Chapter 239
Chapter 239
I had found the house. I raised my hand to bang on it, but it swung open before I could lower my fist.
The enchantress stood there with a bemused expression on her face, “Well, aren’t you a big dumb brute, but I guess I won’t make you break down the door,” she scowled, “come in. She’s in the kitchen p>
She led me through to the kitchen where Avery rose from the table, pale faced and wide-eyed.
“You…” she staggered at the sight of me and grabbed the back of her chair, “How?? You should still be sleeping p>
“I am not sorry to disappoint you,” I growled, looking her over quickly for injuries, “Get your mother, we’re returning p>
Avery shook her head vehemently, “You’re too late. She’s already gone. I secured passage for her hours ago and she is heading to a safe place p>
“Avery,” I wanted to shake her, “There are no safe places p>
“I know that,” her eyes flashed, “especially not with you! And now I am leaving p>
She walked past me, giving me a pointed look, “Why don’t you sit, have a cup of tea p>
“No thanks,” I growled, “I’ve had quite enough of your concoctions p>
I grabbed for her arm, but suddenly ropes of light shot between us. It was like being inside of a bubble and my hand glanced off. Over Avery’s shoulder I saw Sofia gesturing with her hands. Some sort of spell?
Magic was just another sort of will. Mine was stronger.
I reached forward again, and put all of my strength in the motion. The bubble wall pushed forwards and Avery stepped back, avoiding it as I managed to move forward another full foot.
“Goodbye, Gideon,” She was saying, but the words reached me as though muffled through glass.
“Stop running,” I gritted my teeth at the effort this was taking, my slow progression across the room. towards her and the witch, “You can’t avoid me forever p>
There was a large plate-glass mirror on the wall behind her. I lunged forwards and the bubble suddenly popped, sending me staggering into her, and crashing both of us into the mirror beyond. I heard Sofia yell, but then the strangest sensation overtook me and it felt as though I was sinking very slowly through
a lake of silver.
Avery was still in my arms, now clinging to me, and we fell through the surface of the mirror together. I stared at her in disbelief, and saw her own shock reflected back at me. Then there were two of her, then
three.
We were standing on a path, and in each direction there was another branching trail, silver bricks on the
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Chapter 239
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ground. In front of me, I saw the back of a man and a woman, wearing mine and Avery’s clothes. I whirled and to the right, I saw the same couple, but they looked slightly different.
Some sort of illusion?
I held onto Avery tightly, turned her to face me, “We need to get out of here. This is some sort of enchantment p>
But she didn’t respond, she was staring at something I couldn’t see. Then she stared down at her body
and ran her hands over her stomach.
I frowned. Could she hear me? Was she hurt?
“Avery?” I shook her, “We need to find the exit from this place.” I looked around, desperately. Every minute we were stuck in this mirror world was another minute the enchantress had to try and keep me here forever. I had no doubt that if it suited her purposes, she would keep Avery as well.
There.
My third spin with Avery in my arms, I saw the mirror through which we’d entered, hovering above the path. I lifted my mate in my arms and dashed towards the glass, diving through it and hearing it shatter as the many-pathed road collapsed behind us.
And then we were on the floor of Sofia’s hallway. Avery was crying as I rose to my feet with her still clasped in my arms.
Sofia was standing in front of the door, palms outstretched towards us, but her face was pale and
strained.
“Step aside, witch,” I bellowed, “Your magic cannot stop our bond p>
In my arms, Avery struggled, but when I looked at her it seemed as though she was looking at something far away, with a distressed expression. I needed to get her home, then we would sort out whatever this
was.
I charged forward. For a moment it looked as though Sofia would continue to try and stop me, and then at the last second she stepped aside and I marched out into the night.
“I don’t want to go,” Avery fought as I tried to put her in the car, but I overpowered her and buckled her
into the seat.
“If you won’t come by choice, you are coming by force,” I gritted my teeth and climbed into the car to drive back.
She fell silent, and said nothing further.
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