolling back over and letting exhaustion draw him back into unconsciousness.
But, even half-awake, his senses instinctively searched for whatever had disturbed his sleep. It didn't take long to settle on the approaching sound of urgent, worried voices.
Something was wrong. Which meant he wasn't getting any more rest.
Sterling kicked back his blanket, aware without looking that Kaile was doing the same.
Unsurprisingly, Jelverck was already up and strapping on his sword belt, though his feet were still bare.
The conversation halted right outside, and a brisk knock barely preceded the door swinging open.
Theodoric and Helena stepped inside wearing matching expressions of grim concern.
A vice closed around Sterling's heart and he braced himself for whatever news they had to share. "What is it? What's happened?"
"Myra's missing," Helena announced, voice stark and eyes bright with worry.
Sterling heard the words, but his mind refused to make sense of them. "Missing? What do you mean she's missing?"
"She's gone," Helena explained gently. "Sometime in the night she left my rooms. Left the village."
"Myra wouldn't just leave," Sterling insisted, anger and fear beginning to eat away at the initial numbness. "She must have been Taken. He must have come back for her."
"There was only one set of footprints leading away from the village," Theodoric offered quietly. "She was by herself when she left."
"That doesn't make sense. Myra knew we had a plan. Why would she go after him herself?" Sterling demanded, then caught sight of sorrow and resignation in Helena's eyes. "Unless..."
The words caught in his throat, Sterling barely even wanted to think it, let alone say it out loud.
"Unless he has control of her," the Healer acknowledged what they were all thinking.
"What happened to the potion you promised her?" Sterling demanded. "It was supposed to keep her safe."
"I started brewing last night, just as I said I would. When it was ready this morning, I went to wake her, but she was already gone."
Sterling wanted to roar out his pain. To shout and accuse and blame. But the truth was, this was all his fault. Myra brought herself back to the Mirror King's attention because he'd been so arrogant he thought he could handle the monster himself.
Sterling brought himself up short. The blame was his and he'd accept the consequences, but regrets weren't going to save Myra. He needed to figure out what happened so he could bring her back.
"How?" Sterling asked through gritted teeth. "How did he get control of her? When? He fled without her last night."
"According to the legend Kaile relayed, only one touch is necessary for him to gain control," Jelverck reminded Sterling. "The Mirror King had hold of her wrist when he cornered her in the street. The attack was a double distraction. He knew he would never get her away from the village by brute strength. He only wanted to get close enough to touch Myra."
Swallowing back the guilt and anger, Sterling needed to do something to calm the blood boiling in his veins.
Grabbing his pack, Sterling dropped on the bed and began checking over his gear, making sure each piece was ready for the coming fight.
He felt the others staring but ignored them, using the familiar process to catch his breath and pull his thoughts back under control.
Finally Theodoric stepped up, setting a hand on his shoulder. "What are you doing?"
Sterling raised his eyebrows before taking a long, obvious glance at his gear then back up at the Clan Chief. "I'm preparing to go find Myra. I'm not leaving her with that monster one second longer than it takes to get up the mountain."
"Nothing's changed," Theodoric reminded him, speaking in soft, soothing tones one used with cranky children. "We still need more warriors. And more magic. We can't defeat him with the resources we have now."
"Everything has changed," Sterling snarled, turning to loom menacingly in the leader's space. "He. Has. Myra. Help me get her back or get out of my way."
Nose to nose, the moment threatened to stretch into a dangerous standoff until Jelverck interjected.
"There might be a way. You said there was a second tunnel? Another way in and out."
Sterling nodded in acknowledgment. With the tension broken, he shifted his weight into a less aggressive stance. A second later, Theodoric followed suit by moving back half a step.
"It wasn't guarded when I saw it, but the Mirror King might improve his security now. The passage is only big enough for two men side by side, so it's not going to be much use to an army of drakes."
"Doesn't matter," Jelverck said, waving the concern off. "With t
he Mountain Clan involved, The Mirror King will be expecting a show of force. And a frontal assault. Let's give it to him. And while he's distracted, a small team can sneak in through the side entrance to rescue Myra."
