Crown of Glass

by Isabella August

  “Gabe need you,” Jenna’s voice replied quietly. “That’s how, isn’t it?”

  Jenna wiped at her eyes. “Maybe he does,” she said. “But guess what? I don’t work for free.” She took a shuddering breath. “I’m going to fix Gabe. And that… that’s going to fix the Looking Glass. So you’re going to owe me something worth a whole realm.” She licked away the salt at her lips. “Promise me. In return for fixing Gabe… you’ll give me any one thing that I want.”

  The faerie lord’s face grew cold. “Any thing?” her own voice asked. “Don’t work. I owe something.”

  Jenna gritted her teeth. “Any one thing that’s within your power to give,” she said. “Not the Looking Glass itself, or your mantle. Not your life or your power.” She fixed her eyes on the faerie lord’s gaze. “Promise.”

  I have something to trade that he can’t possibly refuse. I’ve had it all along.

  Her heart beat quickly, hoping that the Lord of the Looking Glass wouldn’t notice the obvious omission.

  Gabe’s contract. You’ll give him up. We’ll go home together.

  The faerie lord drew himself up. That silver light flickered unsteadily behind his eyes. “…promise,” Gabe’s reflection said reluctantly.

  Jenna relaxed her shoulders in abject relief. The enormity of the achievement nearly sent her to her knees, but she caught herself against the mirror, steadying herself.

  “Okay,” she said quietly. “Then I… I’m going to need to know where Gabe’s last pieces are. I have to put him back together.”

  The Lord of the Looking Glass turned his gaze back toward the exhibition where they’d left Gabe, and Jenna’s brow knitted.

  A slow, dawning realization overcame her.

  The throne. It’s cracked.

  “Holy shit,” she whispered. “No wonder you’re so desperate.”

  The faerie lord did not say anything back to her this time.

  Chapter 12

  Jenna was still shaking as she made her way back into the exhibit. It took her an extra moment to realize that her shaking was worse because she was cold.

  The mirrors had fogged and frosted. The bright moonlight that streamed through from outside had gone out, as much of the heat and light was consumed by some dark, seething force.

  Gabe stood before the wall of mirrors, his face deadly serious. He pressed his hand against a different mirror — one that clearly led somewhere other than the real world. The frost slowly peeled away, dissipating beneath his touch. A silvery light took its place, lighting up the room once more.

  On the other side of the mirror was a tall, beautiful figure, steeped in wicked power. Shadows clung to the man that stood in Gabe’s reflection, his cold blue eyes burning with the sort of terrible promise that made mortals shiver in both fear and anticipation. The casual long shirt and black jeans that he wore did less than nothing to dampen the feeling of otherworldly fear that accompanied him.

  The last time that Jenna had seen Lord Blackfrost — Liam, Elaine had called him — he had smiled and joked in the cold light of day. He’d seemed almost human. Jenna had mistaken him for some warlock, tragically trapped in the same sort of half-life that Gabe currently lived. But right this instant, a crown of flickering darkness danced upon his brow, and there was no mistaking the awful mark of lordship that lay upon his soul.

  To Jenna’s surprise, Gabe met that cold gaze with calm equanimity, unbowed by the eldritch power that leaned upon the room.

  Gabe is standing in the Looking Glass, she remembered dimly. This is still his home turf. If Lord Blackfrost actually set foot into another faerie lord’s realm, he’d lose almost all of his power.

  “Can I help you with something?” Gabe asked quietly.

  Lord Blackfrost considered him with a smooth, emotionless expression. “I’m looking for Jenna Wright,” he said. “I hear she’s your guest.”

  The conversation was oddly, painstakingly polite. Jenna looked between the two men, struck by the tension in the air.

  “She is here,” Gabe confirmed slowly. “Should I tell her that you’ve inquired after her?”

  He won’t say I’m a guest, Jenna thought. Does that mean something special?

  “I would like to speak with her, if possible,” Lord Blackfrost said. Jenna was standing directly behind Gabe now, but the cold faerie lord’s eyes didn’t seem to see her.

  “I’ll inform her of that,” Gabe said carefully.

  “Will you also offer her the chance to speak with me?” Lord Blackfrost clarified. His tone was still perfectly smooth, without so much as a hint of anger or accusation.

