Free Realm of Mirrors (The DeathSpeaker Codex Book 3) by Sonya Bateman

DeathSpeaker?”
    Sadie managed a smile at that. “Oh, I like you,” she said to Shade.
    “I’ve plenty of experience dealing with manly fools,” Shade said. “I’m sure you’ve had your share, as well.”
    “Oh, yeah.”
    “Hey,” I said. “Why do I get the feeling you’re talking about me?”
    Sadie shrugged. “You must be psychic, too.”
    “At any rate,” Shade said with a crooked smile. “The one you’d be looking for is probably Nyantha. My grand-aunt, coincidentally. You’ll find her in the marshlands, likely around the Trees of Ankou.”
    “Where we’ll wander for days, no doubt,” Uriskel grumbled.
    “Really, must I explain everything to you?” Shade let out a nearly playful huff. “Nyantha is psychic. Just think of your need to speak with her, and she’ll find you.”
    “Of course. Thank you,” Uriskel said stiffly. “Now, the two of you rest tonight, and we’ll depart in the morning.”
    “Uriskel,” Cobalt said haltingly.
    “What is it now?”
    He opened his mouth, and closed it again. “Just…swear you’ll come back,” he said. “I can’t lose you like this again.”
    Uriskel deflated a bit, then reached out and clasped his shoulder. “You know I can’t promise that, brother. But I’ve no intention of dying—or letting these two noble imbeciles get themselves killed.”
    “I suppose if that’s the best you’ve got…” With a sad smile, Cobalt took his other shoulder. “Well met, then.”
    “Well met.” Uriskel nodded and lowered his hand. “All right, enough grousing. I’ve got to get home and…” He shivered slightly. “I’ll return in the morning.”
    “Uriskel, wait,” I said.
    He stared at me. “ Now what?”
    “Why are you doing this?” I had no idea what happened before, but I felt awful watching him say goodbye to his brother. And apparently there was someone at home he was leaving behind, too. “You don’t know me, or Sadie, and you hate Taeral. You know who Daoin is, but it doesn’t seem like you think much of him, either,” I said. “Look, I don’t want to die—but I definitely don’t want someone else doing it for me.”
    He actually smiled. A little. “You’ve just said why I’m doing it, right there. Besides the fact that you’re the DeathSpeaker, and you must be protected…you would die for your brother. That alone earns my respect.” He glanced at Cobalt, and added, “I’ve some experience in that regard.”
    “Aye, and he’s a damned stubborn fool,” Cobalt said.
    “At least I’m not a great softhearted dolt.” Uriskel smirked, lifted a hand in parting and headed for the stairs. “Rise early,” he called over his shoulder. “We’ve much ground to cover, before we attempt to face the Winter Court.”
    Great. Now I kind of liked Uriskel.
    And that only made everything a hell of a lot worse.
     
     

C HAPTER 12

     
    C obalt invited us to stay in his guest room for the night. It was a better idea than sleeping in my van, or going back to the Castle—if I talked to Denei before we left, she’d insist on going with us. And I didn’t want to risk any more lives than we already were.
    I hadn’t even told any of them about Reun yet. Probably should do that in the morning.
    The emotional shock had driven Sadie to exhaustion. She was barely on her feet when Cobalt showed us to the room. I helped her into the queen bed over her half-mumbled protests that she wanted to leave now, and her eyes closed the instant her head hit the pillow. The room also had an overstuffed chair. I’d sleep in that, because I had to get up earlier than her. There was someone I needed to talk to before I went to a place I might never come back from.
    And he was going to be pissed.
    I fired off a text to Abe, figuring he’d definitely be asleep by now, and asked if we could meet up early for coffee. Then I tossed the phone on the chair and used the small bathroom attached to the guest room. When I came back out, I had a reply.
    You never