The room erupted.
Lucian was in front of me instantly, frost surging as he turned toward the mirror.
Auren's wings flared out in reflex.
Celeste staggered back, Vaylen catching her just in time.
The mirror cracked.
A thin line split down the mirror's surface like a wound.
Vivian pressed her palm against the glass from the other side, leaving a bloody print.
"Seraphina," she said hoarsely. Her voice was wrong, muffled, distorted, as if it had traveled through water and broken worlds to reach me. "You need to listen to me."
I shoved Lucian's hand away and rushed toward the mirror.
"What is it?" My voice was shaky, "Hold on—let me get someone to pull you out of—"
"No," Vivian cut me off sharply. "I don't have much time left."
My heart lurched, "What do you mean?"
Her breathing hitched. Blood slipped from the corner of her mouth as she swallowed it back.
"I'm holding her," she said. "Only for a little while. I forced the seal tighter than it was meant to go."