  “…yes,” Gabe agreed finally. “But only if she wants to do so.” His glass-green eyes flickered back toward her. “I can send him away if you want,” he told Jenna, in a low voice. “It’s up to you.”

  Jenna shook her head slowly. “I… I think I need to talk to him,” she said.

  It would be a lie to say that she wasn’t intimidated, quavering before that awful power like a sapling in a storm. But she knew there was only one reason for Lord Blackfrost to be standing at the edge of the Looking Glass, asking for her by name. It certainly wasn’t out of any personal fondness for her — she’d nearly attacked him the first time they’d met.

  Come to think of it… I’m lucky not to be dead after doing something stupid like that.

  Gabe turned back to the mirror, and brushed his hand across it once more, before stepping aside. Lord Blackfrost’s cold blue eyes focused on Jenna abruptly.

  “Jenna!” It was a woman’s voice, choked with emotion. It came from behind Lord Blackfrost, within the gloomy outline of the Hedge beyond the mirror. A tall, dark-haired woman stepped toward the mirror. Her once-green eyes were now an otherworldly shade of aquamarine, her skin as luminous as moonlight — but she still wore one of those soft old cardigans she loved so much.

  Jenna’s throat closed up as she looked into the eyes of her once-mentor. A hint of tears showed in Elaine’s eyes as she reached for the mirror.

  Faster than thought, Lord Blackfrost snatched at Elaine’s wrist. A flicker of real fear crossed his face, then quickly disappeared again beneath that cold, calm mask of his. “Don’t,” he said quietly. “I can’t protect you if you step over that line, El.” His eyes flickered back toward the mirror. “…unless the Lord of the Looking Glass wants to invite me inside, that is.” His sardonic tone made it clear just how likely he considered that possibility.

  Jenna glanced back toward the mirror-bound faerie lord. He still looked like Gabe, but there was a wary consideration in his gaze as he regarded Lord Blackfrost. Predictably, the Lord of the Looking Glass said nothing. Even if Jenna had offered him the words to use, she doubted he’d be interested in letting another faerie lord run rampant through his realm.

  Elaine swallowed, and nodded reluctantly. She closed her arms around herself, though the shard of Blackfrost within her soul meant that she could never truly be cold. “Are you okay?” Elaine asked Jenna softly. “You’re not hurt?”

  Jenna shook her head slowly. Tears had sprung up in her eyes, mostly in reaction to Elaine’s obvious worry. “No, Lainey,” she sniffled. “No, I’m… I mean, I’m not fine, but I’m not hurt, okay?”

  Elaine’s blue-green eyes fixed upon Gabe, still standing behind Jenna. She took a deep breath, and straightened her posture. The tears in her eyes disappeared, replaced by a cold, terrible anger that Jenna had never seen there before. “You have my apprentice,” she informed him, in a voice that promised terrible things. “And you have no right to keep her.”

  “I’d tell you to cool off, but I think you just did.” Valentine’s voice spoke from behind Elaine, with grim humor. “She didn’t want to leave. I don’t think she’s enchanted. I should know what that looks like by now.”

  The dark ex-warlock stood a few feet behind Lord Blackfrost, looking for all the world as though it was a normal situation to be offering unasked-for advice to Lord Blackfrost’s queen.

  “You don’t
know what anything looks like anymore,” Elaine said to Valentine, in that cold, calm voice. Jenna blinked. The Elaine she had known would never have said anything so heartless. The mere thought of it would have sent her into fits of apologies.

  Valentine just smirked. “Witchsight, Ice Queen,” she reminded Elaine. “No faerie lord’s yet figured out how to take that away from me.”

  “I’m not enchanted,” Jenna cut in, wiping at her face. “And, um. She’s right, Lainey. Everything’s a pretty big mess, but I’m not here against my will. Gabe… he saved my life.”

  That cold light drained slowly from Elaine’s eyes. She let out a breath, suddenly smaller and more uncertain-looking. “I’m sorry,” she mumbled at Valentine.

  Valentine closed her eyes with a resigned groan. “Would you stop sayin’—”

  “—right, I, um,” Elaine colored at the misstep. Creatures like faeries and warlocks could interpret apologies to imply a debt, if they so chose. “That was… not well-done of me,” she corrected herself hesitantly.

