Page 11 of Whispers of Ruin
If she could have, she would have huntedeveryvampire down and eradicated them from all the realms. She couldn’t do that without unleashing a brutal war between vampires and witches, and such a war would leave far too many dead.
Even during her worst periods of rage and extreme suffering, she wouldn’t allow herself to be the cause of so many deaths. She wasn’t the Lord; she wasn’t insane with power and without a conscience.
She was a simple woman who’d lost someone she loved dearly, and no matter how badly it hurt, Kaylia refused to be the cause of the suffering and death of other witches. Regret filled her for everything that could have been and never was with Fabian, and there was still grief; there would always be grief.
There was also guilt now, but not hatred, or at least not toward Brokk andallvampires. She’d learned that not all vampires were bad and worthy of death. Brokk and Sahira had helped show her that.
Sure, some vamps didn’t deserve to walk the realms, but others, such as Brokk and Sahira, were different. She could almost convince herself it was because they were only half vamps, but Del was different too, and he was full-blooded.
Plus, countless other vampires had helped fight against the Lord. They’d stood by her side to take down the tyrannical man.
They’d died to help put Lexi in power and to end the slaughter the Lord had unleashed on the realms. She couldn’t blanket hate an entire species of immortals anymore.
She still missed Fabian and would until the day she died, but she’d spent too many years being angry, bitter, and hiding from the world.
She should move on; it’s what he’d want her to do, but not with other men. There would never be another man for her, but she could go into the realms and experience happiness again.
Kaylia removed the materials she required to splint his hand. He wouldn’t have to wear it long, as he’d heal fast, but it would help ease his discomfort.
When she turned toward him with the supplies, he rested his hand on hers. “There’s no need for that. It will heal soon.”
“This can help alleviate the pain.”
“It’s not that bad.”
He was lying; she could see it in his eyes, but she didn’t argue. The stubborn man would never admit it.
With a sigh, she returned the supplies to her pack. Afterward, she unstrapped her dagger from her hip, lifted her braid, and sliced it off at the shoulder.
“Why did you do that?” Brokk inquired.
She dropped the four-foot braid on the ground. “It’s only a danger here and might get me killed. I’d much prefer life to long hair.”
Brokk undid what remained of her braid with his uninjured hand. “It looks good.”
She was sure he was saying that to protect her feelings but didn’t care. It had been years since she’d cut more than a few inches from it, and it felt weird, but she should have cut it before coming here.
“I guess it’s time to find our way out,” she said.
Brokk rose beside her. “I’ve never been in a mirror realm before. What should I know about it?”
“It’s like we’re inside a mirror,” she said. “I’m sure there will be some surprises along the way, but there’s always a way out.”
“Good.”
“Just not through a portal. If you open one, it will only bring you back here; we’re trapped in a reflection of the realm above.”
“You know I’m still going to have to try it.”
“I know.”
Brokk rose, opened a portal, and stepped into it. He reemerged through the same portal.
“Well, that’s interesting,” he murmured.
“And unnerving.”
“That too.”
