Reckless (Mirrorworld 1)

"Release your brother as soon as the gold is clear again," the Fairy said. "There's a carriage waiting by the gate, for you and those who came with you. But remember what I told you. Take him as far away from me as you can."

52

Happily Ever After

The tower, the scorched walls, and the fresh wolf tracks — it was as if they'd only just left, but the wheels of the carriage crunched through freshly fallen snow as Jacob reined in the horses.

Fox jumped out and licked the cold white powder from her paws. Jacob climbed down from the driver's box. He took the golden ball from his pocket. The surface was almost clear, and it reflected the cloudy morning sky. During their journey, Jacob had looked at the ball so often that Fox had probably guessed what it contained. But he hadn't said anything to Clara yet.

It had taken them two days to get back to the ruin. At the last coach station, the stableboy told them that the Goyl had turned their King's wedding into a massacre and had kidnapped the Empress, but nobody knew any more.

Fox wallowed in the snow as if she wanted to wash the past days from her fur. Clara looked up at the tower. Her breath clung to her mouth in white clouds, and she was shivering in the dress Valiant had bought her for the wedding. The blue silk was torn and dirty, but her face still reminded Jacob of damp feathers, even though all he saw on it was her yearning for his brother.

"A ruin?" Valiant climbed out of the carriage and surveyed his surroundings with dismay. "What is this?" he hissed at Jacob. "Where's my tree?"

A Heinzel scampered out of the shadows and quickly picked up a few acorns out of the snow.

"Fox, show him the tree."

Valiant marched after the vixen so eagerly that he nearly fell over his own boots. Clara didn't even look at them.

It seemed such a long time since he'd first seen her standing between the blackened pillars. Jacob went over to her.

"You want me to go back, don't you?" She looked at him as only she could. "You can tell me. I'm never going to see Will again. It's okay. You tried everything."

Jacob took her hand and put the ball in it.

The gold gleamed as if it had been cast from the sun itself. "You're trusting the wrong Fairy."

"You have to polish it," he said. "Until you can see yourself in it as clearly as in a mirror."

Then he left her alone and entered the crumbling ruin. Will would want to see Clara's face first. And they lived happily ever after. Unless the Dark Fairy had deceived him, as her sister had.

Jacob pushed aside the ivy that covered the entrance to the tower. He looked up at the sooty walls and remembered how he had climbed down for the very first time on a rope he'd found in his father's study. Where else?

The skin over his heart was still sore, and he felt the imprint of the moth like a brand under his shirt. You paid the price, Jacob, but what did you get in exchange?

He heard Clara's suppressed cry.

And then another voice spoke her name.

Will's voice hadn't sounded so soft in a long time.

Jacob heard whispers. Laughter.

He leaned against the wall, which was black with soot and damp with the cold caught between its stones.

It was over. The Fairy had kept her promise. Jacob knew it even before he pushed through the ivy again, before he saw Will standing next to Clara. The stone was gone, and his brother's eyes were blue, only blue.

;Take him to the building by the gate, and wait for me there. But hurry, and watch out for Kami’en. He won't appreciate losing his jade shadow."

* * * * *

Jasper, onyx, moonstone. Jacob cursed his human skin as he crossed the courtyard, keeping his head down. Most of the surviving Goyl were probably not aware that they owed their escape to him. Fortunately, most of them were guarding the hostages or looking after the wounded, so Jacob managed to reach the carriages unchallenged.

The King was standing with his officers. The alabaster Goyl had not returned. The princess approached her husband and talked to him. Finally Kami’en led her away. Will's eyes stayed on his King, but he did not follow.

Now, Jacob.