  Elaine turned back toward Jenna, concern shining in her eyes. “Are you still in some kind of trouble?” she asked softly. “What happened?”

  Jenna smiled wryly. “I had the sick day to end all sick days,” she said, with deadpan humor. “Literally, I guess.”

  Gabe put a hand on her shoulder. The gesture surprised her, until she turned to look at his face. There was a flash of worry and uncertainty there. “You came for Jen,” he said. “If you have any idea how to help her… I’d appreciate it.”

  Elaine searched his face for a moment. The obvious sign of humanity seemed to reassure her, because she nodded slowly. “Can I speak with her alone for a moment?” she asked.

  Gabe hesitated. “You can,” he said. “But… I don’t think it’s a good idea for her to leave the Looking Glass right now. Whatever my patron did to save her, I think it gets less effective when she leaves his domain.”

  Elaine nodded reluctantly.

  Lord Blackfrost’s hand tightened lightly on Elaine’s wrist. “I won’t step inside,” Elaine assured him quietly. He let out a careful breath… and silently released her. His eyes stayed fixed upon Gabe though, cold and suspicious and still somehow painfully polite.

  Gabe shoved his hands into his pockets, stepping away from the mirror. Valentine and Lord Blackfrost did the same.

  “…you haven’t let it get to you yet?” Jenna asked, as soon as they were alone. “Blackfrost, I mean.”

  Elaine blinked, surprised by the question. “It’s a hard fight sometimes,” she admitted. “Especially when I’m stressed or upset. But…” She smiled faintly. “I’m winning. It wouldn’t be fighting so hard if I wasn’t.”

  “And Liam?” Jenna asked. “He’s still got the whole place leaning on him, doesn’t he?” It still felt strange using his name — as though he weren’t a dark lord of Arcadia, with his own damned realm.

  Elaine’s smile gained a triumphant edge. “I’m winning,” she repeated.

  Jenna stared at her for a long moment. “…Jesus, you’re stubborn,” she said finally. “It wasn’t enough for you to kill a faerie lord — now you’re after a whole realm.”

  Elaine flushed. “It’s not like I go looking for problems,” she said self-consciously. “But I’m not letting that awful place have Liam’s soul without a fight. Either he’s going to change, or else it’s going to change. And I know which one I’d prefer.”

  Jenna nodded slowly. “I… yeah,” she said. “Yeah, I get it.” She was surprised to find that she did.

  I’m doing the same thing, in the end, aren’t I?

  Elaine’s eyes softened. “You told me Gabriel did… some awful things,” she said. She didn’t seem willing to voice the specifics out loud. “You said there was no saving him.”

  A knot rose up in Jenna’s throat. “I was wrong,” she said. “I was wrong about a lot of things, Lainey.” Those tears came rushing back again, full force. She tugged off her glasses and wiped at her eyes with the sleeve of Gabe’s shirt. “I shouldn’t have been so awful to you. What you were going through, what you were trying to do… it reminded me so much of everything that happened with Gabe. I was too scared to even believe you had a chance. Because… because if you did have a chance, it would have meant I’d abandoned him all these years, after all.”

  Elaine reached out toward her, aghast — but she caught herself just before her fingers could touch the mirror. She shrank back, looking utterly torn. “I don’t blame you, Jenna,” she said. “Please don’t feel bad. You went through a lot of awful things. I know what it’s like to have all of that come rushing back to slap you in the face.” She bit at her lip. “I knew when I became a warlock that you might not be able to handle it. And as much as I hated that, I still made the choice. I stepped away from you because I knew you needed it, but… I still love you, Jenna. You’re family.”

  Jenna sniffled into the shirt sleeve. “You’re still such a doormat, Lainey,” she accused.

  Elaine smiled fondly. “I’m really not, anymore,” she said. “But that’s neither here nor there.” She pressed her fingers into her palms, clearly fighting back the urge to reach through the mirror again. “Please tell me how I can help you. Having a wicked faerie realm in my head has a lot of downsides. It would be nice to use it for something worthwhile, for once.”