Theodoric looked intrigued but hesitant. "We still don't have enough magic to fight against whatever the Mirror King is doing to protect his Trolls."
"We don't need it. The Clan only needs to keep the Trolls busy and the Mirror King distracted," Jelverck explained. "This is a rescue mission, not the final fight. We can come back for him later, when we have the resources."
"What about the team that goes into the lair? They'll need magic to get inside. And to protect themselves if they run into the Mirror King."
"I'll go with them," Helena announced with an edge of determination Sterling had never seen in her before.
"Helena, it's too dangerous," Theodoric insisted. "You are too valuable to the Clan to risk."
She glared at him coolly, unimpressed by his overprotectiveness. "I can take care of myself. But even if I couldn't, there is a Healer with every enclave on the mountain. And Alna is nearly ready to become a full Healer."
Before the Clan Chief could protest again, she lifted her chin, old pain bright in her eyes. "The Mirror King stole my brother and we did nothing. I'm not going to sit on my hands while he has Myra."
Sterling was surprised by her revelation. But it also felt like another piece of a puzzle clicking into place. Like something he should have known. But the Healer's past had nothing to do with saving Myra, so he'd save his curiosity for later.
Theodoric slumped in the face of Helena's resolve.
"Fine," he growled back. "Then I'm going in with you too."
Sterling knew he should point out what a bad idea it was to have two high-ranking clan members in the same dangerous situation.
But they were both stubborn, strong-willed leaders, and he doubted either would budge.
Instead he shook his head in exasperation. From the corner of his eye, a flash of white in his pack drew his attention. With a bittersweet smile, he picked up the scrap of fabric and brushed his thumb over its uneven stitches.
"All right then. What is the plan?" Sterling asked and curled his fingers tight around the unfinished embroidery.
***
A dark rocky ceiling and shivering temperatures greeted Myra when her mind snapped back to wakefulness.
She bolted upright, heart slamming against her ribs and disorientation swimming dizzily through her mind.
Clawing her way into a half-crouch, Myra scrambled back into the corner.
Her eyes darted around wildly as she tried to take in everything at once. Tried to figure out where she was.
Remember how she got there.
The last thing she recalled was crawling gratefully into the cozy bed in the Healer’s rooms.
Wasn't it?
Flashes of dark, empty village streets flickered uncertainly in her memory. Looming Ice Trolls. A moonlit trip up the mountain.
It all felt distant and hazy. Like a dream.
Yet, here she was. Dressed in her warmest clothes, sturdy boots on her feet, sheathed sword at her waist and a heavy cloak wrapped snugly around her.
No sign of the nightdress she remembered donning before crawling into bed.
Eventually, Myra's pulse slowed, and her mind settled, allowing her to take in her new surroundings. And realize the walls surrounding her were made of solid, unbroken sheets of ice.
The same ice prison where she'd found Sterling. Which meant she was in the Mirror King's lair once again.
Myra forced herself to breathe slowly. To unclench her jaw and settle more comfortably on the floor. As her body relaxed, her mind cleared, and the memories came back to her. Getting out of bed, out of the village, walking right into the hands of the waiting Trolls. But not like she'd lived them. More like she was watching a play unfold before her eyes. Other than the brief moment when she'd realized something was wrong, there was no thought attached to anything she'd done. No emotions at all.
Like a blanket of invisible, impenetrable ice lay between her and the world.
Like she was a puppet. And someone else had been pulling her strings.
The tears she'd been fighting broke free, rolling down her cheeks in unstoppable waves. Myra dropped her head into her hands and let them flow unchecked for a few indulgent moments.
The Mirror King had taken control of her. She'd heard what Helena and Kaile said. Had accepted it might happen.
Yet nothing could have prepared her for the ruthless, complete loss of self.
For the emptiness she still felt. Like those moments of her life had been stolen from her.
When the tears ran out, Myra knew her moment of self-pity was over. Standing up, she dashed the wet tracks from her cheeks and firmed her resolve.
Sterling would come for her.
Myra didn't have a single doubt in her mind that he would try to rescue her. The same way she'd come for him.
It was a reassuring mantra she repeated over and over in her head.
But, as comforting as the thought was, it frightened her, as well.
