Twin brothers Frei and Qionne are separated by a cursed mirror. The younger is forced to shoulder the burden of the throne, while the older must learn to have courage and return to his world. In their wake is an empire at the brink of war, and a dar...
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Frei wanted to run after the wolf, but he felt chained. It might have been the vice grip Eloise had on his arm, or the mental exhaustion that kept him glued in place. But Frei knew it was Lotus' ominous words that made him stay where he was.
Why would I want to kill him? I would never hurt a soul!
Desperate eyes searched for the beast who vanished. Betrayed and confused, he shook his head and carefully tugged his arm away. He deftly gathered Eloise's small hand to his own before she could react, quietly leading her to the direction Lotus gave.
"Let's go Eloise."
The prince felt the girl's inquisitive eyes boring into his side. He gripped her hand with unintentional harshness and apologized after she hissed in pain.
"Big Bad Wolf is evil," Eloise muttered. "Better that he's gone!"
Frei looked at her reproachfully. "If it weren't for him, the Jabberwocky would have killed us."
The girl did not answer. She knew he was right.
"Big Bad Wolf is evil," Eloise murmured again, with a weepier voice.
The prince ignored her, not because he was running out of patience. He was afraid that she might be right.
.... ... ...
Blank were the images of his coming to Absalom's domain.
Frei shook his head, clasping the hand that he feared wouldn't be there. Eloise squeezed his hand in turn, reassuring him with her doll-like stare. He lifted his head and found that he was no longer within the dark tunnels.
What? How...
He was in a throne room, with pillars that rose high like the birch trees of the fields of Aesiri. Each beam was shaped like a chess piece, embraced by sinuous vines and roses with... faces.
Frei shook his head again. He blinked. He looked. The roses were staring at him with arbitrating eyes.
He turned away and focused on the floors instead. They were tiled, with each square bearing a different rune symbol, alternating between the color white and red... or was it black? He was confused.
Frei's gaze trailed beneath his boot-clad feet. He blinked. An arm stretched out and invaded his vision. It was his.
When had he changed into freshly pressed clothes?
He turned to the girl at his side, her arms still wrapped around his elbow in a tight hold. Eloise was garbed in a frilly blue dress with black ribbons. Instead of the usual bonnet that graced her head, a lacy black rose was pinned just a little above her right ear. Everything else about her looked the same except... why did it feel like she grew two inches taller?