  Jenna sighed. “I don’t know,” she said softly. “Gabe’s in mental pieces. He was just a mortal before he became a warlock — it’s broken things inside him. I’ve got a plan to put his head back together, and that should help him deal with whatever’s wrong with my magic, too… but I’m scared I might get it wrong.”

  Elaine winced. “Taurus magic would be perfect to provide a bit of stability,” she said. “You need a strong, safe foundation if you’re going to rebuild someone’s mind. But… my magic’s all bound up in Blackfrost now, too. If he’s already broken, it would eat him up alive.”

  “Damn it,” Jenna sighed, unable to stop herself. A small, childish part of her had been so relieved at the idea of having her mentor around to guide her magic again, especially on such an important spell. Elaine’s expression was equally pained though, and Jenna knew she had spoken the truth. Blackfrost’s magic would eat away at Gabe from the inside out.

  “Taurus witches are stubborn,” Valentine’s voice interrupted. “But Capricorn witches carry th’ burden of Saturn. If you want to walk him through a deep, dark place, I know th’ way through to th’ other side.”

  Elaine jerked her eyes toward the blind woman who’d snuck up on her. “Did you just eavesdrop on me?” she demanded, more bewildered than upset.

  Valentine raised an eyebrow. “You nearly stepped through to th’ Looking Glass just now,” she rasped dryly. “You’re givin’ your beau a small panic attack over there. I thought I’d stand near an’ reassure him, since he’s too proud to come over here himself.”

  Elaine let out a long sigh, rubbing at the bridge of her nose. “It’s okay,” she mumbled. “You’re right, in any case. If… if you’re willing to help, I’d consider it one of your favors to me.”

  Valentine stepped smoothly through the mirror to the other side of the Looking Glass.

  “Keep your favors,” she said. “You’re still a sorry excuse for an Ice Queen. I’m sure you’ll need them another day.”

  Elaine blinked, caught somewhere between indignation and confusion. “I’m so turned around,” she admitted, throwing her hands up into the air. “I thought you wanted to treat everything like a business transaction. Now I’m offering to let you buy off some of your debt, and you’re suddenly not interested?”

  “Unless you want to use up one of those favors right now,” Valentine said softly. “I don’t owe you an explanation.” It was hard to read her face behind those mirrored shades, but Jenna thought she saw a hint of that fleeting, human longing cross Valentine’s features.

  Jenna tried to meet the ex-warlock’s eyes, though she knew the woman couldn’t see it. “Thank you
,” she whispered.

  Valentine snapped off her glasses. Her blind eyes were narrowed. “The Ice Queen taught you all her bad habits,” she said. “No sorries. No thank you’s. This is Arcadia, little girl. Debts are easy to find an’ hard to escape.”

  “Yes ma’am,” Jenna murmured, instead of protesting. Relief blossomed in her chest. Elaine would have been a powerfully reassuring presence… but a witch with a hundred years of magical experience was the sort of insane, unexpected gift-horse you didn’t look in the mouth.

  Gabe’s brow knitted as he saw the two of them approaching. “Let me guess,” he said to Valentine. “You want that room at the Ritz I’m not using?”

  Valentine smiled, baring her teeth. “Temptin’,” she said. “But I don’t accept gifts from faeries an’ warlocks. Bad for my sanity.” She paused. “While we’re speakin’ of sanity…”

  Jenna reached out to take Gabe’s hand, squeezing it lightly. “I’m going to try and fix you,” she said quietly. “Valentine is going to help.”

  Chapter 13

  “You’ll need to open th’ way,” Valentine told Jenna. “I can guide you through from there.” The other woman stood before the mirror where the cracked throne resided, staring blindly in its general direction.

  Moonlight glinted through the windows, casting a diffuse, otherworldly light over everything. Jenna opened her Witchsight and breathed in, calling the light into her body. The cold glow burned through her veins — power sank into her, vibrant and thrumming with possibility.

  To Witchsight, the mirrors here were dusted with thousands of tiny hairline fractures, spiralling like spider webs across the glass. The cracks came together toward an epicenter, where that cracked, ghostly throne endured.

  Jenna reached out for Gabe’s hand, threading her fingers through his. He’d begun to shiver, staring at that throne, and the awareness of his fear made her flinch. “It’s all right,” she whispered to him. “I’ve got you.”