Because the Mirror King could control her. And that meant he could turn her against Sterling. And all the other people she'd come to care about in only a few short days.
Helena had said some of the drakes had been able to fight the compulsion. Who could throw off the yoke of the Evil One's control. Even without the potion.
Myra was determined to be one of them.
And she was just as determined to take advantage of any weakness or opening the Mirror King gave her.
He'd underestimated her once before. In his arrogance, she had no doubt he'd do it again.
And she'd be ready for it.
While she waited for her opportunity, Myra settled in to practice the lessons of magic Helena had taught her.
The cool metallic slip of magic in her blood, once something she'd ignored and feared, now felt like an old friend as it answered her call.
Chapter Seventeen
STERLING HAD BEEN the voice reason for his pack for so long, he'd nearly forgotten how to deal with his own rare moments of impulsiveness.
Like desperately wanting to rush headlong into the Mirror King's lair, consequences be damned.
Hunkered down behind a trio of bear-sized boulders, Sterling held his position through sheer strength of will. With gritted teeth, he waited with Theodoric, Kaile, and Helena for the signal that the Mountain Clan drakes were in position.
Even though the secluded entrance was only a couple of hundred yards away. Even though, in wolf form, he could cross that distance in the blink of an eye.
The wolf demanded they run. But the man grudgingly understood the need for patience. Especially since a pair of Trolls were now posted at the previously unguarded opening.
After what felt like an eternity, the rush of wings in the air rang through the mountain. Followed by the roar of flame and surprised grunts of the Trolls guarding the main entrance on the other side of the rocky lair.
Sterling's lip peeled back in a feral grin, muscles easily slipping from impatient tension to taut readiness with eager anticipation.
"This is it," Theodoric announced. Then he looked to Helena with a raised brown. "You know what you're supposed to do?"
She didn't roll her eyes, but Sterling was certain she wanted to.
"Stay with Jelverck. Keep my head down. Try to keep ahead of any magic the Mirror King throws at us." Her tone remained even and succinct as she ticked her list off. "I know I'm not going to be any help when it comes to the fighting. But I can protect myself."
She raised her open palm, thumb stroking over a magic ring on her first finger and electricity arced around her hand.
Theodoric's eyes narrowed, clearly wanting to admonish her to take things more seriously. But it was obvious to Sterling she was as serious as the rest of them. And no more willing to be coddled.
Before the Clan Chief built up to another lecture, Sterling stepped in and said, "Let's go."
They rushed for the entrance in tight formation, taking the pair of Trolls by surprise. The fight ended almost before it began.
With a savage grin of anticipation, Sterling slipped into the dark passageway. Not daring to risk discovery with any kind of light, he and Kaile led the group, using their enhanced senses to find their way. Theodoric took up position just behind them, with Helena settled between him and Jelverck at the rear.
The lair was quiet and no Trolls crossed their paths. Sterling didn't even hear the distant rumble over their movement echoing through the caverns.
That most of them had moved to face the threat at the entrance wasn't a surprise. But Sterling would have expected a few left behind to keep anyone from doing exactly what his little group of invaders was doing.
The farther they went without encountering patrols or resistance, the more nervous it made Sterling. He hoped the empty halls meant the Trolls were stupid enough to abandon their post in order to join the fighting.
But Sterling had been in too many tight situations to believe that.
So, if it wasn't ineptitude, it must be a trap.
The closer they crept toward the Mirror Chamber the more certain he became that the Mirror King had something planned.
But it didn't matter to Sterling if the entire Troll army waited for him around the next corner.
He'd wade into overwhelming odds by himself if it meant rescuing Myra.
***
Myra flowed along the ribbon of silver that cascaded through her. She gathered the magic, collecting it around her and imbuing it with a single purpose.
Once holding onto the power became almost too much, Myra let it go. The power flooded out in a wave of force pushing furiously away from her in all directions.
Myra smiled with satisfaction as the walls shook around her, only a bit disappointed that they held.
The limited control she'd acquired was probably child's play to the Mirror King's magic. But it gave her a small measure of confidence. Made her feel as if she wasn't completely helpless.
The Snow Wolf (Wolves Ever After Book 1) Page 12
